South Central Region Manager

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to lead our Madison location as the South Central Region Manager. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, skilled organizer, and effective communicator passionate about driving impactful programs and initiatives. The South Central Region Manager is responsible for collaborating, convening, and supervising apprenticeship-readiness activities to develop and implement programming and training, tracking and managing all projects and initiatives for WRTP | BIG STEP for Dane County. The South Central Region Manager must have a demonstrated ability to work with community organizations, public workforce partners, Education systems, and industry leadership to implement programs and strategies to deliver high performance workforce outcomes meeting industry’s needs for a skilled, qualified, diverse, and retainable workforce with specific focus on Madison and South Central Wisconsin.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Staff Leadership

• Collaborate with and work under the direction of the COO and effectively supervise staff to ensure high quality and industry responsive orientation and recruitment sessions and to provide quality customer service to all participants.
• Develop and implement strategies and work plans to move participants and staff through efficient processes that lead to apprenticeships, training programs, direct placements, and other business services.
• Provide continuous direction by training, supervising, and evaluating Program Staff, including conducting annual performance planning to establish goals and objectives for all direct reports.
• Supervise the day-to-day work of these positions, ensuring that objectives and goals are met.
• Ensure Coordinators build relationships and establish effective referral and enrollment process.
• Meet regularly to ensure that programs are meeting goals, requirements, and regulations.
• Review and sign off on reports prior to their submission to funders.

Program Development and Management

•  Develop, implement, and manage programming in the Dane County area including coordinating apprenticeship readiness, curriculum, industry certifications, testing, and other programming as necessary.
• Collaborate with internal team members to create and enhance program materials, ensuring consistency with organizational messaging.
• Facilitate and coordinate programming as necessary.
• In collaboration with sector staff, implement, monitor, and supervise classes and programming.
• Formulate and communicate the annual program delivery plan with WRTP/BIG STEP Executive Leadership.
• Monitor performance outcomes and contractual goals. Make adjustments to program delivery model to ensure performance is met.
• Maintain and build relationships geared towards fulfilling the organization’s mission and program goals with community stakeholders, public and private organizations.
• Communicate with participants to secure placement information, gather success stories, invite graduates to attend events as a job speaker or guest speaker, etc.

Event Planning and Execution

• Supervise and maintain oversight of effective Orientations, recruitments, trainings, and community outreach events.

• Coordinate logistics, secure venues, and manage budgets for successful event implementation.

Community Engagement

• Attend regular meetings with Building Trades Council, JATC’s, employers, funders, and other community organizations.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including elected officials, partner organizations, and program participants.
• Create outreach strategies to increase program awareness and participation.
• Act as a liaison between the organization and key stakeholders, addressing concerns and fostering positive relationships.
• Work with employers, contractors, developers, and owners, as needed to identify workforce needs and create appropriate training plans.
• Communicate with partner agencies and organizations, recruiters and case managers to provide eligible candidates with a clear understanding of goals, requirements and opportunities.

Budget Management

•  Work closely with the COO and Statewide Director to develop and manage program budgets, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
• Monitor expenditures and provide financial reports as needed.

 Data Analysis and Reporting

 Collect and analyze data to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

• Prepare regular reports for internal and external stakeholders, showcasing program impact and outcomes.
• Develop project plans, dashboards, reports, etc. for the President/CEO, the Chief Operations Officer, the Statewide Director, and funders on the status of projects, new programs, etc.

Other Duties as Assigned

 Complete other duties at the discretion of management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or comparable credentials / experience (e.g., certifications, completion of registered apprenticeship, technical coursework, etc.) required.
• Strong project management skills.

• Strong relationship building, community engagement, and event management expertise.

• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.
• Must be able to pass a background check.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Superior oral and written communication abilities.
• Excellent time management, organization, and prioritization skills.

• Thorough knowledge of standard computer programs, including Microsoft Office, and ability to learn new systems.
• Highly effective communication, facilitation, problem solving, and team-building skills. Must be highly motivated by the mission of the WRTP | BIG STEP.
• Previous experience working with federal and state-based programming such as FSET, WIOA, and other DOL and DWD job training programs is desired.
• Ability to establish rapport and relate sensitively to a multiracial and multicultural group of customers.
• Understanding others’ challenges and barriers and the ability to adjust and provide guidance to help participants achieve their career goals.

Personal Attributes

• Follow the WRTP | BIG STEP Code of Conduct.
• Adhere to established policies and procedures of the program, agency and of all funding sources.
• Conduct self in an ethical manner.
• Maintain professional and respectful relationships with staff, participants, and all external persons and agencies involved with WRTP | BIG STEP and its partnering agencies.
• Inclusive and equitable in treatment of all persons regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, religion, ability, or any other factor.
• Demonstrates commitment to the WRTP | BIG STEP mission, vision, and values.

Work Relationship

• Reports to the Chief Operations officer.
• Has contact and works comfortably with a wide variety of individuals including, but not limited to staff, partnering agencies, federal and state-based contractors/vendors, unions, employers, and members of the community.

Working Conditions

• This work is performed primarily in an office setting but will include other settings including other businesses and outdoors.
• Requires regular local travel.
• Will work with a diverse population and may include youth, justice-impacted individuals, individuals facing barriers, etc.
• Minimum of 40 hours per week.
• Must be flexible.  Will require some evenings and weekends.
• This position requires the ability to regularly sit and write at a computer, stand, and lift less than 30 pounds, frequently move from room to room to accommodate guests, use a telephone and use computer equipment to generate input and output and transmit data. This position requires reliable transportation including state mandated insurance.

WRTP/BIG STEP is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All federal, state, and local and other fair employment standards including EEO and ADA requirements in race, gender, gender identification, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, veteran status, veterans, or disabled veteran’s status as found in 41CFR 60-1.4, 60-250.4 and 60-741.4 are herein incorporated by reference. Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. WRTP/BIG STEP encourages applications from all the above referenced protected and unprotected status groups. WRTP|BIG STEP performs pre-employment background checks subject to job requirements, notify HR (Human Resources) if special accommodations are needed. 

• Health Insurance - Employer pays 85% of health plan. 
• Dental Insurance (single or family) – 100% Employer paid. 
• Vision Insurance (single or family) – 100% Employer paid. 
• Life Insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance – 100% Employer paid. 
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance – 100% Employer paid.
• 10 vacation days after 90 days of employment. 
• 9 personal days annually after 90 days of employment. 
• 14 Paid Holidays annually. 
• 10% of monthly salary contributed by company to retirement accounts.
• Salary: $63,000 - $68,500