PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Under the general direction of the the Senior Director of Workforce Development Programs, the Workforce Innovations Project Manager is responsible for the general oversight of integration of workforce development innovations into CWDS services, instructional design project management and curriculum writing projects funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) through the CWDS program. This position works in close partnership with SDSU’s Instructional Technology Services (ITS), the Academy’s Learning Experience Design (LXD) Manager, CWDS Program Director, Regional Academies, and California Workforce Innovation and Support in Education (CalWISE), and other state partners.
This position directly supervises up to 5 staff.
SPECIFIC DUTIES
This is a 40-hour-a-week, full-time position, working M-F from 8:00 to 4:30 p.m., and is based on contract funding subject to annual renewal. The position is subject to intermittent overnight travel and work shifts outside of normal business hours including weekends and evenings. This position is based in California and is fully remote with some travel to county offices and to Sacramento required.
Note: some duties may include working with and/or exposure to sensitive/traumatic topics or material dealing with child abuse, abuse against older adults and adults with disabilities, and/or issues and scenarios related to mental health, substance use, or racism.
The Academy is a project of the San Diego State University Research Foundation, which is grant-funded and serves as an auxiliary to the University. The Academy is based near, but not on campus, and does not have direct responsibilities for working with or teaching college students.
The Academy is currently working to update employee classifications. This position may be subject to a future classification change, however, this does not change the role, responsibilities, or compensation of the position.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT (70%)
- Provide project management for the Instructional Design Innovations project to include:
- Engage Regional Academy Directors, CDSS partners, SDSU’s Instructional Technology Services, Academy’s Learning Experience Design team, CWDS Director, lived experts, Dr. Anita Barbee, and external service providers to oversee and manage the application of instructional design innovations to Common Core and Advanced Training
- Develop work plans with concrete objectives and milestones
- Convene key partners, develop agendas/tools/materials, facilitate effective team building, facilitate effective meetings to engage all stakeholders to develop and achieve common goals
- Build instructional design capacity within the organization through partnership with SDSU’s ITS
- Review evaluation data from existing child welfare curriculum and examples of best practices of innovative workforce development from other jurisdictions to inform development of instructional design innovations
- Research and identify innovative instructional design approaches and technologies that enhance content development and delivery as well as learning outcomes in child welfare workforce development
- Collaborate with staff across CWDS, the Academy, Cal Academi to develop CC 4.0 and advanced trainings with instruction design innovations
- Provide project management for the Statewide Workforce Workgroup focused on recruitment and retention in public child welfare to include:
- Engage and partner with County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), Academy Directors, and Child Welfare Directors across the state to assess needs related to workforce recruitment and retention, operationalize work plan to meet these needs, and identify the intersection between this work and our workforce development services provided to child welfare agencies
- Develop agendas/materials/tools to manage and facilitate Workforce Workgroup (to include CWDA staff, Child Welfare Directors from across the state, Regional Academy leaders and staff, and other key stakeholders)
- Oversee the operationalization of a statewide work plan with concrete objectives and milestones to ensure goals are met
- Facilitate Workforce Workgroup meetings with an audience of executive-level leaders from across the state
- Participate in Workforce Workgroup ad hoc groups to support consistency and alignment across the groups
- Support the communication and feedback loops between the Workforce Workgroup and the ad hoc workgroups
- Partner across Academy programs to support research and evaluation to support Workforce Workgroup
- Provide oversight of project management for Common Core 4.0 revision, Sup Core revision, development of state standardized Manager Core
- Assess and identify the intersection of three primary projects (oversight of Instructional Design Innovations in Common Core and Advanced Training, management of Workforce Workgroup, oversight of Common Core, Sup Core and Manager Core projects); ensure the lessons learned through each project inform the others and that there is a common thread through the projects
- Remain current on emerging workforce development trends and emerging child welfare initiatives and practices in order to use this knowledge to inform the evolution and implementation of statewide child welfare and adult protective services workforce development systems
- Provide consultation to CDSS and CWDA partners regarding statewide projects focused on workforce recruitment, retention and development
- Interface with a variety of partners from across the state (including but not limited to CDSS partners, Child Welfare Directors, Child Welfare Managers, Staff Development representatives from child welfare leaders and staff from other Regional Academies, SDSU’s ITS, CWDA, UC Davis’ COE, California University School of Social Work leadership, SDSU Research Foundation leadership and staff)
- Maintain positive working relationships and engage in collaborative partnerships with a variety of colleagues across the state
- Participate in, and in some cases, lead/facilitate external committees with representatives from other entities across the state
- Effectively manage politically sensitive issues among key stakeholders
- Work in conjunction with Sr. Director and Director of Finance and Business Services, and Contracts and Fiscal Manager to assist with the development of contracts pertaining to CWDS Instructional Design Innovations and the Statewide Workforce Recruitment and Retention Workgroup management
SUPERVISION (20%)
- Participate in recruitment, hiring and onboarding of new Academy staff
- Provide consistent, strengths based, trauma informed, culturally responsive and resilience-oriented supervision to direct reports
- Co-create and track individual development goals with direct reports, ensuring the availability of development opportunities
- Engage staff in affective capacity building and other learning opportunities in order to integrate culturally responsive and recovery-oriented practices into our daily work to promote healing and healthy relationships as a part of our DEI strategy objective
- Directly supervise CWDS curriculum projects funded by CDSS and the integration of innovative instructional design in content
- Monitor performance and conduct ongoing performance evaluation of direct reports
- Provide personnel management, including regular supervision conferences and professional development for direct reports
ACADEMY LEADERSHIP (5%)
- Participate on the Academy’s Shared Leadership Team (SLT)
- Maintain and enhance organizational culture by working collectively as organizational people leaders and healthy culture ambassadors
OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED (5%)
- Perform other duties as assigned, which are in the best interests of the Academy for Professional Excellence
- Interface with partner programs at the Academy
- Plan and facilitate standing meetings to support communication, working relationships, clear expectations, and ongoing strategic planning
- Participate in All Staff meetings/events, internal/cross-program committees, and other ad hoc meetings/events to promote good working relationships and collaborative partnerships across the Academy
- Engage in regular communication (via email, video casts, staff meetings, Academy Hub updates) to keep CWDS staff apprised of all developments impacting or potentially impacting the program
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Advanced knowledge of: Statewide Child Welfare Training System; Child Welfare Services Policies & Procedures; Adult Learning Theory; Child Welfare, and Curriculum Development
- Ability to effectively interface with and maintain positive working relationships with key stakeholders within the southern region and statewide
- Possess facilitation and coaching skills
- Ability to travel within California - primarily Southern region counties, and Sacramento.
- Able to give and receive feedback effectively
- Knowledge of culturally responsive and recovery-oriented principles and practices
- Executive presence: self-starter with a keen sense of ownership and commitment to the work, and a passion to deliver results
- Collaborative and inclusive leadership and work style with ability to effectively interact with, and garner trust of peers and leadership across the organization to achieve goals
- Proven ability to lead others by example, demonstrating organizational values and commitment to the work
- Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills and the ability to collect, analyze, synthesize, and present data
- Ability to display excellent written and verbal communication skills, a persuasive and passionate communicator with advanced public speaking skills
- Advanced interpersonal skills such as diplomacy, accurate listening, and facilitation skills
- Ability to work diplomatically and effectively in a participatory environment where teamwork is valued highly in the daily accomplishment of work
- Ability to interface constructively and considerately with a diverse group of stakeholders and co-workers in ways that model and reflect the Academy’s commitment to actively working to integrate heart-centered practices into our daily work, services, and interactions that nurture healing, healthy relationships, and changed behaviors
- Advanced ability to apply independent judgment, discretion, and initiative to address problems and develop solutions
- Advanced ability to think and plan strategically, and to facilitate consensus to align organizational strategies with the mission, vision, and values
- Advanced ability to define and refine organizational strategies with a specific focus on designing and implementing new strategic approaches, ideas, and processes that will grow the business and avail measurable results
- Advanced project management skills, managing priorities and deadlines
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changes and shifting priorities
- Ability to learn new technology systems, including Google Workplace and project management systems
- Ability to manage and evaluate overall performance using identified performance measures and make necessary adjustments
- Advanced ability to provide coaching and mentorship to strengthen others