Director of Workforce Initiatives

Dalio Education

Dalio Education Overview:

Dalio Education collaborates with educators, schools, non-profit organizations, and communities across Connecticut to engage young people and achieve positive youth outcomes. Barbara Dalio founded Dalio Education, a division of Dalio Philanthropies, more than a decade ago. Dalio Education’s signature initiatives are the Connecticut RISE Network (an independent non-profit organization) and the Connecticut Opportunity Project (a division of Dalio Education), which are designed to help young people in Connecticut get back on track. CTOP’s mission is to invest in and help to strengthen youth-serving organizations in Connecticut so they can work effectively, reliably, and sustainably with severely off-track or disconnected young people ages 14 to 26 in order to help them re-engage in and complete secondary education or a credential, then transition successfully to a post-secondary pathway leading to gainful employment that supports their self-sufficiency. CTOP currently invests in seven nonprofit organizations and is growing its portfolio by making pilot multi-year investments in organizations to expand access to career pathways for young people in Connecticut who are experiencing being severely off-track, moderately disconnected, or severely disconnected. Therefore, Dalio Education has created this new position and seeks a Portfolio Director of Workforce Initiatives to work closely with the CEO and team. We prioritize and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core element of our culture in all aspects of our work.

Position Summary:

Dalio Education seeks a highly motivated, talented, and dynamic seasoned professional to serve as Portfolio Director of Workforce Initiatives. This person will serve as a key point for turning the CEO’s vision for workforce programming into a reality. Specifically, this person will work closely with the CEO and team to design and oversee 3 to 5 pilot partnerships with organizations that provide workforce development programming for severely off-track and disconnected young people. This person will also deliver consultation and capacity-building technical assistance in support of the pilot partnerships to improve their ability to provide essential services to young people effectively, reliably, and sustainably. This person will bring expertise in workforce development; understand the needs of employers in healthcare, manufacturing, and the trades; and ideally understand the needs of young adults who are severely off-track or experiencing disconnection from the workforce. This position will work on-location in Connecticut at least three days a week (Mondays and two additional weekdays), whether at Dalio Education’s office in Greenwich or on-site with partner organizations across the state, requiring significant in-state travel.

Day-to-day responsibilities would include a combination of the following:

• Design Workforce Programming Pilot Partnerships
  • Support landscaping analyses and due diligence efforts to find and engage potential partner organizations under the umbrella of CTOP’s social investment approach for workforce initiatives;
  • Engage with other public and private funders to form co-investments in support of multi-year partnerships;
  • Work as the point person with partner organizations, developing and maintaining trusting relationships that serve as the primary vehicle for the capacity-building engagements; and
  • Facilitate program design and Pathways to Careers workshops that drive learning and improvement.
• Lead the Implementation of Pilot Partnerships
  • Consult directly with partner organizations in the design and implementation of workforce development programs and services, staff training and professional development, and performance management systems and processes to build partners’ capacity to serve our target population effectively, reliably, and sustainably;
  • Serve as an in-house subject-matter expert in the area of workforce development, sharing knowledge across the team and externally, when requested; and
  • Participate in the planning and delivery of cohort-based professional development activities focused on promoting mutual learning, program development, and the application of the principles of organizational design.
• Evaluate the Effectiveness of Pilot Partnerships and Oversee Adjustments Over Time
  • Monitor the implementation effectiveness of pilots and provide regular progress updates to the CEO and team;
  • Consult with partner organizations and evaluation experts, when appropriate in the lifecycle of a partnership, to evaluate performance;
  • Leverage data and evaluation learnings to consult with partner organizations in making necessary adjustments to improve program performance; and
  • Support partners in developing and implementing long-term financial sustainability plans.

Apply for this role if you have:

• Integrity, transparency, honesty, compassion, and strong ethical orientation;
• Emotional intelligence, creativity, analytical skills, and sound judgment;
• Resiliency under pressure and the ability to thrive in a rapidly evolving and entrepreneurial organization;
• Superior organizational skills with great attention to detail;
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize, and deliver high‐quality work in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills;
• Self‐starter with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement;
• Capability to glean important points and patterns from data to make decisions and recommendations; and
• Skilled in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite.

Illustrative Benefits:    

• 100% company paid medical premiums
• 17 company paid holidays
• Friday summer hours
• Monthly community happy hours
• Hybrid work environment
• Free catered food services for in-office days
• Generous PTO offering 
• Casual dress code
• 150% 401(k) match up to $7,500 and 100% match above $7,500 ($15k match limit)
• Gym reimbursement, back up childcare services, insurance, financial, and legal services, and much more!

Qualifications:

• Alignment to organizational mission and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• At least ten years of experience leading workforce development, including experience in workforce development program design, implementation, and evaluation; employment coaching and job placement services; and/or other related initiatives in a nonprofit or philanthropic setting;
• Bachelor’s degree at an accredited higher education institution;
• Experience successfully demonstrating the cultural competency to work across diverse populations and the ability to build excellent relationships with stakeholders from various walks of life (including colleagues, partners, practitioners, and community members); and
• Familiarity with Connecticut-based stakeholders and the population served by Dalio Education is highly desirable.

Compensation:

Compensation for the role includes a competitive salary in the range from $150,000 -$200,000 (inclusive of a merit-based bonus, dependent on years of experience, level of education obtained, as well as applicable skillset) and an excellent benefits package, including a comprehensive employer paid medical plan and generous employer match for 401k. 

Please note we are unable to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

At the DFO, we believe our biggest asset is our people. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, hiring and developing individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to add to our collaborative culture. The DFO treats all candidates and employees with respect and does not discriminate in our recruiting, hiring, and promoting processes and general treatment during employment, including on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, veteran status, or disability.