Senior Director of Career Connections

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Career Connections is responsible for leading a high-performing team, supervise two program directors, cultivate strategic partnerships, ensure programmatic excellence and regulatory compliance, and drive innovation that advances the JCC's mission of strengthening individuals, families, and communities. The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with extensive experience in workforce development, nonprofit management, social services, government contracts, fiscal administration, and community engagement.

About the Role

This role is responsible for The Career Connections portfolio currently includes Community Workforce programs, CRED (Career Readiness, Employment, and Development), and the UJA-funded Keystone initiative, which provides career development, workforce support, and employment-related services with a particular focus on serving members of the observant Jewish community. Together, these initiatives provide career pathways, training opportunities, job placement services, workforce supports, and economic mobility opportunities for Staten Island residents.

What You’ll Do

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for all Career Connections programs and services.
• Develop and implement long-term plans that align with agency priorities, community workforce needs, and emerging employment trends.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across all workforce development initiatives.
• Serve as a member of the agency's senior leadership team and contribute to organization-wide planning and decision-making.
• Advance the JCC's mission through programs that promote career readiness, employment opportunities, economic mobility, and community impact.
• Identify opportunities for program growth, expansion, and diversification of funding sources.
• Directly supervise the Director of CRED and the Director of Community Workforce.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, professional growth, and high performance.
• Conduct regular supervision meetings, performance evaluations, coaching, and professional development activities.
• Ensure effective staffing structures and succession planning throughout the department.
• Promote collaboration among staff across programs to ensure seamless participant experiences and service delivery.
• Oversee all workforce development, career readiness, training, internship, employment, and job placement programs within the Career Connections portfolio.
• Provide executive oversight of Community Workforce programs, CRED, and the UJA-funded Keystone initiative.
• Ensure programs meet or exceed contractual outcomes, performance targets, and quality standards.
• Maintain strong internal controls and operational systems that support compliance and accountability.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of all programmatic and fiscal reports.
• Develop systems to continuously evaluate program effectiveness and participant outcomes.
• Maintain a strong understanding of social services systems, benefits, and community resources that support workforce development participants.
• Work collaboratively with the agency's Social Services Department to identify and address environmental and socioeconomic barriers that may impede participant success, including housing instability, food insecurity, financial hardship, transportation challenges, childcare needs, and other social determinants.
• Develop integrated service strategies that connect participants with supportive services to improve retention, program completion, and employment outcomes.
• Ensure Career Connections staff maintain strong referral pathways and collaborative relationships across agency departments.
• Promote a holistic, participant-centered approach that supports long-term economic stability and self-sufficiency.
• Serve as a key ambassador for the JCC within the workforce development ecosystem.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, funders, educational institutions, employers, workforce development organizations, faith-based organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the agency at community meetings, conferences, workforce councils, advisory boards, and public events.
• Cultivate employer partnerships that create career pathways and employment opportunities for participants.
• Strengthen relationships within the observant Jewish community and other key constituencies served by the department.
• Enhance the visibility and reputation of the Career Connections department throughout Staten Island and the greater New York City region.
• Work closely with program directors, agency leadership, and cross-departmental teams to maximize participant success and organizational impact.
• Collaborate with Social Services, Older Adult Services, Education, Youth Development, and other agency departments to create integrated service pathways.
• Support agency-wide initiatives, strategic priorities, accreditation efforts, and special projects as assigned.
• Serve as a leader and champion of the JCC's mission, values, and commitment to community impact.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in workforce development, nonprofit management, social services, human services, education, or related fields.
• Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience managing staff.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing government-funded programs and contracts.
• Experience managing complex budgets and multiple funding streams.
• Proven track record of partnership development, stakeholder engagement, program growth, and community collaboration.
• Experience working with diverse populations and addressing barriers to employment through supportive service models preferred.

Preferred Requirements

• Knowledge of social services systems and community resources that support workforce development participants.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Strong fiscal management, budgeting, and contract administration capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze data and utilize outcomes to drive program improvements and strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive relationships with funders, employers, government agencies, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, community engagement, and participant success.

Salary

$80,000-$85,000 Annually, Commensurate with experience

Benefits

The JCC of Staten Island is committed to keeping you and your family healthy and happy through a comprehensive benefits program. Offerings include: subsidized options for Medical; offerings for Dental and Vision coverage, FSA and Dependent Care. We also offer free LTD, STD, Life Insurance, a Pension, 403B, generous program discounts, free membership, ample time off and much more!