Senior Project Associate, Employment and Training Services

Job Type: Full-time 

Job Title: Senior Project Associate, Employment and Training Services

Position Supervisor: Manager, Food and Nutrition Services

Classification Level: Exempt

Location: Arlington, VA (remote/ hybrid)

Position Timeline: Permanent Full-time position

The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) represents leaders from state, county, and city human services agencies to advance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities nationwide. As a bipartisan membership association, we work with our members to generate pragmatic solutions grounded in lived experience with a lens for racial equity and belonging. With and through these members, we work to advance solutions centered on administering, overseeing, and aligning programs to provide access to food, housing, employment, childcare, community support, and other key building blocks. 

Join a team of dedicated professionals who are results-oriented and impact systems to promote well-being across the nation! You will gain hands-on experience and work with various partners and projects.

Your direct supervisor and coach will be the Manager, Food and Nutrition Services. Your support will be the entire APHSA organization because we work best when we all work together! 

Position Summary:

APHSA is recruiting a Senior Project Associate, Employment and Training Services to lead day-to-day implementation of national grants and contracts that focus on improving and scaling the delivery of employment and training services within public human services agencies and their community partners. The Senior Project Associate will be responsible for project management, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, and content development, while also collaborating with APHSA staff, members, and partners in a teaming environment to meet deliverables and generate impact. 

Supervisor Responsibilities: 

• No

 Major Responsibility #1: Lead APHSA project efforts in SNAP Employment and Training (50%)

• Lead the development and management of detailed project work plans and deliverables for contracts and grants related to employment and training programs, such as SNAP E&T and TANF. 
• Independently coordinate work activities of APHSA staff and teaming partners to ensure quality and timeliness of work products across employment and training projects.
• Convene and facilitate internal and external meetings with APHSA staff, members, and partners, including providing support to APHSA’s SNAP Employment and Training workgroup as requested.
• Maintain strategic member and partner relationships, including targeting members for specific initiatives based on interests and subject matter expertise, curating email, social media, or other member communications, and responding promptly to member inquiries. 
• Under direction from department leadership, support the development of new or expanded business in the area of employment and training services.

Major Responsibility #2: Coordinate the Development of TA and learning tools to increase and expand member and third-party provider capacity (25%)

• Provide technical assistance related to start-up, design, and administration of employment and training programs.
• Coordinate and convene work groups, learning communities, conference events, and other meetings/events as necessary.
• Lead creation of knowledge products such as blogs, issue briefs, webinars, toolkits, infographics, and literature reviews related to relevant human services programs including SNAP E&T, TANF, and other related workforce programs.
• Oversee management of online peer support and learning tools, including online forums, resource libraries, and related web materials.

Major Responsibility #3: Align APHSA’s Employment & Training Services work with broader workforce development efforts and partner organizations (15%)

• Maintain relationships and engagement with partner organizations engaged in SNAP E&T, TANF, WIOA, vocational education, and other related workforce initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships, such as funded collaborations, presenting at partner conference events, webinars, or meetings, creating formal and informal information dissemination channels, or co-publication of materials/resources.
• Foster working relationships with teaming partners on grants and contracts within the Influence Department.

Other Duties #4: Perform all other duties as assigned (10%): Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

•  Minimum of bachelor’s degree.
• MS degree desired.
• At least 5-7 years of work experience in non-profit, local, state, or federal employment and training programs such as SNAP E&T, TANF, or WIOA. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Experience with other project management tools such as Smartsheet
• Possesses strong organization skills, ability to multi-task high volume work requests and re-prioritize independently; pro-actively problem-solves.
• Exhibit strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to produce high-quality, professional and respectful communications to individuals throughout the nation.
• Willingness to travel (up to 10%) as public health considerations permit.

Qualifications

• Experience in or knowledge of administering SNAP E&T programs within human services or as a third-party provider, and a basic understanding of related workforce programs such as TANF and WIOA.
• Basic Knowledge of Human Services.
• Experience facilitating meetings and managing relationships with external partners.
• Strong project management, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in written form, including in public presentations.
• Experience incorporating perspectives of multiple communities and knowledge of how structural racism and bias impact underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Personal experience in receiving or supporting others in receiving employment and training services or nutrition support.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. 

At APHSA, we value and support the health, well-being and future of our staff. Our benefit package is based on improving employee morale, which fosters a work environment where staff feel they can thrive and feel accomplished. Aside from basic benefits such as 100% employer coverage of health, dental, and vision insurance, we also offer additional employee benefits and perks like these:

• 3% contribution to 401k or ROTH Plan
• Hybrid work environment
• Additional discretionary holidays included with 11 paid holidays
• 20 vacation days
• 15 sick/wellness days
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance
• FSA (health, dependent, commuter)
• Optional employee-paid benefits (legal, pet insurance, critical illness, accident)

INSTRUCTIONS: Please submit a resume and cover letter. 

 This employer participates in E-Verify for employment verification. 

The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) is a bipartisan national membership association representing state and local health and human services agencies and the subject matter experts that help execute their mission to improve outcomes for people nationwide. APHSA's dedication to promoting diversity, racial equity, multiculturalism, and inclusion is clearly reflected in how we work and support our members. It is more than a commitment—it is the foundation of how we do what we do. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and recognize that building well-being starts with creating a space where our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic, unique selves to work.

Building on our long-standing relationships with health and human services leaders, we focus on generating pragmatic solutions that advance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.