Senior Manager, Career Action Team, Skills Initiative

University City District (UCD) is a non-profit, special services district that leverages a unique partnership of universities, health systems, large and small businesses, and community groups to invest in public spaces, address public maintenance and public safety issues, bring life to commercial corridors, promote job growth and innovation, and connect residents to career opportunities; by way of The Skills Initiative.

The Skills Initiative is a nationally recognized workforce intermediary. We implement custom talent solutions focused on connecting the City’s talent to opportunities within prestigious companies, organizations, and institutions. Through partnerships with local organizations and anchor organizations, the Skills Initiative creates pathways to employment and fosters economic mobility.  

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Career Action Team plays a pivotal role in advancing The Skills Initiative’s partnership with Penn Medicine, one of the region’s largest employers and a long-standing collaborator in building pathways to family-sustaining healthcare careers.

This position is dedicated exclusively to Penn Medicine’s middle-skill roles, beginning with the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) pipelines. The Senior Manager, Career Action Team manages all aspects of these programs—from planning and coordination with Penn Medicine and technical training providers, to participant success and job placement.

The role begins as a hands-on program management position (Tier 1) and evolves into a strategic leadership role (Tier 2) as individual capacity is built, and Penn Medicine’s middle-skill workforce strategy expands to additional roles and sites.

Tier 1: Program Management & Execution (Initial Phase)

Focus: Administrative and operational management to ensure smooth, high-quality delivery of Penn Medicine’s CMA and CNA programs.

Program Administration

• Manage all administrative and logistical aspects of the CMA and CNA programs, including scheduling facilitators, training providers, and Penn Medicine representatives.
• Prepare and distribute program materials, maintain program calendars, and ensure training sessions and externship rotations run efficiently.
• Actively manage program data in Salesforce and other platforms, ensuring accurate tracking of participant progress, credential attainment, attendance, and externship completion.
• Coordinate onboarding logistics for participants and employer partners, including documentation, scheduling, and communications.
• Provide classroom technical and logistical support as needed, ensuring a seamless participant and facilitator experience.

Facilitation and Participant Engagement

• Lead Participant Agreement Meetings and Orientation sessions, ensuring all participants understand program goals, expectations, and available resources.
• Conduct daily participant check-ins and check-outs using a trauma-informed approach.
• Facilitate key Skills Initiative-designed curriculum content in both virtual and in-person programming as needed.
• Facilitate participant feedback sessions, such as closing focus groups, to gather valuable insights for program improvement.

Externship & Job Placement Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison with Penn Medicine hiring managers and technical training providers to coordinate externship assignments and placements.
• Track externship progress, manage issue resolution, and document placement outcomes to ensure participants are well-matched and supported.
• Collaborate with The Skills Initiative leadership to align job placement strategy with Penn Medicine’s hiring needs and support interview coordination.
• Monitor transitions between externship and employment, ensuring stipends, documentation, and communication are managed effectively.

Facilitator and Partner Coordination

• Coordinate all logistics for facilitators, training providers, and vendors, ensuring materials, curriculum, and space are ready and expectations are clear.
• Maintain consistent communication with Penn Medicine and technical training providers to ensure alignment on scheduling, program execution, and participant readiness.
• Support the planning and hosting of program-related events, workshops, and employer site visits.
• Be present on-site at technical training provider locations to ensure continuity in training, participant access, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Alumni Support  

• Assist the team in organizing alumni events and activities, ensuring a seamless transition from participant to alum and providing opportunities for continued growth. 

• Collaborate with the Career Specialist to assist in resume support and mock interviews for Skills Initiative alumni.  

• Participate in the management of alumni focused social media content across relevant platforms to foster engagement and community.  

Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Report directly to the Executive Director during the initial phase of the program, providing regular updates on progress, challenges, and outcomes.
• Work closely with Senior Director of Workforce Programs to understand program philosophy, strategy, and process. Support across a diverse set of programs during the initial onboarding phase as knowledge is built.
• Generate internal and external reports using Salesforce and partner data to support funder reporting and pay-for-success tracking.
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts by identifying process enhancements and best practices.

Tier 2: Team Leadership & Strategic Program Development (Growth Phase)

Focus: Expansion and strategic leadership of Penn Medicine’s middle-skill workforce portfolio, driving long-term retention and career growth outcomes.

Portfolio Oversight

• Oversee all middle-skill workforce programs for Penn Medicine as they expand beyond CMA and CNA roles.
• Manage and mentor staff as the Career Action Team grows, fostering a high-performance culture focused on results and quality.
• Ensure consistent alignment between The Skills Initiative’s operational model and Penn Medicine’s workforce needs.

Retention and Advancement Strategy

• Lead the design and implementation of retention and career advancement strategies for Penn Medicine alumni.
• Track and analyze long-term participant outcomes including retention, wage growth, and career progression and report findings to leadership, partners and funders.

Pay-for-Success and Data Accountability

• Oversee pay-for-success implementation, ensuring performance metrics and financial incentives are tied to verified outcomes.
• Partner with finance and data teams to manage invoicing, outcome verification, and employer-based payment processes.
• Use Salesforce data and performance analytics to guide program decision-making and demonstrate impact.

Partnership Development

• Deepen relationships with technical training providers, ensuring programs evolve to meet emerging workforce needs.
• Coordinate and facilitate joint planning and review meetings between The Skills Initiative and Penn Medicine.

Program Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve program design, externship models, and support structures in collaboration with Skills Initiative leadership, Penn Medicine and training providers.
• Lead the implementation of new programs and credential pathways as Penn Medicine identifies additional middle-skill needs in partnership with Senior Director of Workforce Programs.
• Partner with The Skills Initiative leadership team to develop sustainability and scaling strategies for the Penn Medicine partnership.

Timeline and Growth Path

• Early 2026: Onboard and observe existing Skills Initiative programs, with an emphasis on Penn Medicine CMA and CNA pipelines.
• First 6–9 months: Lead program management, ensuring seamless program delivery and positive outcomes.
• Year 1–2: Transition into full leadership of the Penn Medicine middle-skill portfolio, supervising staff, managing retention initiatives, and leading program innovation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in workforce development, healthcare, education, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in program management, workforce partnerships, or training operations.
• Strong project management and relationship-building skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Experience facilitating adult learning in both in-person and virtual settings.
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, and Zoom (training available).
• Demonstrated commitment to The Skills Initiative’s mission of advancing economic mobility through employer-driven workforce strategies.

Salary

• $80,000

To Apply

If you are interested in this role, please email your resume and cover letter to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources at ejorden@universitycity.org.

As part of your cover letter, please also include a brief response (2–3 sentences) addressing the following questions. Please keep in mind that there are no wrong answers! We ask this to better understand your work style and how to create an environment that allows you to do your best work.

1. How do you best process information? (For example, do you prefer to brainstorm aloud, or read and reflect before responding?)
2. How do you best receive feedback? (For example, written, verbal, or through collaborative discussion?)

Finally, a real person will be reading every application, so please bring your humanity to your cover letter. No need to game the word choice algorithm, just let us know why you think you would be a great addition to our growing team!