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Join our team.

When we have open positions on the University City District or Skills Initiative teams they will be listed below.

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.

University City District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Unless otherwise noted, all inquiries regarding open positions can be sent to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources.

Open Roles:

Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration
Program Manager, Career Action Team, Skills Initiative

Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration

University City District (UCD) is a nonprofit, 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.  

University City District is a nonprofit organization with a multi-entity financial structure and diversified revenue streams supporting both place-based economic development and workforce development initiatives. The organization manages an annual operating budget of approximately $15 million across UCD and its affiliated programs, including The Skills Initiative, a nationally recognized workforce intermediary, and Green City Works, a mission-driven landscaping social enterprise.

UCD’s revenue portfolio includes a mix of voluntary institutional contributions, foundation and government grants, corporate sponsorships, fee-for-service contracts, and individual philanthropic contributions, requiring strong financial management, grant compliance, and multi-fund accounting. The organization also oversees several restricted funds and program-specific budgets, including major workforce development initiatives and industry partnerships that operate across the Philadelphia region.

Position Overview

University City District seeks a strategic, hands-on, and forward-thinking Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration to serve as the organization’s principal financial leader and a close partner to the President. This role is both transformational and operational: the SVP will modernize financial systems, strengthen reporting and forecasting, and build the infrastructure needed to support UCD’s next phase of growth. The SVP will play a central role in shaping organizational strategy, translating mission priorities into clear financial plans, improving visibility into performance, and ensuring leadership and the Board have timely, accurate, and actionable information for decision-making.

At the same time, this leader will be deeply embedded in day-to-day operations, overseeing accounting, budgeting, grant compliance, HR, IT, and administrative functions within a lean team. The SVP will build trust across a highly collaborative but evolving organization, bringing greater accountability, clarity, and consistency to processes while maintaining UCD’s entrepreneurial and mission-driven culture. This is a unique opportunity for a leader who is energized by building systems, partnering across functions, and creating a finance function that is proactive, transparent, and essential to organizational success.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy & Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the President and senior leadership team.
- Translate organizational priorities into financial strategy, scenario planning, and resource allocation decisions.
- Lead the evolution from reactive financial management to proactive planning, forecasting, and performance management.
- Support major strategic initiatives, including program scaling, restructuring efforts, and new revenue models.
Financial Operations & Modernization
- Oversee all core accounting functions, including general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, and financial close.
- Establish and enforce a disciplined monthly close process and reporting calendar.
- Modernize financial systems, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency, accuracy, and real-time visibilty.
- Strengthen internal controls, policies, and documentation to ensure compliance and scalability.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis
- Lead the development of annual budgets and multi-year financial forecasts across all entities and programs.
- Provide regular, clear, and actionable financial reporting to department leaders, senior leadership, and the Board.
- Partner with program leaders to improve budget clarity, ownership, and accountability.
- Develop forward-looking insights on cash flow, program sustainability, and investment decisions.
Audit, Compliance & Risk Management
- Serve as primary liaison to external auditors and lead the annual audit process.
- Ensure timely, accurate audit completion and strong communication with the Finance Committee and Board.
- Oversee compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including grant and contract requirements.
- Strengthen risk management practices, including insurance and financial controls.
Grants & Public Funding Management
- Oversee budgeting, tracking, and reporting for government grants, contracts, and philanthropic funding.
- Ensure timely invoicing, reporting, and collections across all funding streams.
- Partner with Advancement and program teams to align financial tracking with grant requirements and revenue strategy.
- Improve systems for tracking restricted funds, grant performance, and deliverables.
Treasury & Cash Management
- Manage cash flow, liquidity, and banking relationships.
- Provide forward-looking cash forecasting to support operational and strategic decisions.
- Identify opportunities to optimize use of reserves and excess cash.
Board & External Engagement
- Serve as the primary financial liaison to the Board of Directors and Finance Committee.
- Present clear, credible, and insightful financial reports and analyses.
- Build strong relationships with institutional partners, funders, and external stakeholders.
- Support development of compelling financial narratives for funders and partners.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a small but critical finance and administrative team.
- Establish clear expectations, accountability, and professional development pathways.
- Foster a culture of responsiveness, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Provide hands-on support when needed in a lean team environment.
Administration (HR, IT, Operations)
- Oversee Human Resources, IT, and administrative functions to ensure effective organizational support.
- Partner with HR leadership on talent strategy, performance management, and employee experience.
- Ensure administrative systems scale with organizational growth and complexity.
- Improve policies, procedures, and cross-functional coordination.
Procurement & Vendor Management
- Establish clear procurement policies and contract management processes.
- Improve vendor payment timelines and financial oversight of contracts.
- Partner with operational teams to align purchasing with strategic and budget priorities.
- Track and identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency.

The Leader

Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of senior financial and administrative leadership experience.
- Strong experience in nonprofit finance, including grants management and multi-fund accounting preferred.
- Demonstrated success building or modernizing financial systems and processes.
- Experience partnering with executive leadership and Boards on strategy and decision-making.
- Working knowledge of Human Resources, compliance, and organizational operations.
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Comfort working both strategically and hands-on in a lean, evolving environment.
- Experience with financial systems and openness to leveraging technology and automation (including AI tools) to improve efficiency.
Leadership Attributes
- Strategic & Proactive: Anticipates challenges, brings forward solutions, and builds systems that enable foresight and planning.
- Hands-On Builder: Comfortable operating at both strategic and tactical levels; willing to roll up sleeves when needed.
- Operationally Rigorous: Establishes clear processes, accountability, and financial discipline.
- Collaborative & Relationship-Oriented: Builds trust across teams, with leadership, and with external stakeholders.
- Clear & Confident Communicator: Translates complex financial information into actionable insights.
- Change Leader: Brings structure and clarity while navigating organizational evolution and growth.
- High Integrity & Accountability: Holds self and others to high standards with transparency and consistency.
- Adaptable & Agile: Thrives in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities and evolving needs.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA, CMA, or MBA strongly preferred.

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Compensation: $175,000 – $200,000, bonus eligible.

To apply: We are partnering with Toya Lawson of Bridge Partners for this search. To apply, please share a resume and brief cover letter to: Toya Lawson, Bridge Partners, at toya.lawson@bridgepartnersllc.com

Program 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 Program Manager at the Skills Initiative is a vital role that ensures the smooth and efficient operation of our nationally recognized workforce programs. This position involves managing administrative program operations, supporting program facilitation, and most importantly, serving as the main Skills Initiative contact for active participants during programming. The Program Manager is responsible for creating a supportive, professional, and focused environment to enable program participants to excel. The Program Manager will report to the Senior Director of Workforce Programs. The Program Manager will work closely with the programming team to maintain the Skills Initiative’s high standards and will collaborate across the entire team to ensure excellence in service delivery.

Focus: Administrative and operational management to ensure smooth, high-quality delivery of a select set of workforce training programs.

Program Administration

Manage all administrative and logistical aspects of assigned programs, including scheduling facilitators, training providers, and employer representatives.
Prepare and distribute program materials, maintain program calendars, and ensure training sessions and externship rotations (when required) 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 for assigned programs, 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 for Select Programs

Serve as the primary liaison with employer partner 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.
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 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. 
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.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in workforce development, healthcare, education, or related field.
Minimum 3 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.

Work Environment

This is a fast-paced, collaborative role that operates across office and training environments. The position is primarily in-person, with flexibility as appropriate, and requires occasional early morning or evening availability to support program delivery and employer engagement.

Team members regularly manage multiple priorities and shifting timelines, particularly during active program cycles. Success in this role requires comfort with ambiguity, strong communication across internal teams and external partners, and the ability to move between planning and in-the-classroom execution.

Salary

$70,000

To Apply

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.

How do you best process information? (For example, do you prefer to brainstorm aloud, or read and reflect before responding?)
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!

If you are interested in this role, please email your resume, cover letter, and the answers for consideration to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources at ejorden@universitycity.org with the subject line “Application for Program Manager at Skills Initiative.”