Hiring Youth Opportunity Center Program Manager in Baltimore

The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) is the municipal agency responsible for designing and implementing workforce development strategies for the city’s 600,000 residents, with a specific focus on reducing unemployment among vulnerable populations, including young adults, justice-involved individuals, and residents without post-secondary credentials. For over 20 years, MOED has operated a network of Youth Opportunity (YO) Centers across Baltimore, providing free, wrap-around services to out-of-school, unemployed youth aged 18 to 24, many of whom face intersecting barriers including housing instability, caregiving responsibilities, prior justice system involvement, and limited formal work experience.

The Eastside YO Center, located in the Broadway East neighborhood of Baltimore, serves 250 participants annually and is seeking a dedicated, experienced Program Manager to oversee all daily operations, program delivery, and partnership development for the site. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on driving measurable employment and training outcomes for a demographic that is often left out of traditional workforce systems, with direct reporting to the MOED Director of Youth Programs.

Key responsibilities for this role include:
1. Overseeing full operational management of the Eastside YO Center, including administration of a $1.2M annual budget funded by the Maryland Department of Labor and local foundation grants, with a target of maintaining 99% compliance with all grant reporting requirements and zero unapproved budget overruns each fiscal year.
2. Designing and delivering personalized workforce development plans for 250 annual participants, including 20 high-need clients (those experiencing homelessness, parenting under 21, or with open justice cases) who receive weekly one-on-one case management, with a target of 75% of participants securing unsubsidized employment, registered apprenticeship, or accredited vocational training within 6 months of program enrollment.
3. Building and maintaining partnerships with 30+ local employers across healthcare, construction, hospitality, and municipal sectors to secure 150 paid internships and direct hire placements annually for program participants, including negotiating wage guarantees of at least $15 per hour for all placed participants.
4. Managing a cross-functional team of 12 staff members including youth advisors, vocational trainers, and administrative coordinators, including conducting monthly performance reviews, coordinating quarterly team training on trauma-informed care and youth engagement best practices, and maintaining a staff retention rate of at least 85% annually.
5. Coordinating wrap-around support services for participants in partnership with Baltimore City social service agencies, including housing assistance, mental health counseling, food security support, and childcare subsidies, to reduce non-employment barriers for program participants.
6. Developing and submitting monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports to MOED leadership and program funders, tracking key metrics including participant enrollment, retention, placement rates, and wage growth, with all reports submitted 3 business days before the required deadline each cycle.
7. Leading 4 annual community outreach events in East Baltimore neighborhoods to recruit new participants and raise awareness of YO Center services, in partnership with local schools, faith-based organizations, and community associations, with a target of recruiting 60 new eligible participants annually through these events.
8. Implementing and maintaining the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack (NPSP) system for participant tracking, ensuring full compliance with Maryland data privacy regulations for youth and ensuring 100% data accuracy for all reporting requirements.

This on-site role is based at the Eastside YO Center in Baltimore, with a hybrid work option of 2 remote days per month available after successful completion of a 6-month probation period. The MOED team operates with a flat, collaborative structure focused on community impact rather than bureaucratic red tape, with regular check-ins with city leadership and direct input from program participants to shape service delivery. Staff are encouraged to work flexible hours to accommodate participants’ schedules, including occasional evening or weekend hours for outreach events or participant check-ins.

Qualified candidates will meet the following requirements:
- Minimum of 3 years of professional experience managing workforce development, youth services, or social service programs, with demonstrated success managing budgets of $500,000 or larger and meeting performance targets for vulnerable populations.
- Proven experience negotiating employer partnerships and securing job placements for entry-level workers, with a track record of placing at least 75% of program participants in sustainable employment.
- Proficiency in Salesforce NPSP, advanced Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data visualization), and municipal reporting tools used by Baltimore City agencies.
- Strong knowledge of Maryland workforce development policies, U.S. Department of Labor youth program regulations, and local social service resources available to Baltimore residents.
- Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to build trust with young adults facing complex barriers and collaborate effectively with municipal agencies, nonprofit partners, and local businesses.
- Valid U.S. driver’s license and ability to travel throughout East Baltimore for site visits and partnership meetings.

The selected candidate will receive a competitive annual salary between $68,000 and $79,000, dependent on relevant experience, aligned with Baltimore City public sector pay scales for program management roles. Benefits include 80% employer-paid premium for comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for the employee and eligible dependents, 20 days of paid vacation leave annually plus 12 paid sick leave days and 10 paid city holidays, enrollment in the Baltimore City Employees’ Retirement System with a 5% employer contribution to retirement savings, an annual $2,000 professional development stipend for training or conference attendance, and access to MOED’s free employee wellness program including mental health counseling sessions.

This role offers clear pathways for professional growth within MOED and the broader Baltimore City government. High-performing Program Managers are eligible for promotion to Senior Program Manager or Director of Youth Programs within 2-3 years, with the opportunity to oversee YO Center operations across multiple city neighborhoods. The role also provides regular opportunities to participate in national workforce development networks, contribute to policy development for youth employment programs, and pilot innovative service models funded by federal workforce grants.

Application and hiring process:
- Application deadline: October 15, 2024. Late submissions will not be considered.
- Initial review: All complete applications will be reviewed by the MOED hiring committee between October 16 and October 21, 2024. Candidates selected for interview will be notified via email by October 22, 2024.
- First-round interview: 30-minute virtual interview with the MOED Director of Youth Programs and the Eastside YO Center Operations Lead, scheduled between October 23 and October 27, 2024.
- Second-round interview: In-person interview and practical case study exercise at the Eastside YO Center on October 29, 2024, where candidates will present a 10-minute plan to increase participant employment placement rates by 10% over a 6-month period, followed by a 20-minute Q&A with the full hiring panel.
- Final decision: All candidates will be notified of the hiring decision by November 5, 2024. The selected candidate will be expected to start the role on December 2, 2024.
To apply, submit your resume and a detailed cover letter outlining your experience supporting young adult workforce inclusion to [email protected], with the subject line: Application for Eastside YO Center Program Manager - [Your Full Name]. No phone calls please; only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.