Hiring Eastside Youth Opportunity Center Director in Baltimore

The Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED) is the city’s primary agency dedicated to connecting residents with quality employment opportunities, reducing youth unemployment, and advancing equitable workforce development across all Baltimore neighborhoods. Partnering with local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations, MOED creates pathways to stable, well-paying careers for residents facing employment barriers, including out-of-school youth, justice-involved individuals, and low-income workers.

We are recruiting an experienced, mission-driven Director for the Eastside Youth Opportunity (YO) Center, a city-funded initiative serving 18-24 year old out-of-school, unemployed youth in Baltimore’s Eastside neighborhoods (Berea, Johnston Square, Broadway East, and adjacent communities). The center provides free, tailored support including vocational training, soft skills development, job placement services, and wraparound assistance (transportation vouchers, childcare support, housing referrals) to help young adults build sustainable careers. This role reports directly to the MOED Director of Youth Programs and holds end-to-end operational and strategic leadership responsibility for the center, with a mandate to meet or exceed city and federal performance targets for youth employment outcomes.

Key responsibilities for this role include:
1. Lead the design, launch, and continuous improvement of vocational training programs aligned with local labor market demand, with a target of enrolling 200 unique youth annually and achieving a 75% job placement or qualified training enrollment rate within 6 months of participant onboarding. Training tracks include healthcare (certified nursing aide, medical technician), construction (carpentry, electrical), and digital skills (IT support, digital marketing) with nationally recognized certifications.
2. Manage an annual operating budget of $1.2 million allocated through city funds and federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grants, ensuring full compliance with municipal and federal financial reporting requirements, and delivering quarterly performance reports to MOED leadership and city council stakeholders.
3. Supervise a cross-functional team of 12 staff members including youth counselors, vocational trainers, partnership specialists, and administrative coordinators, implementing bi-annual performance reviews, professional development plans, and team cohesion activities to maintain a 90% staff retention rate.
4. Develop and maintain formal partnerships with 30+ local employers across high-growth sectors including Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Port of Baltimore, Baltimore City Public Schools, and local construction firms, to secure 150+ annual internship and full-time job placements for center participants.
5. Oversee implementation of the Apricot case management system to track participant progress, document barriers to employment (housing instability, transportation access, childcare needs), and coordinate wraparound services with city social service departments and community-based organizations to resolve these barriers within 10 business days of identification.
6. Lead quarterly community outreach events including job fairs, skills workshops, and information sessions to engage 500+ local youth annually, and maintain a waitlist of no more than 30 participants to ensure timely access to services.
7. Ensure full compliance with all WIOA, city, and grantor requirements for program quality and participant eligibility, conducting annual internal audits and leading corrective action plans to address any performance gaps.
8. Represent the Eastside YO Center at city-wide workforce development task forces, community board meetings, and employer roundtables to advocate for youth employment policy changes and share best practices for serving out-of-school youth.

The Eastside YO Center is located in a newly renovated community space in the Berea neighborhood of East Baltimore, with open office space, dedicated training classrooms, and a computer lab for participants. The team operates in a fast-paced, impact-driven environment where staff are encouraged to test innovative approaches to youth engagement, with regular feedback loops from program participants to shape service delivery. This role follows a hybrid work model, with 3 days per week on-site at the center or in the field meeting with participants and partners, and 2 days remote for administrative and strategic planning work. MOED values diversity, equity, and inclusion, with 60% of current staff identifying as BIPOC and a formal commitment to hiring and promoting staff from the communities we serve.

To qualify for this role, candidates must have:
- 5+ years of professional experience in youth program management, workforce development, or social services, with at least 2 years of experience managing teams and operational budgets
- Proven track record of meeting or exceeding employment outcome targets for marginalized youth populations, with documented experience placing at least 100 youth in employment or training annually
- In-depth knowledge of WIOA regulations, city workforce development programs, and best practices for serving out-of-school youth, including experience with trauma-informed care approaches
- Proficiency in case management software (Apricot preferred), Salesforce, Microsoft 365 Suite, and grant reporting tools
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build trust with youth participants, community members, and employer partners
- Valid Maryland driver’s license and reliable transportation for regular field visits across the Eastside Baltimore area
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, Human Services, or a related field; Master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred

This permanent full-time role offers a competitive annual salary between $78,000 and $94,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include 80% employer-paid comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents, 20 days of paid annual leave, 10 days of paid sick leave, 12 paid holidays per year, access to the City of Baltimore defined benefit retirement plan with a 5% employer contribution, an annual $2,000 professional development stipend, hybrid work flexibility, a city-provided vehicle for work-related travel, and access to free mental health counseling through the MOED employee wellness program.

MOED is committed to supporting the long-term career growth of its staff. Directors of YO centers are regularly considered for promotions to Regional Youth Program Director, Deputy Director of Youth Services, or leadership roles in city-wide workforce development policy. The role also offers opportunities to participate in national workforce development networks, present at industry conferences, and lead city-wide initiatives to improve youth employment outcomes.

Recruitment timeline and next steps:
- Application deadline: October 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST. Late submissions will not be considered.
- Initial dossier review: October 16-20, 2024. Selected candidates will be contacted for a first-round virtual interview.
- First-round interviews: October 23-25, 2024, via Zoom, including a 30-minute presentation on your approach to increasing youth employment outcomes in East Baltimore.
- Finalist interviews: October 28-30, 2024, in-person at MOED headquarters with the Director of Youth Programs and a panel of community stakeholders.
- Target start date: November 18, 2024, contingent on successful background check and reference verification.
- To apply, submit your curriculum vitae and a 1-page cover letter detailing your relevant experience to [email protected] with the subject line "Eastside YO Center Director Application – [Your Full Name]".