National Workforce Development Lead

About Cara Collective

Cara Collective seeks to fuel a courageous national movement to eradicate relational and financial poverty. Through our three entities Cara Cleanslate and Cara Plus we engage job seekers employers and other organizations across the country to break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employment.

At present we produce 1000 jobs each year; however our results dont just end with employment. Today we take the insights gained over the past 30 years to equip other organizations and employers with practices to help build a more inclusive economy. Learn more at .

About the Cara Collective External Affairs Department

The External Affairs Department aims to advance Cara Collectives mission by amplifying our brand building strategic partnerships attracting resources and investments and driving public awareness and practice change. Through coordinated efforts across communications development and external engagement the team ensures our message resonates with stakeholders and strengthens our impact. With a commitment to storytelling relationship-building and thought leadership External Affairs connects Cara Collective to the broader community fueling growth and deepening our influence in the workforce development field.

About The Role

Cara Plus is the expansion arm of Cara Collective which works with organizations around the country. Our work creates inclusive employment pathways by distilling Cara Collectives best practices and tailoring them to each organizations needs. Cara Plus does this through two distinct portfolios:

1. Workforce Development. Where we work with non-profits and workforce development programs to help them deploy sustainable pathways to self-sufficiency in their communities.
2. Inclusive Employment. Where we help employers shift their practices to improve how they recruit hire cultivate and advance untapped talent.

The National Workforce Development Lead will lead innovative workforce initiatives designed to uplift and empower untapped and overlooked talent including individuals impacted by incarceration systemic poverty limited formal education and other barriers to employment. This role is ideal for a mission-driven leader who thrives in a collaborative nonprofit environment and has a strong track record in managing complex community-based workforce programs with measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

Were seeking an individual who thrives at the intersection of strategy workforce development and practical implementation. This is a hands-on role for someone who can lead organizations in adopting inclusive employment practices translating innovative ideas into actionable solutions and helping programs achieve measurable outcomes.

The ideal candidate is a skilled facilitator trusted advisor and creative problem-solver who can work directly with partners and internal teams to implement meaningful change. They balance analytical thinking with strong interpersonal skills and can navigate both the business and community contexts of their work. This role is best suited for someone energized by managing multiple projects building strong relationships and supporting teams and organizations in achieving results.

Requirements

• Experience designing and delivering scalable workforce solutions with measurable impact.
• Experience consulting on workforce strategy for new markets sectors or organizational initiatives.
• Skilled facilitator able to lead trainings workshops or one-on-one sessions with both an accessible and authoritative presence.
• Strong project and portfolio management skills able to track multiple initiatives and ensure quality outcomes.
• Excellent relationship-building skills comfortable engaging stakeholders at all levels of an organization.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively within a fast-moving mission-driven team balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
• Experience tracking metrics and using data to inform strategy and measure progress.
• Quick learner able to take on roles spanning strategy to implementation.

This is an exciting opportunity to help create and maintain the kind of space where Cara Collectives missionto break the cycle of poverty through the power and purpose of employmentcan truly thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy Planning & Consulting (40%)

• Drive workforce expansion initiatives by aligning strategic goals with labor market realities and client needs
• Consult with leadership to design scalable workforce development strategies and facilitate planning sessions to define priorities program models and KPIs
• Lead market research labor demand analysis and capacity assessments for expansion efforts
• Develop multi-region workforce roadmaps aligned with organizational growth and community needs to build scalable models that can be replicated across regions
• Provide expert guidance on best practices for launching or scaling training placement and upskilling programs
• Support organizational entry into new geographies or sectors by identifying workforce readiness needs and talent gaps

Project Execution Delivery & Execution (30%)

• Lead high-impact projects that expand workforce program offerings and national footprint
• Facilitate cross-organizational and cross-sector collaboration meetings to align on goals timelines and deliverables
• Partner with Director of National Workforce Solutions to manage project budgets timelines and risks to ensure on-time on-budget delivery
• Develop tools templates and processes to streamline delivery of workforce solutions at scale
• Track and report on program outcomes such as participant engagement job placement and employer satisfaction

Stakeholder & Team Management (20%)

• Act as a strategic consultant and point of contact for workforce boards training providers community partners and employers
• In partnership with Director of National Workforce Solutions facilitate executive briefings stakeholder meetings and alignment sessions to ensure program goals are shared and understood
• Lead internal project teams and provide mentorship and guidance aligned with expansion goals
• Foster a culture of collaboration learning and accountability across departments and partners
• Cultivate external partnerships that enable the organization to scale workforce solutions effectively
• In partnership with Institutional Giving ensure compliance with funding requirements and help prepare accurate and timely reports.

Support Workforce Development Portfolio (10%)

• Collaborate with Director of National Workforce Solutions and Managing Director of Cara Plus on different strategies initiatives and projects including TA and scoped projects.

Reports to

Director of National Workforce Solutions

Direct Reports

N/A

Workplace Type & Team Culture

Cara Collective has a strong team culture that values collaboration communication and camaraderie. We believe in the power of working together in person which is why we expect our employees to be onsite at one of our Chicago-based locations multiple days each week. For this role that means a minimum of three days in the office. This commitment to in-person collaboration fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork among our employees creating a supportive and dynamic work environment. Regular travel within the Chicago area to meet with partners and employers is required along with occasional out-of-town travel to conferences thought leadership opportunities or other convenings related to Inclusive Employment work.

We consistently measure staff satisfaction through employee surveys and have found that year over year the vast majority of staff agree that Cara Collective is a great place to work and grow. This high level of employee satisfaction reflects our dedication to creating a positive and fulfilling workplace for all members of our team.

Starting Pay Range

We take budget and starting salary very seriously. We market our roles and are using a salary analysis tool called Payscaleand offer competitive market-based compensation to all employees.

This positions expected starting pay range is $annually.

Benefits

Cara Collective is proud to offer a comprehensive competitive benefit package with options designed to help you make the best decision for yourself your family and your lifestyle. Available benefits ae based on eligibility. Our Total Rewards package includes a variety of medical and dental plans vision coverage disability and life insurance 401(k)

• Medical Dental Vision Plans
• Basic Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Personal Technology Reimbursement
• Starting with 17 Vacation Days 8 Sick Days 14 Paid Holidays

Employee Paid Benefits

• Pre-Tax Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Pre-Tax Dependent Care Account
• Pre-Tax Transit & Parking Options
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (employer match up to 4% upon hire & immediately vested)

As of this posting we annually review our benefit offerings to meet our employees needs and be competitive in the market. All listed benefits offerings at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cara Collective is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Cara Collective does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex gender identity religion sexual orientation age disability parental status veteran status or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability please email us at if you require reasonable accommodation to complete this application.