Assistant Program Manager

Job Title: Assistant Program Director

Department: Workforce Development

Work Location: Chicago

Reports to: CEJA Program Director

Classification: Exempt

Status: Full-time (Hybrid)

Employee Type: W-2

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000

Who We Are:

HIRE360 is an industry-led, workforce development nonprofit investing in the communities that call Illinois home. We bring together the largest construction unions, general contractors, and developers to create opportunities in construction for everyone.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Program Director supports the delivery and long-term success of the Climate Works program by providing operational, financial, and strategic leadership. This role assists in ensuring program effectiveness, compliance, and sustainability while advancing statewide workforce development goals. The Assistant Director plays a key role in coordinating, implementing, and overseeing workforce programming across the state to ensure alignment with Climate Works objectives, policies, and funding requirements.

Working closely with the Program Director, the Assistant Director supports day-to-day operations, monitors performance outcomes, and contributes to strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts. This position is responsible for supporting fiscal oversight, operational planning, and data-informed decision making to enhance program impact. Additionally, the Assistant Director ensures that all Climate Works staff understand and perform their assigned duties effectively, providing guidance, coordination, and support to promote accountability, collaboration, and high-quality service delivery.

Responsibilities (Essential Duties and Responsibilities):

• Assist the Program Director in providing operational, financial, and strategic leadership to ensure the effective delivery of the Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program.
• Supports the coordination, implementation, and ongoing oversight of the Climate Works workforce initiative to ensure alignment with program goals.
• Contributes to short- and long-term strategic planning efforts to strengthen program impact, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Monitors implementation progress and assist in identifying operational challenges and recommending solutions.
• Assists in monitoring program budgets, expenditures, and financial reporting to ensure responsible use of funds and compliance with fiscal requirements.
• Analyzes reporting requirements to ensure the organization is following state requirements and meeting or exceeding identified program goals.
• Reviews and approves reports on the Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Fund, in which individuals can be reimbursed for costs associated with barriers after enrollment in the program.
• Supports the supervision, coordination, and professional development of the Climate Works staff to ensure assigned duties are carried out effectively and timely.
• Provides guidance and technical assistance to staff related to program operations, policies, and procedures.
• Assist in maintaining effective communication with stakeholders, including partner organizations, agencies, and community groups.
• Support the development of internal and external communications related to program implementation and outcomes.

Qualifications (Knowledge, skills, and abilities):

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Effective leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently while supporting a collaborative leadership structure.
• Proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook/Exchange, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) and ability to learn new systems. Knowledge of case management systems such as Career Connect or Illinois workNet is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and consistency
• Organized with strong leadership capabilities.
• Strong communications skills, both verbal and written
• Strong analytical skills
• Brings enthusiasm and passion for problem solving and accomplishing goals.
• Experience collaborating with clients from diverse populations and cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team.
• Demonstrated knowledge of workforce development and/or knowledge of implementing programs and training, and/or minimum of three to five years of relevant experience in a related field such as the building and construction trades, apprenticeships, training programs, and/or working directly with contractors.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.
• Willingness to travel statewide as required.

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree, post-secondary education is preferred.
• Experience supporting or managing large-scale, multi-site, or statewide programs is strongly preferred.
• Experience with grant-funded or publicly funded programs, including compliance with and reporting requirements.
• Nonprofit experience is a plus.
• Prior workforce development experience, and bilingual (Spanish/English) are preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Talking in-person/on the phone consistently.
• Requires reliable transportation including state mandated insurance.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

• Monday – Friday. 9 am – 5 pm
• Frequent evenings and weekends.

Travel

• Travel as needed across Central and Southern Illinois including Peoria, Rockford, Belvidere, Champaign, DeKalb, Bloomington, Pekin, Decatur, Belleville, East Alton, Alton, Fairview Heights, Danville, and Springfield.

*HIRE360 is an equal opportunity/ADA employer. All federal, state and local and other fair employment standards including EEO and ADA requirements in race, gender, gender identification, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, veteran status, veterans or disabled veterans status as found in 41CFR 60-1.4, 60-250.4 and 60-741.4 are herein incorporated by reference. Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. HIRE360 encourages applications from all of the above referenced protected and unprotected status groups**.*