Workforce Development Advisor
The Office of Economic Development (OED) envisions Seattle as a vibrant, innovative, diverse city with an inclusive economy where Seattleites can thrive and share in the new opportunities of the future. Seattle’s Equitable Recovery plan aims to build a thriving City as a whole, by investing in and implementing intentional strategies that meet the varying needs of our local industries, neighborhoods, and communities.
OED’s Workforce Development team focuses on growing the skills of Seattle’s current and future workforce to be part of region's world-class talent pool. Our work focuses on building career pathways to economic mobility by closing skills gaps in targeted growth industries. With our education and employer partners, we are aligning education and training programs with industry needs to give jobseekers targeted in-demand skills while also helping businesses access the talent they need to stabilize and grow.
The Job:
OED Is recruiting for a Workforce Development Advisor to develop and lead the workforce development policy work for the City of Seattle and serve as a subject matter expert on workforce development strategies and initiatives. Your work will include:
- Representing OED and the City of Seattle in creating trusted partnership with key business leaders and stakeholders to envision, develop, and implement workforce development strategies in the region.
- Provide data driven policy recommendations in Workforce Development areas to key internal stakeholders.
- Identify and track trends and industry supported initiatives in these areas – jobs, education, aging workforce, new and changing policies at all levels of government, impacts of global climate change, development pressures, and other relevant areas.
- Serve as a subject matter expert that acknowledges Seattle's need to grow, adapt, and encourages job growth by creating and managing programs that serve Seattle youth of color and workers as well as organizations.
- Identify public-private partnerships that further OED's mission to advance access to economic opportunity for Seattle’s underrepresented workers and communities.
- Bolster workforce development opportunities by supporting local and regional workforce initiatives to create a robust and coordinated workforce strategy in support of family-wage career pathways, particularly for youth of color; support key talent development initiatives, such as the Seattle Region Partnership and youth employment opportunities; explore incubator initiatives with key partners.
To be successful in this job, you are committed to:
- Working to advance access to economic opportunity for underrepresented workers and communities in Seattle by thinking and operating through the lenses of youth and adult empowerment, equity, and race and social justice.
- Making living-wage jobs accessible to youth in Seattle and the Puget Sound Region, particularly youth of color.
- Influencing regulatory, procedural, and policy changes to support local economic job growth and reinvestment
- Working with business and community and driving outreach efforts to promote workforce development initiatives and programs.
Your effectiveness in this role will depend on your ability to:
- Communicate effectively while working in a political and fast-paced environment on a cross-functional team.
- Have a deep understanding of the workforce development challenges faced by businesses, particularly those from racially and ethnically diverse communities
- Respect people’s lived experience and reflect a deep understanding of race, social justice, and equity in your interactions and work.
- Understand institutional barriers youth of color and people of color.
- Work collaboratively with diverse cultural, business, and technical groups.
- Successfully manage competing priorities.
- Create, nurture, and leverage deep relationships internally and externally to promote workforce development initiatives and strategies in the region.
You will feel prepared to take on this role if you have experience in:
- Developing public/private partnerships with a focus on promoting increased racial representation in the workforce and in engagement of diverse business through the creation and execution of equity focused workforce development strategies.
- Experience in the development, implementation and execution of workforce development initiatives, strategies, and programs designed to meet the needs and understanding the challenges of our diverse businesses, communities, and workers.
- Understanding of key economic success factors and ability to analyze and communicate trends.
- Working effectively and collaboratively with colleagues and partners from the full range of differences reflected in our community, including but not limited to: ableness/disability, age, economic/social class, English proficiency, ethnicity, family status, gender identity and expression, national origin/citizenship status, race, religion/spiritual expression, and sexual orientation.
Qualifications
A successful applicant will have a career that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:
- Demonstrated experience in workforce development and general industrial sectors with broad knowledge of industry challenges and needs OR experience in professional-level advocacy, regulatory, entrepreneurial or economic development organizations.
- Promoted racial and social equity in their work.
- Integrated anti-racist principles into their professional practice.
- A commitment to listening, creating spaces for diverse perspectives, and the pursuit of inclusive, just, and racially equitable outcomes.
Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Additional Information
This full-time position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 2, General Government and is exempt from the FLSA. This role may be required to work nights, evenings, weekends; or attend meetings at locations outside of the office.
Why work at the City?
The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.
In addition, to completing the application at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle fully, please attach:
- A cover letter explaining your interest in this job and the skills and experience you would bring to it
- A PDF of your current resume
Who may apply: This position is open to all applicants that meet the above qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The City encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.
COVID 19 Vaccination Mandate: City of Seattle employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If selected, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination prior to your start date. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Employees may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
Questions? Please contact Nicolette Hornbeck at nicolette.hornbeck@seattle.gov
To learn more about the Office of Economic Development, please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/economicdevelopment