Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Apprenticeship Advantage Program

Workforce Development Programs Director
Apprenticeship Advantage Program

Based in Houston, TX

 

About the Apprenticeship Advantage Program
The Apprenticeship Advantage Program (AAP) is an initiative of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), AFL-CIO, to expand Harris County residents’ access to good jobs and career training through Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeships. Funded by the largest local government investment in union apprenticeships in the U.S., the program partners with 11 joint labor-management apprenticeship programs in the construction, live entertainment, and public transportation industries. The AAP place apprentices in earn-while-you-learn jobs that offer fair pay, quality benefits, free career training, and a voice on the job. Visit tinyurl.com/AAPinfo and www.apprenticeship-advantage.org/ for additional background on the program.

Position Summary
The Programs Director (PD) serves as the operational and strategic lead of the AAP, responsible for coordinating apprenticeship partners, managing project staff, developing recruitment pipelines into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, and ensuring successful delivery of grant-funded program outcomes. This role oversees the full lifecycle of program implementation, from program development, to outreach and recruitment through enrollment, retention, and reporting, and ensures that all program activities align with funding requirements, timelines, and performance goals. The Programs Director serves as a central point of coordination between unions, government agencies, community partners, employers, and program participants.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Apprenticeship Advantage Program
Program Coordination and Partner Management

• Coordinate staff, apprenticeship training subcontractors, and consultants and monitor performance to ensure all stakeholders meet program deliverables and timelines
• Manage project administrative and outreach and retention staff, including providing training and mentoring, and consultants
• Serve as the primary liaison between AAP and subcontracted apprenticeship programs and external partners, including government officials, external program evaluators, the media, etc.
• Manage partner relationships
• Facilitate regular partner meetings, maintain clear communication, and support alignment across stakeholders
• Maintain and improve internal systems for tracking spending, program activities, beneficiary data, and participant progress

Pre-Apprenticeship Expansion and Apprenticeship Pipeline Development

• Work with apprenticeship partners to strengthen existing pre-apprenticeship programs and launch new ones, with a focus on Disaster Response and Recovery Skills
• Develop formal partnerships with targeted school districts, government, and nonprofit agencies to pilot innovative pathways to apprenticeships, including establishment, nurturing, and managing candidate pipelines from initial inquiry through enrollment, ensuring consistent engagement and follow-up

Financial Management

• Prepare project budgets, monitor TGCALF and partner spending, and obtain approval for budget reallocations to ensure alignment with approved funding and timeline requirements
• Oversee preparation and submission of accurate monthly invoices, financial reports, expenditure preauthorization requests, and required documentation to County as needed

Community Outreach & Partnership Development

• Collaborate on designing public-facing communications, including reports, presentations, social media, marketing materials, and messaging
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, workforce development agencies, schools, and referral partners
• Represent AAP before Harris County Commissioners Court, in the media, workforce boards, funders, and partner organization
• Plan, coordinate, and execute outreach and recruitment events, including program tours and informational sessions
• Maintain outreach materials, contact lists, and engagement strategies, including use of CRM systems
• Identify and cultivate new partnership opportunities to expand program reach and impact

Reporting, & Compliance

• Track and report on key program metrics to ensure program goals and key performance indicators are met
• Provide accurate, detailed program performance reports and documentation as required by the County
• Support data collection, documentation, and reporting processes to ensure accuracy and consistency
• Identify performance or compliance issues and implement corrective action plans as needed
• Ensure all program activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and grant requirements
• Analyze data to identify performance gaps and develop strategies for continuous improvement
• Retain and furnish relevant documents, correspondence, and materials to Harris County for compliance purposes

Interim Executive Director, 501c3 workforce development non-profit Strategic Leadership

• Assist the TGCALF’s Executive Director with organizational, legal, and grant-writing tasks to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to expand the role of labor-management apprenticeships in Houston’s regional workforce development system in existing and new industries
• Lead strategic visioning and organizational development in alignment with the organization's mission.
• Develop and manage relationships with internal and external workforce partners to identify opportunities for expanding program
• Report regularly to internal organizational leadership

Fundraising & Development

• Build and manage relationships with public and private sector funders.
• Lead private sector fundraising efforts, particularly from philanthropic institutions and private donors.
• Direct public sector grant efforts involving federal, state and local sources.

Operational Leadership & Organizational Growth

• Oversee programs, budgets and finances.
• Oversee the implementation and expansion of workforce development programming.
• Supervise and support a growing staff and ensure strong internal operations.

Communications

• Represent organization in local, regional and national labor and workforce development conversations.

Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS
This position is a full-time, in person, salaried, exempt position in Harris County. It requires regular travel throughout the greater Houston area for outreach, partner meetings, and program events. The job requires some evening and weekend availability, as well as occasional travel out of town.

Required

• ~3 years of experience managing data- and finance-heavy grant programs and staff that adhere to strict deadlines and reporting requirements in workforce development, program management, education, labor organizing, or a related field
• Advanced proficiency in using Excel / Google Sheets, databases, and presentation apps to track program data, prepare reports, analyze outcomes, communicate progress, and improve performance
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and complex partnerships
• Strong organizational and project management skills with meticulous attention to details
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and relational skills
• Commitment to economic justice, workers’ rights, and expanding access to career pathways
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Preferred

• Proven leadership in nonprofit management, especially in start-up or scaling phases.
• Experience designing and implementing workforce development programs and policy initiatives
• Strong fundraising track record with private funders and philanthropic partners.
• Strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to align workforce development with union organizing, member
• services, and leadership development.
• Familiarity with the labor movement, particularly union apprenticeships
• Familiarity with federal contracting rules and regulations or DOL’s apprenticeship registration process
• Experience coordinating among unions, employers, community-based organizations, and government agencies
• Familiarity with the regional, state, and federal workforce system

Compensation
Base salary $78,000 – $88,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include high quality, employer-paid health insurance; generous paid time off benefits; 10% employer contribution to retirement plan on top of base pay; and option of voluntary contributions to 401(k) plan.

How To Apply
The position is open as of 5/14/26. Interested candidates should submit a brief cover letter and résumé describing their interest in the role and relevant experience at: www.gcaflcio.org/jobs. 

The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO and strongly encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and others from historically underrepresented communities.