Program Associate - Manufacturing and Construction Trades

Working Partnerships USA

Program Associate
Manufacturing and Construction Trades

Based in San Jose, CA

JOB SUMMARY
For 30 years, Working Partnerships USA has been at the forefront of the national movement for a just economy driven by the power of working people. 

The Program Associate will support the Director of Economic and Workforce Policy in a new, collaborative project to reshape the Bay Area’s blue-collar manufacturing industry by designing new models centered around the values of equity, high-road employment, sustainability and climate resilience, and shaped by workers and impacted community members themselves. This project includes two components: convening and guiding a local Santa Clara and San Mateo workgroup to design and develop pilot projects to improve job quality and equity in manufacturing; and coordinating with a broader Bay Area High Road Manufacturing Initiative, co-led by Working Partnerships, the Blue Green Alliance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and New Energy Nexus. 

The Program Associate will also support our two construction pre-apprenticeships, TOP and TIP, as part of the Trades Programs team.  The Trades Programs support jobseekers from under-represented communities in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties to enter apprenticeships and achieve a long-term, family-supporting career in the construction trades. The Trades Programs serve a wide range of community members, with a special emphasis on homeless individuals, women, communities of color, veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, recipients of public assistance, and at-risk youth. 

The Program Associate may also be responsible for research, advocacy, outreach and administrative work on other projects supporting our efforts to achieve economic and racial justice in Silicon Valley.

This position will initially be split approximately 50-50 between Manufacturing Futures and Trades Programs. That split may change in the future based on funding, program needs and the Program Associate’s interests and skills.

This role is part of the bargaining unit represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. 

POSITION SUMMARY
The ideal candidate will have experience working with and taking leadership from organizations led by workers of color; experience collaborating with business, labor, community, and government organizations; familiarity with Silicon Valley’s diverse communities; and a commitment to transformative power-building for economic, racial and gender justice. Knowledge of businesses and workers in the manufacturing sector is also desirable.

Under the direction of the Director of Economic and Workforce Policy, the Program Associate’s responsibilities will include:

• Engaging with local business and union representatives to understand their workforce needs and hiring processes, work with them to build career pipelines for community members, and provide support to retain and grow their workforce.
• Research to understand the skills and experience required for different types of manufacturing jobs to be able to explain those career pathways to community members and to assess individual jobseekers for fit.
• Maintaining an up-to-date database of manufacturing job openings and requirements.
• Collaborating with educational and training partners to provide local manufacturing career pathway programs.
• Outreach and engagement with students, working adults, jobseekers, and other community members for potential recruitment into manufacturing and/or construction careers.
• Providing one-on-one coaching to jobseekers and program participants to help them set goals, overcome barriers, and navigate systems in order to pursue their desired career. This includes both long-term, relational job coaching with Trades Program participants, and shorter-term coaching with manufacturing jobseekers.
• Networking with representatives from businesses, local government, unions, CBOs, community colleges, and other manufacturing stakeholders for potential connections with WPUSA’s work. 
• Planning and carrying out presentations to a wide range of audiences.
• Developing expertise in understanding and guiding participants through the application processes and work requirements for each of the 25+ construction apprenticeship programs, and for various manufacturing roles; maintaining up-to-date information to be able to support participants in navigating each application process.
• Occasional class staffing support and other administrative and programmatic duties related to the Trades Programs courses. Some early morning, evening and Saturday work is required, in alignment with the MC3 course schedules.
• Collecting required data and documentation, maintaining all client records required for the programs, and performing timely data entry in multiple databases. 
• Providing support for meetings and events, both online and in person.

In addition to their core duties, the Program Associate will participate in Working Partnerships USA staff meetings and training and support major organizational campaigns and projects.

Specific roles vary depending on the need, but may include:

• Providing support for actions, meetings and events, including scheduling, turnout, event staffing, speaking, compiling minutes, and other duties as needed.
• Representing Working Partnerships at meetings with allies and supporters, coordinating and attending actions, and supporting the work of the campaign and organization as a whole.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 3 years of prior related work experience in a field such as community organizing, workforce development, teaching, social work, career technical education, job development, case management, counseling, small business development, or other related roles.
• Curiosity and interest in learning about trades, jobs, skills, and industry specialties; ability to learn new concepts and technical terminology to be able to explain them to others and apply them in your work. 
• Experience with outreach, adult education, case management, or other roles involving building trusted relationships with community members from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience working in low-income communities of color.
• Commitment to worker and community organizing, economic justice, and social justice movements.
• Ability to work within partnerships or coalitions, including navigating inter-organizational politics and relationships. 
• Strong communication skills, in both one-on-one and group settings. Experience making presentations to multiple audiences. 
• Work closely with other team members; accountable to both team and individual goals.
• Ability to carry out project plans, and to change and adapt plans as needed.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy; ability to manage information with thoroughness, accuracy, confidentiality and professionalism.
• Able to quickly respond to unexpected situations and problem-solve.  
• Tenacity and resourcefulness in working through challenges or setbacks to reach a goal.
• Proficiency in maintaining and retrieving program data and records.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Google Suite.
• Some travel is required, primarily within Santa Clara County, with occasional travel to other locations in the greater Bay Area.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Move throughout the office, classroom, and other work locations.
• Have consistent and reliable attendance.
• Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Work under pressure with changing, ambiguous priorities.
• Communicate effectively and promptly to clients or employees of the organization.
• Adeptly type and use computer equipment.
• Follow written and oral instructions and procedures.

COMPENSATION AND LOCATION
This position is based in San Jose, California. The role is a mix of remote and in-person work in San Jose, typically with 3 days per week in person and 2 days per week remote (may change based on project needs). This is a regular, full-time, exempt position, which may include required work some evenings and Saturdays. The position is open until July 8, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled prior to the closing date. 

The annual salary range for this position is $74,000 – $94,000 and will be based on experience.  A generous benefits package is offered including full family health, dental, vision, and acupuncture/chiropractic insurance; paid vacations and holiday leave; and 401(k) with employer contributions.  

How to Apply
To apply, please click on the LINK , which will direct you to our company website where you can submit your application The position will be open until filled and starts immediately.

Working Partnerships USA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Working Partnerships USA is also an affirmative action employer. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and all qualified candidates to apply. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and make special efforts to recruit individuals from groups that have been historically underrepresented in professional environments or have experienced broader societal discrimination.

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