Program Manager, Skilled Trades Academy (Columbia, Maryland)

About Hiring Our Heroes Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) connects service members, military spouses, and veterans with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a stronger, more diverse workforce. As a workforce development initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, HOH delivers innovative programs that help military-connected talent build meaningful careers while helping employers access highly skilled, mission-driven professionals. About the Role Hiring Our Heroes is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven Program Manager to lead our Skilled Trades Academy efforts in the Largo, Maryland region. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on building partnerships, creating opportunities, and making a direct impact in the lives of transitioning service members and military families. You'll serve as the regional leader for the Skilled Trades Academy, driving program growth, cultivating employer partnerships, supporting participants, and ensuring successful program delivery from start to finish. If you're energized by workforce development, community engagement, business development, and helping people launch meaningful careers, we'd love to hear from you. What You'll Do Lead Program Strategy & Execution Own the regional strategy and execution of the Skilled Trades Academy program. Translate national program goals into local action plans, cohort schedules, and measurable outcomes. Identify opportunities to expand program reach, employer engagement, and participant impact. Analyze labor market trends and stakeholder feedback to ensure programming aligns with workforce needs. Build & Strengthen Employer Partnerships Develop and maintain relationships with employers, industry partners, workforce organizations, and community stakeholders. Conduct business development outreach to recruit new employer partners and training providers. Identify sponsorship and partnership opportunities that support program growth and sustainability. Serve as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for employer partners. Deliver Exceptional Participant Experiences Support participants throughout their journey, from application through fellowship completion and employment. Conduct program briefings, webinars, and outreach events to educate transitioning service members about skilled trades career opportunities. Coordinate networking opportunities that connect participants with employers and industry professionals. Ensure a high-quality participant experience through proactive communication and support. Manage Operations & Measure Impact Oversee training provider relationships and monitor program quality, capacity, and performance. Track program outcomes, participant success metrics, and employer engagement data. Develop reports, impact stories, and executive-ready updates for internal and external stakeholders. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and operational excellence. Collaborate Across the Organization Partner with colleagues across Hiring Our Heroes programs to support regional initiatives, events, and strategic priorities. Represent Hiring Our Heroes at community, workforce development, military, and industry events. What We're Looking For Required Qualifications Experience in workforce development, program management, business development, partnership management, community engagement, or a related field. Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders across multiple sectors. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently. Experience using data and reporting to drive decisions and communicate impact. Demonstrated ability to leverage AI-enabled tools to improve productivity, research, communication, and operational efficiency. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, CRM systems, and virtual meeting platforms. Self-starter with strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a customer-service mindset. Preferred Qualifications Experience working with military-connected populations. Familiarity with the Department of Defense SkillBridge program and military transition process. Understanding of union and non-union skilled trades industries. Experience in workforce development, talent pipeline programs, apprenticeship programs, or skilled trades recruiting. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Our talent acquisition and employment policies are inclusive. We respect both the spirit and letter of the laws of equal employment opportunity. This position is employed by Markham LLC and assigned to Hiring Our Heroes. We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. 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