Employer Initiatives Manager

Employer Initiatives Manager

Flexible (Boston, DC, Oakland, Remote)

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 200 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what's possible.

We're on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we're funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.

Inclusion, belonging, and well-being are core to JFF's North Star and mission, and we seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve as it is important to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and career advancement opportunities for all.

JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we hire based on qualifications, and experience, and we are committed to fair opportunity for all qualified candidates – including those without a 4-year degree or formally incarnated individuals.

JFF's Center for Justice and Economic Advancement (CJEA) works to expand economic advancement for people with records of arrest, conviction, and incarceration by transforming employer practices, talent systems, and policy conditions. Within CJEA, the Employer Initiatives team partners with employers and ecosystem leaders to design and deliver services that help organizations implement fair chance hiring and talent practices.

The Manager, Employer Initiatives (the official internal title of the role) is an individual contributor role that sits within JFF's Field Implementation Team (FIT) and is fully aligned to CJEA's Employer Initiatives team. This role leads core communications, project coordination, and administrative systems for the Employer Initiatives portfolio and serves as the project manager for key lines of service. The Manager works across multiple fast-moving initiatives, helping the team stay organized, responsive, and execution-ready while ensuring that internal systems, partner communications, and event logistics are managed with care and consistency.

The Manager will report to Lisa Durkin, FIT Cluster Director II, and will collaborate closely with colleagues across CJEA and the Field Implementation Team (FIT).

Lines of Service Administration

• Manage core administration for employer lines of service, including registration processes, Zoom logistics, breakout room setup, slide and video readiness, attendance tracking, and follow-up coordination.
• Support invoicing and payment coordination for cohort participants and maintain accurate, timely records tied to registration and participation.
• Archive and maintain cohort materials, including decks, worksheets, attendance records, and related project documentation.

Team Operations and Internal Systems

• Serve as the manager of the Employer Initiatives SharePoint system, including maintaining an organized file structure, keeping materials current, and helping colleagues navigate the system effectively.
• Own team operations in Asana by documenting action items, tracking deadlines, following up with colleagues on next steps, and producing regular status updates that summarize progress, blockers, and upcoming priorities.
• Manage team meeting logistics, including keeping calendar invites current, preparing agendas in advance, facilitating as needed, taking clear notes, and recording action steps in shared project management systems.

Communications and Partner Coordination

• Lead communications for lines of service, info sessions, alumni engagement, and related employer-facing activities, including announcement emails, reminder emails, follow-up emails, and reusable templates that improve consistency and efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong operational processes for partner communications, registration workflows, and follow-up systems.
• Manage the Fair Chance Inbox, responding to messages in a timely manner and identifying when messages should be flagged for other team members.
• Implement JFF's Ways of Working and proactively identify when the MarComm team, Events team or other internal partners should be looped in.

Data, Tracking, and Compliance Support

• Support data entry related to employer lines of service with accuracy, timeliness, and strong attention to detail.
• Manage processes that require a high level of accuracy and organization, including SHRM certification code creation, record maintenance, and related documentation.

Cross-Team Collaboration and Execution

• Work across CJEA and JFF colleagues to keep multiple projects moving in alignment with timelines, expectations, and quality standards.
• Exercise sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and professionalism in day-to-day work, especially when handling internal communications, partner-facing materials, and evolving priorities.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture by bringing warmth, follow-through, and professional communication to both internal and external interactions.

Who You Are

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work.

• You excel at drafting and editing professional communications for internal and external partners.
• You are highly organized and have a strong instinct for building processes that improve reliability, clarity, and follow-through.
• You have strong follow-up and action-tracking skills and are comfortable keeping others and yourself aligned to deadlines.
• You exercise sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and professionalism in fast-moving environments.
• You are comfortable stepping in to facilitate meetings, coordinate next steps, and help maintain momentum across a team.
• You have strong working fluency in platforms such as SharePoint, Salesforce, Outlook, and Asana, and you are comfortable learning and navigating multiple technological systems in parallel.
• You are confident managing documentation, file organization, and recordkeeping with care and consistency.
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF's mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF's core values to all areas of your work
• You are energized by stewarding JFF's inclusion, belonging, and well-being values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing and celebrating the differences that each individual brings to JFF
• You value building positive and collaborative relationships with others, including people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own

What We Offer

At JFF, we're fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.

The hiring range for this role is $ 68,000 - $ 85,000 annually, in alignment to JFF's Manager's salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire's relevant experience and market demands.

To Apply

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Lisa Durkin, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.

We are accepting applications through June 23, 2026. Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed, and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy