Program Director (Healthcare Access)

Type of Employment: Exempt, Full-Time

Location: Austin, Texas (Hybrid). This position is primarily community-based and requires frequent in-person outreach throughout Austin. The Program Director will spend a significant portion of their time visiting restaurants, bars, food trucks, and other food and beverage businesses to build relationships, recruit members, and support the Healthcare Access Program. This role offers a flexible schedule; however, evening and occasional weekend events are expected.

About Good Work Austin

Good Work Austin (GWA) is the only nonprofit organization in Central Texas dedicated to better jobs and fair treatment for food & beverage workers. Our mission is to foster healthy careers in the local food and beverage industry through professional development and advocacy for more equitable practices. GWA was created by food and beverage business owners and workers who came together to reimagine what stable, dignified employment could look like in an industry long plagued by low wages and limited mobility.

Today, GWA works with some of Austin's leading chefs and food businesses, strengthening the city's vibrant food scene while building a more sustainable and equitable industry. Through our Culinary Workforce Training, Community Kitchen, and Healthy Workplaces programs, we create opportunities for workers to learn new skills, for small businesses to thrive, and for the community to benefit from healthier, more just workplaces.

Our organizational culture reflects the values we champion: respect for each person's lived experience and life outside of work, and a balance of accountability and support. We live by our core values of Collaboration, Community, Integrity, Innovation, and Inclusion, working together with a spirit of creativity and care to create lasting change in Austin's food and beverage industry.

Purpose of the Position  

The Program Director role leads Good Work Austin's Healthcare Access Program while driving strategic growth of the organization's membership network. This position is responsible for overseeing healthcare access services for food and beverage workers, and strengthening partnerships across the healthcare and hospitality sectors while recruiting new food and beverage businesses and workers into Good Work Austin's membership community.

The ideal candidate is a natural relationship builder who enjoys connecting with new people, isn't afraid to walk into a restaurant and start a conversation, and is energized by helping grow a mission-driven organization. We're looking for someone who thrives on building relationships, enjoys meeting new people every day, and is energized by being out in the community rather than sitting behind a desk. 

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Program Director develops strategies that leverage healthcare access as an entry point for deeper engagement with Good Work Austin. By building relationships with workers, employers, and community partners, the Program Director helps expand participation across the organization's programs while advancing its mission to improve jobs and working conditions in the local food and beverage industry.

This position also oversees program evaluation, partnership management, grant reporting, and long-term strategic planning to ensure the Healthcare Access Program continues to grow as a sustainable and impactful initiative.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Relationship Management and Outreach (50%)

• Serve as the primary ambassador for Good Work Austin's Healthcare Access Program throughout Austin's food and beverage industry.
• Spend significant time in the community conducting in-person outreach to restaurants, bars, food trucks, catering companies, and other hospitality businesses.
• Meet monthly outreach and membership recruitment goals while maintaining a strong pipeline of prospective business and worker members.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with restaurant owners, operators, managers, chefs, and food and beverage workers.
• Recruit new businesses and workers into Good Work Austin's membership network through one-on-one outreach, presentations, networking events, and industry meetings.
• Develop and implement outreach strategies to increase awareness of Good Work Austin's programs and expand organizational membership.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for healthcare and community partners, including Central Health, Foundation Communities, Sendero Health Plans, healthcare providers, and other referral organizations.
• Represent Good Work Austin at community events, conferences, coalition meetings, and industry gatherings.
• Identify and cultivate new partnerships that strengthen healthcare access and expand Good Work Austin's reach within the food and beverage industry.
• Collaborate with staff to ensure a seamless transition from member recruitment to ongoing engagement and retention.

Project Management (30%)

• Lead the day-to-day implementation and continuous improvement of Good Work Austin's Healthcare Access Program.
• Develop and manage annual work plans, quarterly goals, and implementation timelines to ensure program success and long-term sustainability.
• Oversee participant outreach, enrollment, and case management in collaboration with partner organizations.
• Ensure program operations comply with organizational policies, funder requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on strategic planning, grant implementation, and identifying opportunities to expand healthcare access services.
• Manage program documentation, participant records, standard operating procedures, and other operational materials.
• Coordinate with internal staff to connect Healthcare Access Program participants with Good Work Austin's broader programs and membership opportunities.

Data Management, Reporting, and Evaluation (20%)

• Track outreach activities, partnership development, membership recruitment, and program outcomes using the organization's CRM and case management systems.
• Monitor program and membership recruitment metrics to evaluate progress and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Prepare reports for funders, organizational leadership, and the Board of Directors.
• Support grant reporting, program evaluation, and budget tracking.
• Analyze participant and membership data to inform outreach strategies and improve program effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate and confidential participant and partner records.

Required Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in outreach, business development, sales, membership recruitment, community engagement, account management, nonprofit program management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships and quickly establish trust with diverse individuals, businesses, and community partners.
• A confident, outgoing communicator who enjoys meeting new people and is comfortable initiating conversations with restaurant owners, managers, workers, and community organizations.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong partnerships while representing an organization's mission and values.
• Highly organized with exceptional project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and driven to meet outreach, partnership, and membership recruitment goals while working independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to travel frequently throughout the Austin area for meetings, outreach, and events.
• Passion for supporting food and beverage workers and advancing Good Work Austin's mission.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the restaurant, hospitality, or food and beverage industry.
• Familiarity with healthcare access, ACA Marketplace plans, or community health initiatives.
• Experience with grant reporting, program evaluation, or nonprofit fundraising.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish preferred).

Compensation and Benefits

• $70,000–$80,000 annually, commensurate with experience. 
• Benefits include:
  • 2% employer retirement contribution
  • $400 monthly health stipend
  • Unlimited paid time off
  • 15 paid holidays
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Hybrid work environment