Grant-Community Partner Manager

  • Full-time
  • Job Title: Business and Community Liaison (BUS COM)
  • State Location: OR

Company Description

Who We Are

Our employees consistently rate Grant Associates as a great place to work, and often recommend open positions to friends. We are a culturally diverse company with competitive benefits, frequent opportunities for growth and change, training and fun activities!

Innovation and a culture of continuous improvement are built into the fabric of our company. Staff have an opportunity to improve themselves and our company by joining our Fit Forward, Culture, Innovation, and Green teams.

Job Description

The Community Partnership Manager serves as a primary ambassador for WorkSource Oregon and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program throughout Lane County. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic relationships with community organizations, educational institutions, employers, and workforce partners to expand access to workforce services, increase WIOA enrollment, and improve participant employment outcomes.

The Community Partnership Manager leads community outreach, employer engagement, job development, workforce education, and partnership initiatives that connect job seekers with meaningful employment opportunities. This position works collaboratively with Case Managers, program leadership, and workforce partners to identify employment opportunities, secure job postings, facilitate employer referrals, and create pathways to employment through On-the-Job Training (OJT), work-based learning, and direct hiring opportunities.

The position is also responsible for developing and facilitating job readiness workshops within the WorkSource Oregon job center and throughout the community. The Community Partnership Manager will coordinate with industry sector experts, employers, and workforce partners to provide specialized training, career exploration opportunities, and industry roundtable discussions. Workshops will empower participants with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to achieve employment, career advancement, financial stability, and digital competency.

The position promotes the full range of WIOA services, including career services, employment support, training opportunities, work-based learning, and supportive services, while ensuring that community and employer partnerships contribute to program enrollment, participant engagement, job placement, and employment retention.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Community Partnership Development and Outreach

  • Develop, establish, and maintain strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and workforce partners throughout Lane County.

  • Serve as a primary point of contact and ambassador for WIOA services within the community.

  • Increase awareness of workforce services and expand community referrals into WIOA programs.

  • Educate community partners regarding WIOA eligibility requirements, available services, referral procedures, and enrollment processes.

  • Develop and implement outreach strategies that increase program visibility, participant enrollment, and access to workforce services.

  • Coordinate, facilitate, and participate in community workshops, workforce information sessions, resource fairs, hiring events, and other outreach activities.

  • Expand community-based service delivery through partnerships and collaborative initiatives.

  • Promote the full range of WIOA services, emphasizing career services, employment support, work-based learning, supportive services, and occupational training rather than tuition assistance alone.

  • Maintain regular communication with community partners to identify service gaps, strengthen referral relationships, and improve access to workforce resources.

2. Employer Engagement and Business Services

  • Develop and maintain relationships with employers throughout Lane County to identify workforce needs, hiring trends, and employment opportunities for WIOA participants.

  • Conduct employer outreach, business visits, and engagement activities to promote LWP services and establish sustainable hiring partnerships.

  • Educate employers regarding available workforce services, including OJT, work-based learning, hiring assistance, and other applicable workforce development resources.

  • Identify employer workforce needs and collaborate with Case Managers and program leadership to develop customized strategies that connect qualified WIOA participants to employment opportunities.

  • Establish employer partnerships that generate:

    • On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunities.

    • Work-based learning placements.

    • Direct hiring opportunities.

    • Employer referrals and job interviews.

    • Industry-specific employment pathways.

  • Maintain ongoing communication with employers to support successful placements, address workforce needs, and strengthen long-term partnerships.

  • Identify opportunities for employers to participate in hiring events, workforce workshops, career exploration activities, and other participant engagement initiatives.

  • Collaborate with employers to identify opportunities for participants to gain occupational skills, relevant work experience, and industry-recognized credentials.

  • Engage industry sector experts and employers to participate in job readiness workshops, industry-specific training, career exploration activities, and roundtable discussions.

  • Develop and maintain partnerships with industry representatives to ensure workforce education activities reflect current employer expectations, hiring trends, and occupational skill requirements.

3. Job Development, Job Postings, and Employment Referrals

  • Actively identify, develop, and secure employment opportunities for WIOA participants through employer engagement and business development activities.

  • Obtain current job openings, hiring requirements, and employment opportunities from employers throughout Lane County.

  • Develop and maintain a centralized process for communicating employer job postings and hiring opportunities to Case Managers and appropriate program staff.

  • Ensure job postings shared with Case Managers include relevant information such as employer name, job title, location, wages, qualifications, required skills, application instructions, and hiring timelines.

  • Collaborate with Case Managers to identify participants whose skills, qualifications, career goals, and employment readiness align with available job opportunities.

  • Facilitate direct referrals of qualified WIOA participants to employers for interviews, hiring events, and employment opportunities.

  • Coordinate employer introductions, interview opportunities, and recruitment activities to support participant employment outcomes.

  • Follow up with employers and Case Managers regarding referrals, interviews, hiring decisions, and employment placements.

  • Identify and address barriers that may prevent participants from accessing employment opportunities, coordinating with Case Managers to connect participants to appropriate workforce services and supportive resources.

  • Maintain an active pipeline of employer relationships, job postings, referrals, interviews, and placements.

  • Monitor the effectiveness of employer referrals and job development activities to identify opportunities to improve placement outcomes.

  • Support employment retention by maintaining employer relationships and collaborating with Case Managers regarding participant employment challenges and follow-up services.

4. Workforce Readiness Workshops and Career Education

  • Develop, coordinate, and facilitate job readiness workshops within the WorkSource Oregon job center and throughout the community to increase participant employability, employment readiness, and career success.

  • Create and implement a minimum of three new workshops each quarter, ensuring that workshop content reflects participant needs, workforce trends, employer expectations, and program priorities.

  • Develop workshop topics, learning objectives, instructional materials, presentations, and participant activities that support measurable skill development.

  • Deliver workshops in accessible and engaging formats, including in-person sessions, community-based presentations, and other approved delivery methods.

  • Develop and facilitate workshops addressing topics such as:

    • Job readiness and workplace expectations.

    • Resume development and application completion.

    • Interview preparation and professional communication.

    • Job search strategies and employment resources.

    • Career exploration and occupational pathways.

    • Labor market information and high-demand occupations.

    • Financial literacy and personal financial management.

    • Digital literacy and technology skills for employment.

    • Workplace professionalism, communication, and soft skills.

    • Career advancement and employment retention.

  • Empower participants with financial literacy education, including budgeting, understanding wages and benefits, managing personal finances, and accessing appropriate financial education resources.

  • Promote digital literacy by providing participants with opportunities to develop skills in computer use, email, online job applications, digital communication, and other technology essential to employment.

  • Coordinate with Case Managers to identify participant skill gaps and develop workshops that address employment readiness barriers.

  • Evaluate workshop effectiveness through participant feedback, attendance, skill development, and other appropriate measures.

  • Maintain accurate documentation of workshop development, delivery, attendance, and outcomes.

5. Industry Sector Engagement and Workforce Education

  • Identify and engage industry sector experts, employers, business leaders, and workforce partners to support participant career exploration and workforce readiness.

  • Coordinate industry-specific training sessions, employer presentations, career panels, and roundtable discussions within the job center and community.

  • Develop opportunities for participants to engage directly with industry professionals and learn about occupational requirements, workplace expectations, career pathways, and advancement opportunities.

  • Facilitate industry roundtable discussions that allow employers and workforce partners to share current workforce needs, hiring trends, skill requirements, and employment opportunities.

  • Collaborate with employers and industry experts to identify opportunities for participants to gain relevant skills, credentials, and occupational knowledge.

  • Coordinate with Case Managers to identify participants who may benefit from industry-specific workshops, training sessions, or employer engagement activities.

  • Maintain partnerships with industry representatives to support ongoing workforce education and employment placement opportunities.

  • Ensure industry engagement activities are aligned with labor market information, regional workforce priorities, and participant career goals.

6. Workforce Development and Participant Support

  • Serve as a workforce development subject matter expert by assisting customers, community partners, and employers with workforce resources and employment strategies.

  • Provide workforce information and resources related to:

    • Career exploration and career pathways.

    • Resume development resources.

    • Interview preparation.

    • Career assessments and occupational exploration.

    • Labor market information (LMI).

    • Job search strategies and employment resources.

    • Community resources and supportive services.

    • Workforce training and work-based learning opportunities.

  • Conduct community workshops and workforce information sessions to increase participant knowledge of employment opportunities and available workforce services.

  • Collaborate with Case Managers to support participants enrolled in WIOA, special grants, and co-enrolled partner programs.

  • Support participant engagement and employment readiness through employer connections, career exploration activities, and job development initiatives.

  • Coordinate with program staff to identify employment opportunities aligned with participants' career plans, training objectives, and employment goals.

  • Assist in connecting participants to appropriate community resources and workforce services when barriers to employment are identified.

7. WIOA Program Coordination and Performance

  • Collaborate with WIOA program leadership, Case Managers, and workforce partners to support program enrollment, service delivery, and employment outcomes.

  • Support WIOA performance goals through community outreach, employer engagement, job development, workshop delivery, and employment placement activities.

  • Maintain an active pipeline of community referrals, employer partnerships, job postings, and participant employment opportunities.

  • Monitor employer engagement and job development activities to identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring improvement.

  • Participate in program meetings, performance reviews, and strategic planning activities as assigned.

  • Provide updates to program leadership regarding employer engagement, job development activities, community partnerships, workshops, and employment placement outcomes.

  • Collaborate with Case Managers to identify opportunities for improving participant access to employment, training, and work-based learning services.

  • Support continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen workforce partnerships and increase employment outcomes.

8. Documentation, Data Integrity, and Reporting

  • Ensure all direct services, employer engagement activities, referrals, workshops, and other required program activities are accurately documented in applicable systems.

  • Ensure service documentation entered into I-Trac accurately matches supporting documentation uploaded to EBridge for OJT activities and any direct WIOA services delivered by the Community Partnership Manager.

  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation of employer contacts, community partnerships, job postings, referrals, hiring events, workshop development, workshop attendance, and employment placement activities.

  • Ensure documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with LWP policies, WIOA requirements, and applicable funding guidelines.

  • Maintain appropriate records of employer referrals, participant employment connections, and follow-up activities.

  • Support program reporting and data integrity requirements by ensuring activities are documented timely and accurately.

  • Identify and communicate data discrepancies or documentation concerns to program leadership for resolution.

9. Rapid Response and Workforce Transition Services

  • Coordinate, facilitate, and participate in Rapid Response activities in accordance with Lane Workforce Partnership policies and procedures.

  • Establish relationships with employers experiencing layoffs, business closures, or workforce transitions to provide information regarding available workforce services.

  • Collaborate with employers, workforce partners, and program staff to coordinate Rapid Response services for affected workers.

  • Promote available unemployment assistance, reemployment services, career services, training opportunities, and supportive resources.

  • Assist in coordinating workforce information sessions, job fairs, and employment transition activities for impacted workers.

  • Maintain required documentation of Rapid Response activities and employer engagement.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, workforce development, human services, education, communications, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

  • Minimum of three years of experience in workforce development, community engagement, employer relations, business services, career services, training, or a related field.

  • Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining professional partnerships with community organizations, employers, or workforce stakeholders.

  • Experience conducting employer outreach, job development, recruitment, employment referrals, workforce placement activities, or workshop facilitation.

  • Knowledge of workforce development programs, employment services, and community resources.

  • Strong communication, presentation, relationship-building, and organizational skills.

  • Ability to independently develop and facilitate workshops, coordinate industry engagement, and manage multiple priorities.

  • Ability to work independently and meet program performance expectations.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to maintain accurate electronic records and reports.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working with WIOA-funded programs or other federally or state-funded workforce development initiatives.

  • Knowledge of WIOA eligibility requirements, performance measures, OJT, work-based learning, and supportive services.

  • Experience developing and delivering job readiness, financial literacy, or digital literacy workshops.

  • Experience working with individuals facing barriers to employment.

  • Knowledge of Lane County employers, labor market trends, and community resources.

  • Experience using workforce case management systems, customer relationship management systems, or employer engagement databases.

  • Experience facilitating industry roundtables, employer presentations, or career exploration events.

Core Competencies

  • Community partnership development.

  • Employer engagement and business development.

  • Job development and employment placement.

  • Workshop development and facilitation.

  • Industry sector engagement.

  • Financial and digital literacy education.

  • Workforce program knowledge.

  • Communication and relationship management.

  • Data integrity and documentation.

  • Strategic outreach and problem-solving.

  • Performance accountability.

  • Collaboration and customer service.

Performance Expectations

The Community Partnership Manager is expected to contribute to measurable program outcomes through:

  • Increased community referrals and WIOA enrollment opportunities.

  • Increased employer engagement and active employer partnerships.

  • Increased number of current job postings secured and shared with Case Managers.

  • Increased participant referrals to employment opportunities.

  • Increased job interviews and employment placements for WIOA participants.

  • Increased OJT and work-based learning opportunities.

  • Development and delivery of a minimum of three new workshops each quarter.

  • Delivery of job readiness workshops within the WorkSource Oregon job center and throughout the community.

  • Engagement of industry sector experts, employers, and workforce partners to provide training and roundtable discussions.

  • Increased participant access to financial literacy and digital literacy education.

  • Timely and accurate documentation of employer, participant, and workshop activities.

  • Effective coordination with Case Managers and program leadership to improve employment outcomes.

Performance expectations and individual goals will be established in alignment with program objectives, funding requirements, and organizational performance measures.

Other Duties as Assigned

  • Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor or management to support program operations, contract requirements, organizational priorities, and workforce service delivery.

Travel Requirements

Local travel throughout Lane County is required to conduct employer engagement, community outreach, partnership meetings, workforce events, workshops, and other program activities. Occasional travel outside Lane County may be required for training, meetings, or organizational initiatives.

Additional Information

We provide:

  • Competitive wages for high performance
  • 11 Paid Holidays
  • PTO
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Guided Professional Development Plans
  • Summer Fridays
  • Weekly Wellness Sessions
  • Medical/Vision/ Dental
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance
  • Employer 401k Contributions
  • Employee Referral Bonus
  • Employee Assistance Programs
  • Company Picnics Volunteer Experiences
  • Access to Free Financial Counseling
  • Innovation and a culture of continuous improvement are built into the fabric of our company. Staff have an opportunity to improve themselves and our company by joining our Fit Forward, Innovation and Green teams.

About Us:
Grant Associates is a national workforce development company that is passionate about raising the economic security for the people, businesses, and communities we serve. Since opening our doors in 1997, we have operated programs in cities large and small, partnering with communities to build the human side of economic development. As one of the largest workforce development organizations in North America, we have provided workforce development services to more than 50,000 companies and helped more than 1.2 million people achieve their career goals.

APM, including Equus Workforce Solutions, Ross Innovative Employment Solutions, Dynamic Workforce Solutions, DESI, AGELIC, and Grant Associates, is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

APM is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application, interview, or selection process, please contact [email protected].

 

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