Workforce Development Specialist  

Partners for Education & Business, Inc. (PEB)

• Are you passionate about making a difference in the community by working with youth?
• Do you enjoy building relationships and developing opportunities to collaborate?
• Are you eager to create new pathways to careers so both students and employers can thrive in Central New York?

Then MACNY – The Manufacturers Association has a great opportunity for you!

We are seeking an enthusiastic connector to join our growing Partners for Education & Business, Inc. (PEB) team in facilitating work-based learning programming and coordinating employer engagement with students across Central New York. The Workforce Development Specialist will serve as a liaison between industry and school partners, including career exploration activities for students, work-readiness skill development, and providing feedback from employers on what they need from a workforce.  As part of career exploration for students, this individual will work alongside the rest of the Talent Development team to coordinate youth and pre-apprenticeship activities in schools and alongside employers.

This is a salaried position with a full benefit package including health, dental, life and disability plans, employer contribution to 401k and more!

Primary Purpose of Role

The Workforce Development Specialist works closely with key partners, including schools, employers, and community organizations to bridge the gap between education and the workforce needs. The Workforce Development Specialist will engage and cultivate partnerships to address the needs of both students and employers through work-based learning experiences. Activities can include business development and marketing efforts to support PEB initiatives. In addition, the role will support pre-apprenticeship initiatives to support Registered Apprenticeship expansion.

Serve as an Educational Programs Liaison

• Develop and support programming in coordination with the PEB team and school staff to provide students with career exploration and preparation. This includes delivering content that is relevant to students’ stage of development in collaboration with school partners.
• Collaborate with school partners to establish work-based learning calendars.
• Build awareness of pre-apprenticeship programming amongst educators, students, and families to strengthen and garner participation in pre-apprenticeship programs.
• Collaborate with educational partners to facilitate training for pre-apprenticeship students.
• Serve on P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) and early college high school steering committees as required.
• Serve as a connector to other PEB-led initiatives, industry opportunities for students, and STEM engagement events in our community.

Engaging Employers & Community Partners

• Represent PEB and MACNY programs to employers and educators to increase awareness within the region. This includes enhancing and developing new relationships for work-based learning and pre-apprenticeship programs.
• Build support of PEB initiatives for engagement opportunities, new volunteers, company involvement, and financial investment.
• Educate and engage employers in the benefits of pre-apprenticeship.
• Coordinate employer participation in PEB-led events, work-based learning activities, and the CNY STEM Scholarship Program.
• Communicate with employers to maintain a working understanding of industry and company needs.

Additional Responsibilities

• Author newsletter, magazine, and digital content as requested.
• Participate and assist in the planning of PEB and MACNY events, including Manufacturing Month and the Workforce Development Awards.
• Maintain accurate program documentation for reporting purposes.

The Ideal Candidate

• Passion for cultivating various pathways to careers, including pre-apprenticeships and Registered Apprenticeships.
• Experience and interest in working with diverse groups of individuals and students.
• Mission-driven, a self-starter, a love of learning, and a creative problem solver.
• Demonstrated experience in public speaking and building relationships with a variety of key stakeholders across industry sectors.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and collaborate with a team.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability and interest in handling multiple responsibilities and initiatives.
• Passion and interest in technology and emerging markets within the Central New York region.
• Experience with digital platforms, virtual events, social media, and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems, a plus.

Local travel within Central New York. Must have flexibility in availability to support occasional activities outside of regular business hours. A background check will be required.

https://www.macny.org/

The Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) association representing over 300 businesses and organizations across Central and Upstate New York. About three-quarters of MACNY’s members are industrial companies with the remaining members consisting of accounting firms, insurance agencies, law firms, financial institutions, and other service providers that support manufacturers.

MACNY members supply the region, nation, and world with a variety of products and services. Distributed across 26 counties in Central and Upstate New York, MACNY’s member companies employ over 50,000 workers.

For members and the community, MACNY’s staff provides a wide range of services, including training and leadership development, networking events, workforce development, human resources services, advocacy, energy and purchasing solutions, and organizational growth services and consulting. This portfolio is designed to provide members with the tools, information, people, and resources they need to compete in the global market.

Partners for Education & Business, Inc. (PEB) is a 501c3 non-profit organization and the K-16 arm of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) Workforce Development Team. We believe workforce development begins well before high school graduation, and we are committed to closing the gap between education and industry, with a focus on the STEM career initiatives in our community. Our team accomplishes this through engaging local employers across industry sectors in work-based learning programming for schools through facility tours, job shadows, internships, professionalism workshops and guest speakers. 

MACNY employment practices and procedures and conditions of employment are administered without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic characteristics, medical conditions, status as a victim of domestic violence, veteran status, special disabled veteran or disability, or non-job-related felony conviction record (or any other legally protected status) including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, retention and termination in accordance with applicable federal laws.