Senior Manager, CareerBound and In-School Apprenticeships, Summer IRCs & Youth Well-Being
Position Overview
Reports to: Senior Director, CareerBound
Position Overview
Baltimore’s Promise seeks a Senior Manager of CareerBound to serve as an internal implementation co-lead for CareerBound, with primary responsibility for In-School Youth Apprenticeships, Summer Industry Recognized Credentials (IRCs), and Youth Well-Being integration across CareerBound, and shared responsibility — alongside the Senior Manager, CareerBound (Grads2Careers, Social Sector Pathways & Stackable Credentials) — for other cross-cutting CareerBound initiatives.
CareerBound is a multi-million-dollar initiative led in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, consisting of In-School Youth Apprenticeships, Grads2Careers, Stackable Credentials, Summer IRCs, Social Sector Pathways, and Youth Well-Being. This role leads the day-to-day implementation and expansion of the In-School Youth Apprenticeship initiative, owns Summer IRCs and CareerBound-wide Youth Well-Being integration, and holds full Senior Manager authority for that scope: program design within approved strategy, team assignments across staff and contracted support, vendor and contract management for IRC providers and training vendors, and budget management within approved lines. This role partners closely with the Senior Director, CareerBound and the other Senior Manager, Careerbound to keep CareerBound operating as one coordinated system. Employer recruitment, onboarding, stewardship, and the overall CareerBound Employer Engagement Strategy sit with the Senior Manager, Employer Engagement & Advancement; this role partners closely with that position, focused on the technical and programmatic design of apprenticeships — occupations, competency frameworks, Registered Apprenticeship compliance, and work-based learning — with employers once they are engaged.
Contribution to the 42K Goal
Baltimore’s Promise’s North Star is 42K - supporting 42,000 Baltimore City youth on a path to economic mobility by 2030, as part of Strive Together’s national goal of 4 million youth by 2030. CareerBound is a primary delivery vehicle for that goal, and this role sits at its center: In-School Youth Apprenticeships and Summer IRCs create structured credentialed pathways that move young people from school into family-sustaining careers, while the Youth Well-Being portfolio ensures the wraparound supports exist to keep them on that path rather than falling off it. Growth in apprenticeship placements, Summer IRC completions, and well-being needs identified and met are direct, countable progress towards 42K.
Duties and Responsibilities
Partnership and Project Management of Demonstration Models
Co-manage CareerBound’s expansion and implementation, with primary responsibility for In-School Youth Apprenticeships, Summer IRCs, and Youth Well-Being integration, and shared responsibility for other cross-cutting CareerBound initiatives.
Lead the day-to-day implementation of the In-School Youth Apprenticeship initiative, including employer co-design of occupations, competency frameworks, Registered Apprenticeship compliance, and work-based learning - partners with the Senior Manager, Employer Engagement on employer recruitment, stewardship, and convening logistics.
Build and maintain partnerships with Baltimore City Public Schools, the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED), higher education institutions, IRC providers, and training organizations to ensure aligned implementation and high-quality credential attainment.
Hold vendor and contract management authority for IRC providers, apprenticeship training vendors, and other CareerBound-specific contracts within this role’s scope - including issuing RFPs/FRQs and executing provider agreements - within approved budget and organizational procurement policies.
Assign and coordinate work across CareerBound staff, contracted support, and implementation partners supporting In-School Youth Apprenticeships, Summer IRCs, and Youth Well-Being.
Serve as the primary staff lead for apprenticeship implementation meetings, governance bodies, and cross-sector workgroups, tracking decisions and monitoring progress toward shared milestones.
Coordinate student recruitment, matching, onboarding, and transition into employment with Schools, employers, and training providers; monitor implementation and recommend improvements to outcomes and program quality.
Involve young people and community members in co-designing solutions to systemic challenges, and represent CareerBound at partner meetings, site visits, and community events, reporting challenges and recommended solutions to the Senior Director, CareerBound.
Summer IRCs & Youth Well-Being Portfolio
Own Summer IRCs programming — the summer instructional and industry-recognized credentialing component of CareerBound — coordinating with the MOED and summer providers to ensure quality, coverage, and continuity with the school-year pathway.
Serve as the CareerBound-level owner of the Youth Well-Being portfolio (vendors, coverage, and data on needs and referrals), partnering with the Director of Youth Well-Being & Intergenerational Leadership to translate citywide strategy and standards into day-to-day CareerBound practice.
Produce and maintain a Youth Well-Being and Summer IRCs strategy document and timeline, in partnership with the Senior Director, CareerBound, so recommendations can be filtered, approved, and coordinated across CareerBound elements.
Strategic Initiatives and Cross-Functional Leadership
Lead or support special projects, demonstration models, and grant proposals/reports that advance CareerBound’s goals as organizational priorities and funding opportunities evolve.
Partner closely with the Senior Director, CareerBound; the other Senior Manager, CareerBound; the Senior Manager, Employer Engagement; and other Baltimore’s Promise staff to ensure coordinated implementation across departments and initiatives.
Document implementation progress, lessons learned, and promising practices, and represent Baltimore’s Promise and CareerBound on local, regional, and national committees and learning communities as assigned.
Resource Management and Development
In partnership with the Senior Director, CareerBound, monitor the budget and resources of CareerBound as they pertain to In-School Youth Apprenticeships, including identifying unforeseen costs and reallocation opportunities.
Monitor the submission of required reports, invoices, reimbursements, and partner deliverables; support grant proposals, reports, and materials for quarterly funder and partner meetings.
Thought Partner, Advocate, and Issue Area Expertise
Participate in local and regional collaboratives to improve post-secondary outcomes for Baltimore’s youth, especially BIPOC youth and young parents, staying current on best practices and policy implications (Blueprint, CTE Redesign, MD Common Core, Career Technical Standards, etc.).
Support development of post-secondary-related projects for Baltimore’s Promise, sharing lessons learned and promising practices with internal staff and external partners.
Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
Five or more years of overall work experience, with a minimum of three years in workforce development, youth development, and/or education; experience with Registered Apprenticeship models a strong plus.
Demonstrated dedication to working with Baltimore City youth and young adults; candidates residing in Baltimore City with a robust professional network and lived experience in the area are preferred.
Commitment to addressing systemic inequity, racism, and poverty, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and asset-based youth development.
Experience developing employer partnerships and coordinating programs across multiple stakeholders and systems.
Proven ability to manage multiple tasks with outstanding attention to detail, including project management across employer, school, and agency partners.
Advanced facilitation skills to lead stakeholder meetings toward desired outcomes.
Familiarity with Results-Based Accountability, Results-Based Facilitation, and Continuous Quality Improvement frameworks preferred.
Willingness to work in an entrepreneurial environment, adapting rapidly to programmatic changes and proposing solutions proactively.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom, and Google Workspace, and ability to adapt to new technology platforms.
Organizational Values
Baltimore’s Promise is a citywide collaborative composed of public, business, community, higher education, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders that serves as a catalyst for organizing efforts and resources around a shared community vision that all Baltimore City youth will travel a safe, healthy, and successful educational path from cradle to career. In our fight for justice and systems change, our values as individuals, teams, and as an organization are the following:
Equity – Our efforts and initiatives are co-developed and driven by the lived experiences of those most negatively impacted by the outcomes we seek to improve. Race, ethnicity, gender, or other attributes should not have predictive power over support, resources, and opportunities that one can access.
Hustle – We are self-starters who take the initiative to strategically identify and advance solutions to address failures in achieving positive outcomes for children, youth, and families. We work efficiently, cross-functionally, and resourcefully – with a sense of urgency – to carry out the mission of the organization.
Humanity – We honor individuals and communities by holding ourselves and our partners accountable to act with integrity, compassion, kindness, and empathy.
Creativity – We are fun and innovative. Our first idea may not be the final strategy because we look for and embrace new ideas from diverse sources. We celebrate the accomplishments of staff and partners.
Shared Accountability – This is our collective responsibility for the work of the organization, not a threat of sanction. When we say we will do something, we will do it, and if we don’t, we will communicate our reasons why.
Compensation and Benefits
This position is classified as exempt and is not eligible for overtime compensation in accordance with the policies set forth by Baltimore’s Promise and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The annualized compensation for this position is $84,000. Baltimore’s Promise compensation ranges are determined by the responsibilities and level of authority required by each position as opposed to individual candidates’ qualifications or pedigree — an intentional attempt to mitigate pay inequities driven by systemic and implicit racism and gender bias impacting career trajectories and negotiation.
This is a full-time position with full benefits, including CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield health insurance, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, paid parental leave, cellphone and mileage stipends, and support for professional development opportunities. Please visit www.baltimorespromise.org/benefits to view the many additional benefits Baltimore’s Promise offers its staff.
Hybrid Work Schedule
Baltimore’s Promise is an in-person, team-based organization. Staff are expected to be in the office approximately 2–3 days per week on average, with some weeks requiring a greater in-person presence (up to 5 days), depending on the work, meetings, and community needs. In-person collaboration is the default for planning, decision-making, and strategic conversations, while virtual meetings are used intentionally.
Travel
Travel around Baltimore City for in-person meetings and into the office for staff meetings is a regular occurrence. Occasional travel includes national conferences, staff retreats, and meetings around the state.
To Apply
Submit the following application materials as a PDF:
Resume
Cover Letter
A portfolio of at least 2 artifacts that demonstrate your ability to excel in the competencies for this position (e.g., an employer partnership tool, implementation guide, or governance agenda you developed)
Statement of your approach to applying a race equity and inclusion lens to this work. (Maximum word length 250 words)
Names, titles, and relational context of 3 professional references. We will not contact references unless you advance in the application process, and we will inform you before contacting them.
We are reviewing application submissions and scheduling interviews on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please submit your materials as soon as possible.
Application materials submitted through online job platforms or by email will not be considered.
About Baltimore’s Promise
Baltimore’s Promise is a citywide collaborative composed of public, business, higher education, nonprofit, community, and philanthropic leaders. We serve as a catalyst for organizing efforts and resources around a shared vision: All Baltimore City youth will travel a safe, healthy, and successful educational path from cradle to career. Baltimore’s Promise uses data to report on outcomes for children from birth through their early careers in order to understand the complex needs of our city’s children.
We promote a data-based approach to program and policy design — one that is informed by context and lived experience of the communities affected and conducted with the participation of all stakeholders. Recognizing enduring inequalities resulting from persisting racism, ethnocentrism, sexism, and the intersections thereof, we employ a race equity lens to all aspects of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.