Senior Director of Workforce Development and Professional Advancement

Description

Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) drives dramatic improvements in the health of New Yorkers by feeding people who are hungry, healing families broken apart by violence, and bridging the gaps between people and the compassionate health care they deserve. CHASI provides outreach, education, prevention, and direct support services for populations most affected by health disparities – people with low or no income, low-income people with chronic illnesses, people with criminal justice involvement, people who use drugs, domestic violence survivors, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Director of Workforce Development and Professional Advancement provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for CHASI’s workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, employment training, peer workforce, internship, job readiness, credentialing, and professional advancement initiatives. This role helps build pathways that support participant employment outcomes, peer advancement, staff development, contract compliance, and high-quality recovery-oriented services.

This position is ideal for a collaborative, systems-minded leader who can strengthen workforce programs, support staff growth, build community partnerships, and use data to improve services. The Senior Director will oversee training pathways, vocational supports, CRPA-related professional development, internships, job development, employer engagement, and related contract deliverables. This role also supports overall operations for the Next Step Recovery Community and Outreach Center, a 24/7 program, in coordination with and under the leadership of the Vice President of Behavioral Health.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead CHASI’s workforce development and professional advancement strategy across relevant programs, contracts, and service areas.
• Oversee workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, job readiness, internships, training pathways, peer advancement, employment services, and related professional development initiatives.
• Provide leadership for workforce-related contracts, staffing plans, scopes of work, deliverables, reporting requirements, service quality, and funder expectations.
• Supervise and support workforce-related managers and staff, including vocational rehabilitation, job development, training, and workforce development roles.
• Set clear expectations, coach staff, review productivity and quality data, and promote accountability, consistency, and strong communication across the team.
• Use CHASI’s Electronic Health Record and other required platforms to run reports, monitor documentation, track outcomes, and support staff performance management.
• Ensure participants receive high-quality assessments, individualized career planning, vocational counseling, job readiness training, resume and interview support, job placement assistance, and retention coaching.
• Build and maintain partnerships with employers, training providers, educational institutions, government agencies, funders, and community stakeholders to expand employment, internship, apprenticeship, and work-based learning opportunities.
• Oversee peer professional development pathways, including CRPA training, CRPA-P support, onboarding, recertification support, continuing education, mentorship, and advancement opportunities.
• Ensure training programs have clear curricula, attendance standards, documentation expectations, outcome measures, and transition planning.
• Use service data, participant outcomes, contract performance, and staff productivity reports to identify trends, gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support overall operations for the Next Step Recovery Community and Outreach Center, a 24/7 program, in coordination with and under the leadership of the Vice President of Behavioral Health.
• Represent CHASI with funders, workforce partners, employers, training entities, and community stakeholders.
• Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s mission, vision, and core values.
• Other duties as assigned.

The above is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions, and the essential requirements for the performance of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all job functions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Public Administration, Human Services, Education, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, training, recovery services, behavioral health, nonprofit administration, or a related area.
• At least three years of supervisory experience, including supervision of professional staff, supervisors, or multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing government-funded programs, grants, contracts, budgets, scopes of work, deliverables, reporting, and monitoring preparation.
• Ability to build systems, workflows, training structures, performance expectations, quality improvement processes, and accountability tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, stakeholder engagement, staff coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong data skills, including the ability to monitor program performance, identify

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Public Administration, Human Services, Education, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, employment services, training, recovery services, behavioral health, nonprofit administration, or a related area.
• At least three years of supervisory experience, including supervision of professional staff, supervisors, or multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing government-funded programs, grants, contracts, budgets, scopes of work, deliverables, reporting, and monitoring preparation.
• Ability to build systems, workflows, training structures, performance expectations, quality improvement processes, and accountability tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, stakeholder engagement, staff coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong data skills, including the ability to monitor program performance, identify service gaps, run and interpret reports, and use findings to guide decisions.
• Effectively use an Electronic Health Record, reporting tools, and other digital platforms to monitor service delivery, review documentation, track outcomes, and support staff performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, contracts, staff groups, and stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented services, harm reduction, participant-centered employment planning, culturally responsive supervision, and support for individuals facing barriers to employment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional license or credentials such as LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, CRC, CASAC, CRPA, SHRM, or another relevant credential.
• Experience with OASAS, DOHMH, OTDA, Access-VR, SNAP Employment and Training, OMH, workforce development systems, recovery community organizations, or peer workforce models.
• Experience leading peer workforce development, CRPA training, credentialing support, internship programs, job development, vocational counseling, employer partnerships, or professional advancement initiatives.

CHASI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and supporting a diverse staff. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.

The pay range for this role is generally $70,000 to $80,000 annually, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. Additionally, we offer an excellent benefits package that includes generous paid time off (4 weeks of vacation plus paid holidays, personal, and sick time), medical, dental, vision, supplemental benefits including employer-provided basic life insurance and employee assistance programs, tuition reimbursement and fitness reimbursement after 1 year of employment, a retirement plan that includes employer matching, and more!