The Apprenticeship Advantage Program (AAP) is an initiative of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation (TGCALF), AFL-CIO, to expand Harris County residents’ access to good jobs and career training through Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeships. Funded by the largest local government investment in union apprenticeships in the U.S., the program partners with 11 joint labor-management apprenticeship programs in the construction, live entertainment, and public transportation industries. AAP places apprentices in earn-while-you-learn jobs that offer fair pay, quality benefits, free career training, and a voice on the job. Visit www.apprenticeship-advantage.org/ for additional background on the program.
Position Summary
The Programs Director (PD) serves as the operational and strategic lead of the AAP, responsible for coordinating apprenticeship partners, managing project staff, developing recruitment pipelines into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, and ensuring successful delivery of grant-funded program outcomes.
This role oversees the full lifecycle of program implementation — from program development to outreach and recruitment through enrollment, retention, and reporting — and ensures that all program activities align with funding requirements, timelines, and performance goals.
The Programs Director serves as a central point of coordination between unions, government agencies, community partners, employers, and program participants.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Apprenticeship Advantage Program
Program Coordination & Partner Management
Coordinate staff, apprenticeship training subcontractors, and consultants, and monitor performance to ensure all stakeholders meet program deliverables and timelines
Manage project administrative, outreach, and retention staff, including providing training and mentoring
Serve as the primary liaison between AAP and subcontracted apprenticeship programs and external partners, including government officials, external program evaluators, and media
Manage partner relationships
Facilitate regular partner meetings, maintain clear communication, and support alignment across stakeholders
Maintain and improve internal systems for tracking spending, program activities, beneficiary data, and participant progress
Pre-Apprenticeship Expansion & Apprenticeship Pipeline Development
Work with apprenticeship partners to strengthen existing pre-apprenticeship programs and launch new ones, with a focus on Disaster Response and Recovery Skills
Develop formal partnerships with targeted school districts, government, and nonprofit agencies to pilot innovative pathways to apprenticeships
Establish, nurture, and manage candidate pipelines from initial inquiry through enrollment, ensuring consistent engagement and follow-up
Financial Management
Prepare project budgets, monitor TGCALF and partner spending, and obtain approval for budget reallocations to ensure alignment with approved funding and timeline requirements
Oversee preparation and submission of accurate monthly invoices, financial reports, expenditure preauthorization requests, and required documentation to the County
Community Outreach & Partnership Development
Collaborate on designing public-facing communications, including reports, presentations, social media, marketing materials, and messaging
Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, workforce development agencies, schools, and referral partners
Represent AAP before Harris County Commissioners Court, in the media, workforce boards, funders, and partner organizations
Plan, coordinate, and execute outreach and recruitment events, including program tours and informational sessions
Maintain outreach materials, contact lists, and engagement strategies, including use of CRM systems
Identify and cultivate new partnership opportunities to expand program reach and impact
Reporting & Compliance
Track and report on key program metrics to ensure program goals and key performance indicators are met
Provide accurate, detailed program performance reports and documentation as required by the County
Support data collection, documentation, and reporting processes to ensure accuracy and consistency
Identify performance or compliance issues and implement corrective action plans as needed
Ensure all program activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations and grant requirements
Analyze data to identify performance gaps and develop strategies for continuous improvement
Retain and furnish relevant documents, correspondence, and materials to Harris County for compliance purposes
Interim Executive Director – 501(c)(3) Workforce Development Nonprofit
Strategic Leadership
Assist the TGCALF Executive Director with organizational, legal, and grant-writing tasks to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on expanding labor-management apprenticeships in Houston’s regional workforce development system
Lead strategic visioning and organizational development aligned with the organization’s mission
Develop and manage relationships with internal and external workforce partners to identify opportunities for program expansion
Report regularly to internal organizational leadership
Fundraising & Development
Build and manage relationships with public and private sector funders
Lead private sector fundraising efforts, particularly with philanthropic institutions and private donors
Direct public sector grant efforts involving federal, state, and local funding sources
Operational Leadership & Organizational Growth
Oversee programs, budgets, and finances
Oversee implementation and expansion of workforce development programming
Supervise and support a growing staff and ensure strong internal operations
Communications
Additional Duties
QUALIFICATIONS
This position is a full-time, in-person, salaried, exempt position in Harris County. It requires regular travel throughout the greater Houston area for outreach, partner meetings, and program events. The role also requires some evening and weekend availability, as well as occasional out-of-town travel.
Required Qualifications
Approximately 3 years of experience managing data- and finance-heavy grant programs and staff with strict deadlines and reporting requirements in workforce development, program management, education, labor organizing, or a related field
Advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, databases, and presentation software to track program data, prepare reports, analyze outcomes, communicate progress, and improve performance
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and complex partnerships
Strong organizational and project management skills with meticulous attention to detail
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and relational skills
Commitment to economic justice, workers’ rights, and expanding access to career pathways
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Qualifications
Proven leadership in nonprofit management, especially during startup or scaling phases
Experience designing and implementing workforce development programs and policy initiatives
Strong fundraising track record with private funders and philanthropic partners
Strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to align workforce development with union organizing, member services, and leadership development
Familiarity with the labor movement, particularly union apprenticeships
Familiarity with federal contracting rules and regulations or the Department of Labor apprenticeship registration process
Experience coordinating among unions, employers, community-based organizations, and government agencies
Familiarity with the regional, state, and federal workforce system
Compensation
Base salary: $78,000-$88,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
Benefits include:
High-quality, employer-paid health insurance
Generous paid time off
10% employer contribution to retirement plan on top of base pay
Option for voluntary contributions to a 401(k) plan
How To Apply
The position is open as of 5/14/26.
Interested candidates should submit:
A brief cover letter
Resume describing relevant experience and interest in the role
Apply at: www.gcaflcio.org/jobs
The Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO strongly encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and others from historically underrepresented communities.