Program Associate, Workforce Development

Join Our Mission. Shape the Future.

At NCOA, we are on a mission to create the conditions for all to age well in America—today and into the future. Every day, we work to improve the lives of millions of older adults through innovative programs, trusted advocacy, and meaningful partnerships that advance health, economic security, and equity.

We are seeking a dynamic and collaborative Program Associate, Workforce Development to bring their expertise, passion, and commitment to help drive our mission forward. This team member will play a pivotal role in supporting workforce development initiatives by providing technical assistance, strengthening grantee and partner relationships, and coordinating grant-funded programs that expand employment opportunities and economic security for older adults.

The ideal candidate is an organized and relationship-focused program professional who thrives on supporting partners, coordinating multiple priorities, and providing responsive technical assistance that strengthens program implementation and outcomes. They will embrace and exemplify NCOA's core values of Caring for All, Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity, and Respect, fostering a culture of excellence while helping ensure that every older adult has the opportunity to age with dignity, purpose, and security.

If you are ready to make a lasting difference while leading with purpose, we invite you to join our team.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Program Associate, Workforce Development plays a key role in supporting the planning, coordination, and implementation of workforce development initiatives within the Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW). This includes providing technical assistance, program coordination, and operational support for grant-funded programs such as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) and the SCSEP Sector Strategy Grant among others. Working both independently and collaboratively, the Program Associate partners with internal staff, external grantees, consultants, and other network members and partners to strengthen program implementation, build partner capacity, and advance program goals.

Serving as a primary point of contact for grantees and community-based partners across the country, the Program Associate provides timely guidance, resources, and technical assistance; monitors program activities and partner performance; identifies and shares promising practices; and supports the successful implementation of grant-funded initiatives. Activities focus on strengthening workforce development programs through collaboration, continuous improvement, and high-quality service to CEW's network of partners and stakeholders.

Positions at this level typically report to an associate director or director and require experience supporting projects and managing tasks or deliverables. Incumbents are required to exercise judgement within their scope of work based on defined guidelines. Incumbents generally have one or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, as well as substantive experience at this level. Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience.    

*This grant-funded position is a short-term, temporary position that is funded through June 30, 2027, and designed to be filled by a W-2 employee.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical assistance and support to network members to build capacity toward an expansive, sustainable infrastructure for programs. Technical assistance includes monitoring partner activities; researching and providing prompt and thoughtful responses to requests for information or assistance; resource development (tip sheets, issue briefs, fact sheets, toolkits, etc.); ongoing communication with partners via various channels to support their activities and goals; and documenting and sharing learnings and exemplary practices from the field.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for grantees, service delivery partners, and community-based organizations by providing timely guidance, resources, and customer service to support program implementation and achievement of grant objectives. 
• Monitor program activities and partner performance to help ensure quality service delivery and compliance with contractual and grant requirements. Manage relationships with partners and grantees and assist with contract administration, reporting, and invoicing requirements. 
• Review subgrantee reports and other program data to identify trends, accomplishments, and opportunities for continuous improvement and to support reporting to funding agencies. 
• Serve as an ambassador for NCOA's mission, programs, and social impact goals by building and maintaining strong relationships with external partners and stakeholders. 
• Apply SCSEP policies, procedures, and program requirements while collaborating closely with the Workforce Development team to support consistent implementation and compliance.
• Monitor and triage incoming communications to the SCSEP inbox and respond or escalate inquiries as appropriate. 
• Assist with the development, maintenance, and ongoing updates of program reporting templates, tracking tools, handbooks, and other operational resources. 
• Utilize NCOA systems and necessary databases – including Cumulus, Zengine, and the Department of Labor Grant Performance Management System (GPMS) – to support program administration, partner management, reporting, and document distribution. 
• Track reporting deadlines, review submissions for completeness and accuracy, and populate monitoring and reporting templates to support grant oversight and compliance. 

• Review subgrantee quarterly narrative reports to identify highlights for NCOA quarterly reports to Department of Labor. 
• Provide administrative and customer service support to the Workforce Development team, including data entry, document management, and responding to participant and stakeholder inquiries. 
• Coordinate logistics for meetings, trainings, conferences, webinars, teleconferences, travel, and other program activities. 

• Foster a collaborative, team-oriented work environment by partnering with colleagues across NCOA to support program implementation, problem-solving, and continuous quality improvement. 
• Participate in team meetings, work planning, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement activities to support organizational and departmental goals. 
• Conduct site visits, attend conferences, participate in partner meetings, and travel as needed to support grantee relationships, program oversight, and organizational priorities. 
• Assist with the development of grant proposals and other funding opportunities to support the growth and sustainability of CEW programs. 
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of one year of experience providing technical assistance or in a related role. 
• 1-3 years of relevant work experience in employment and training programs. 

• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and tasks effectively while maintaining strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Strong verbal, written, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to adapt communication style to stakeholder needs and effectively engage audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders and communicate effectively in both internal and external settings.
• Experience supporting or facilitating meetings, trainings, presentations, work groups, webinars, communities of practice, or other group discussions preferred.
• Experience supporting nonprofit or grant-funded programs, including tracking deliverables, organizing reports, monitoring activities, and assisting with day-to-day program operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word) and experience learning and utilizing databases or web-based systems (e.g., Cumulus, Zengine, GPMS, Salesforce, or similar platforms). 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative, cross-functional team environment. 
• Experience working with older adults, diverse communities, minority populations, low-income communities, or other underserved populations strongly preferred. 
•  Ability and willingness to travel approximately 10-20%, including overnight travel throughout the United States and its territories, to support site visits, conferences, partner meetings, trainings, and other business-related activities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk.
• Occasionally required to walk. 
• Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. 
• Frequently required to talk or listen. 
• Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.
• Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Primarily office-based in Arlington, VA, with a hybrid schedule. 
• Occasional travel is required for partner meetings, conferences, and other partner engagements.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you are a collaborative, mission-driven professional with a passion for creating meaningful change, we encourage you to apply.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume through the application link provided. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. Please note that we are unable to accept phone calls regarding this position.

NCOA is committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation. The salary range published in this job posting reflects the market range for positions based in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region. Because NCOA employs staff in multiple states, compensation may vary based on an employee's primary work location through our geographic pay structure. Geographic differentials are established using regional labor market data to ensure competitive and equitable pay across locations. Final starting salary will be determined based on the employee's work location, relevant experience, education, qualifications, and internal equity.

NCOA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and respectful workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.