Program Director

The Opportunity: Program Director 

Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid schedule with on-site presence required for training and partner meetings 

Pay: $70,000- $75,000/ year

Who We Are || VOAMASS gives members of the community who need help the most the services, support, and tools they need to create a fresh start. At VOAMASS, our dedicated integrated care teams are committed to serving the whole person. 

 As a Program Director, you'll lead VOAMASS' Workforce Development Program in Essex County, overseeing employment services that support returning citizens and other underrepresented groups in securing work. You will manage the Tier 1 Plumbing Training Program—funded by MassCEC and delivered in partnership with the Essex County Sheriff's Department—while guiding broader training, case management, and job placement efforts. In this role, you'll strengthen partnerships with employers, unions, and community organizations to expand career pathways and advance our integrated care approach to reducing recidivism. 

 Some of your critical responsibilities:  

• Provide overall leadership and day-to-day management of VOAMASS employment and workforce development services in Essex County.
• Direct operations of the Tier 1 Plumbing Training Program, ensuring compliance with MassCEC requirements and VOAMASS policies.
• Provide oversight of program staff including instructors, case managers, employment counselors, and facilitators.
• Ensure high-quality delivery of technical training, soft skills curriculum, and certification courses (OSHA-30, Hot Works, OmegaFlex, Viega).
• Develop and manage partnerships with MassHire Career Centers and employers to expand employment pipelines in plumbing, pipefitting, and other trades.
• Lead job development activities, including employer outreach, hiring events, and establishing apprenticeship pathways.
• Ensure individualized case management and support services address participant barriers (e.g., transportation, housing, childcare, digital access).
• Monitor program metrics and outcomes (completion, placement, retention, wage growth), and implement continuous quality improvement strategies.
• Prepare and submit reports to MassCEC, VOAMASS leadership, and other funders as required.
• Represent VOAMASS in regional workforce boards, employer advisory boards, and community coalitions.
• Oversee and help to develop workforce development programming beyond plumbing and for other populations served by VOAMASS, ensuring integration with VOAMASS' reentry, housing, and behavioral health services.
• Support sustainability planning, including identification of new funding opportunities and alignment with WIOA and other workforce initiatives.

The Program Director role is about making a difference in the lives of the people we serve. You'll bring the following qualifications:  

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Public Administration, Education, or related field (Master's preferred). 
• Minimum 5 years of program experience in workforce development, reentry services, or related fields. 
• Proven ability to work with justice-involved individuals and populations facing systemic barriers to employment. 
• Strong leadership and supervisory experience with the ability to work with multidisciplinary teams. 
• Experience managing grants, budgets, and compliance reporting. Familiarity with data tracking systems (CareLogic or similar case management platforms) and strong reporting skills. 
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and partnership outreach and development skills.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required.

 Since 1934, VOAMASS has provided critical services to the residents of the Commonwealth. From pioneering early residential treatment programs in the 1960's to leading today in the field of mental health programming, VOAMASS can be counted on to tackle our greatest challenges.

For full-time employees, including our Program Director, our comprehensive and generous benefits package includes:

• Excellent health, vision, and dental insurance with 85% of medical deductible and certain co-pays paid by employer
• Multiple opportunities to use pre-tax dollars to save for expenses such as health care (flexible spending account), childcare, transit, and parking)
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• 24/7 nurse hotline for urgent health questions
• Employee assistance program to provide help with family concerns, stress management, legal issues, and more
• Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance
• Tuition remission programs
• Loan forgiveness (Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program)
• Generous vacation benefits, starting at three weeks and moving to four weeks after three years of employment
• 14 paid holidays, higher than industry average
• Fitness/wellness reimbursement to cover expenses such as gym membership
• Employee discount program on hundreds of items such as computers, cell phone plans and accessories, furniture, hotels, vacation home rentals, etc.
• Cash bonus, with no annual cap, for referring other qualified candidates for employment

VOAMASS is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.