The Opportunity:
As the Director of Programs in Kanawha County, West Virginia, you will lead the launch and implementation of career readiness and life skills programming through the Skilled West Virginia workforce ecosystem. Reporting to the EVP, Strategy & Growth, your role is vital in designing, managing, and delivering career training and wraparound support in a region that values relationships, trust, resilience, and second chances.
You will serve as the primary point of contact for participants, partners, and community stakeholders — coaching individuals to overcome barriers, facilitating career readiness workshops, and aligning local resources (training providers, recovery services, and employers) for program success. Your ability to mentor, lead initiatives, and foster strong community connections across Kanawha County and the surrounding southern coalfield counties will be critical to both short-term participant success and long-term workforce development in the region.
This role also includes temporary responsibilities in program design and implementation, ensuring a smooth program launch and participant progression. Once the program is established, your work will focus entirely on participant engagement, success coaching, recovery-informed support, and workforce placement.
Organization Overview:
As part of Skilled US’s commitment to empowering adults in marginalized and underserved communities, the Director of Programs plays a crucial role in supporting individuals through career transitions and growing our footprint in West Virginia. Skilled West Virginia is the West Virginia operating unit of Skilled US, whose mission is to provide the tools, training, and resources necessary for individuals to secure high-demand jobs and achieve economic stability. Through comprehensive vocational programs, wraparound services, career counseling, networking, and mentorship — and, in West Virginia, integrated peer recovery support — we equip our participants with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in today’s job market. The success of our program graduates underscores the transformative impact of Skilled US in breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering long-term economic growth
Key Responsibilities:
Program Development & Implementation
- Lead the design, facilitation, and launch of a local career readiness program tailored to the unique needs of Kanawha County and the surrounding southern West Virginia communities, including the recovery and dislocated-worker populations.
- Collaborate with the EVP, Strategy & Growth to set program goals, timelines, and success indicators.
- Coordinate with local organizations and training partners — including local community colleges and training programs, workforce-focused organizations, recovery service providers, and area employers — to ensure timely and smooth program delivery.
- Track implementation milestones and make adjustments to improve quality and impact.
- Hire, coach and manage a team in WV as funding becomes available.
Participant Success & Career Readiness Coaching
- Serve as a trusted mentor and coach for participants, offering personalized guidance through enrollment, training, and job placement.
- Create and facilitate in-person or virtual career and life skills workshops focused on communication, financial literacy, time management, and workplace expectations.
- Identify barriers to success (e.g., transportation, housing, childcare, trauma, recovery maintenance, motivation) and help participants access needed supports, coordinating closely with embedded peer recovery support where applicable.
- Monitor enrollment, withdrawals, and attendance to ensure consistent engagement and program completion.
- Utilize motivational interviewing and trauma-informed techniques to help participants explore goals, strengthen intrinsic motivation, and resolve ambivalence about personal or professional growth.
Community & Partner Engagement
- Build and sustain relationships with local employers, community leaders, training partners, recovery providers, and service agencies across Kanawha County and the southern coalfield region.
- Organize work-based learning opportunities and employer site visits — including with Recovery-Ready Workplace employer partners — to connect participants with real-world experiences.
- Promote Skilled US’s and Skilled West Virginia’s mission through community outreach, speaking engagements, and collaborative efforts.
Data & Reporting
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date participant records using enrollment and CRM systems like Salesforce or HubSpot.
- Collect and analyze participant progress data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Prepare timely reports for leadership and funders — including grant and SNAP E&T compliance reporting — highlighting participant success stories and program outcomes.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, higher education, or a related field, or at least five years of relevant experience.
Work Experience
- 5+ years working in adult education, career services, or workforce development.
- Demonstrated success advising adult learners, managing career pathways, or building employer relationships.
- Experience designing and implementing training programs, particularly in small, rural, or Appalachian communities.
- Experience working with individuals in recovery, reentry, or other populations facing significant barriers is strongly preferred.
Skills & Knowledge
- Proficiency in Excel, CRMs (Salesforce or similar), and data entry/reporting.
- Strong communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to lead workshops.
- Deep understanding of case management, social emotional learning techniques, trauma-informed care, and career counseling.
- Knowledge of funding sources and support systems such as SNAP E&T, WIOA, Workforce Pell, and recovery/reentry programs.
- Familiarity with substance use disorder recovery principles and recovery-to-work models is a plus.
- Bilingual abilities are a plus.
Availability
- This in-person position requires regular in-person engagement in Kanawha County (Charleston area) with participants, community partners, and program stakeholders, with travel to surrounding counties as needed.
About Skilled US:
Skilled US is a student-first workforce and adult education organization that helps adults and young people earn credentials, build confidence, and move into family-sustaining careers. We deliver high-quality GED and English language instruction alongside strong wraparound support at our brick-and-mortar campus on the east side of Indianapolis.
Our work is mission-driven, practical, and outcomes-focused. We believe education should lead to real progress, measurable achievement, and expanded opportunity. We are looking for educators who are passionate about helping students overcome barriers and reach meaningful milestones.
Our Core Values
- Students First — work to ensure that all interactions and decisions put our scholars first
- Respect — treat others as you would like to be treated
- Determination — with hard work and superior effort, we can achieve all things
- Continuous Improvement — try to get better and better every day
- Gratitude — demonstrate gratefulness for all that we have done and the opportunity to serve our scholars and communities
PLA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in social work, higher education, or a related field, or at least five years of relevant experience.
- 5+ years working in adult education, career services, or workforce development.
- Demonstrated success advising adult learners, managing career pathways, or building employer relationships.
- Experience designing and implementing training programs, particularly in small, rural, or Appalachian communities.
- Experience working with individuals in recovery, reentry, or other populations facing significant barriers.
- Proficiency in Excel, CRMs (Salesforce or similar), and data entry/reporting.
- Strong communication and facilitation skills, including leading workshops.
- Deep understanding of case management, social emotional learning techniques, trauma-informed care, and career counseling.
- Knowledge of funding sources and support systems such as SNAP E&T, WIOA, Workforce Pell, and recovery/reentry programs.
- Familiarity with substance use disorder recovery principles and recovery-to-work models.
- Bilingual abilities.
- Ability to regularly work in-person in Kanawha County with travel to surrounding counties as needed.
What We Do
Phalen Leadership Academies is a nonprofit network transforming public and charter schools into safe, high-performing, and inspiring places to learn, dedicated to closing achievement gaps and building brighter futures through academic excellence and innovation.
