About the role
About Houston-Galveston Area Council
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country with a diverse service area of 13 counties and more than 7 million people. We are the pulse of our region addressing issues that cross city limits and county lines every single day. We make decisions that affect our transportation system, ensure the safety and well-being of our seniors, connect people to jobs, help families recover from natural disasters, preserve water quality for our children, and so much more. We work to make the region a great place to live, work, and thrive. What will I be doing?
The Senior Planner – Work-Based Learning (WBL) Liaison leads the development and expansion of work-based learning opportunities that connect youth to meaningful careers in high-demand industries. This position serves as the primary liaison between Hire Gulf Coast Youth, employers, workforce partners, education partners, and contracted service providers to build and sustain a regional pipeline of internships, job shadowing, apprenticeships, work experiences, and employment opportunities. Working collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders, this role develops employer partnerships, coordinates strategic initiatives, supports provider performance, and advances HGCY's work-based learning strategy to improve employment outcomes for youth.
Essential Responsibilities
Employer & Partnership Development * Develop and maintain relationships with employers, industry associations, chambers, and community partners. * Recruit new employers to provide internships, work experiences, and employment opportunities. * Expand work-based learning opportunities aligned with regional high-growth, high-demand industries. * Collaborate with Employer Engagement staff to support business outreach and partnership development.
Work-Based Learning Strategy * Lead implementation of HGCY's regional Work-Based Learning strategy. * Coordinate employer engagement initiatives, hiring events, and workforce partnerships. * Support development of career exploration, job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and career pathway opportunities. * Identify gaps in employer participation and develop strategies to increase engagement.
Provider Support & Performance * Provide technical assistance to contracted service providers on work-based learning development. * Monitor regional work-based learning activity and identify opportunities for improvement. * Support achievement of placement and employment goals through collaboration and coaching. * Share best practices, resources, and employer leads across providers.
Data & Performance * Track employer engagement, work-based learning placements, and employment outcomes. * Develop reports and dashboards to monitor regional performance. * Analyze trends and recommend strategies to improve employer participation and youth outcomes. * Support reporting requirements and performance improvement initiatives.
Strategic Projects * Lead special projects that expand work-based learning capacity and employer partnerships. * Coordinate initiatives supporting targeted industries, career exploration, and regional workforce priorities. * Represent HGCY at community meetings, employer events, and workforce initiatives. * Research emerging workforce trends and recommend innovative partnership strategies.
Key Qualifications
What You'll Bring * Strong relationship-building and business development skills. * Ability to engage employers and build strategic partnerships. * Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and managing multiple projects. * Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills. * Ability to analyze performance data and develop strategies that improve outcomes. * Passion for connecting youth with meaningful career opportunities.
Do you have… * Bachelor’s degree in an applicable academic discipline or related field of study. * Minimum of 5 years working with local government, nonprofit programs, or in similar job-related duties.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), employer engagement, work-based learning, apprenticeship programs, economic development, CRM systems, labor market information, and project management is preferred.
Salary Range: $65,104.00 - $97,267.00