About REDF

At REDF, we’re building an economy that works. For everyone.

We discover and back social entrepreneurs across the United States that employ people striving to overcome employment barriers like homelessness or incarceration.

These mission-driven businesses, called employment social enterprises, exist because they see untapped talent in their communities for the strengths they hold, not the barriers they’ve faced.

That’s why REDF invests in their businesses, so we can help push their impact further, faster. We pair our grantmaking with capacity-building support, create space for employment social enterprise leaders to learn together, and sponsor state and federal policies that help shift perspectives. Because we believe that our economy works best when it works for everyone.

Since 1997, REDF has invested in 238 social enterprises in 33 states and DC, helping over 84,000 people create a future where they can flourish.

About the Government Partnerships & Policy Team

The Government Partnerships & Policy team informs and influences federal, state, and local policymakers to promote the growth of employment social enterprise and increase economic opportunity for social enterprise employees through funding, intermediation, and public policy. The Government Partnerships & Policy team is charged with managing existing programs like LA:RISE, the nation’s first public-private partnership connecting workforce and employment social enterprise while also creating new and innovative public-private partnerships that help grow the social enterprise sector.

The Role: The Government Partnerships & Policy Manager will support Butte County Office of Education (BCOE) and the Back 2 Work (B2W) Department with a series of Evidence-Based Solutions in the following areas; Upskilling, Capacity Building, Technical Assistance, Programmatic Support, and Marketing and Communication. These solutions will assist in strengthening the current goals and objectives of B2W, and also technical assistance in team building with the department’s current State and local partnerships, and other duties as assigned. The Manager will handle key partners and initiatives within local government, business, philanthropy, and nonprofits in the Back 2 Work partnership. Finally, they will be responsible for managing REDF’s strategy on upskilling and apprenticeships both in support of B2W contract along with other pilots.

The Responsibilities:

Manage Back 2 Work Program:

• Manages contracting, compliance, SOW, and reporting requirements for the B2W contract.
• Lead Project Manager in coordination with Butte County Office of Education and Caltrans assisting in improving the day-to-day operations and logistics, including invoicing.
• Manage the government relationships including BCOE, Caltrans, and Elected officials.
• Manages for program operations including any process or program improvements including leading the annual assessment review and program year preparation process
• Technical Assistance, developing partner referral networks, and assistance with recruitment, and hiring.
• Aid with team building and capacity building including managing specific partnerships, events and initiatives requested by BCOE.
• Lead Relationship Manger for Social enterprise partnerships in achieving individual contractor goals and program execution.

Upskilling and Apprenticeships

• Managing REDF’s upskilling and apprenticeship strategy including B2W contract requirements and addition pilot partnerships
• Developing and supporting specific upskilling pathways that are good fits for ESEs in REDF’s portfolio that feed into established registered apprenticeship programs, including connections with the State of California’s High Road Training Partnership / High Road Construction Careers (HRCC) coalitions with organized labor.
• Assist with the development and implementation of training programs that would lead to B2W participants gaining skills to be successful for higher paid wages and lifelong sustainability.
• Assist with grant funding for B2W participants to gain training and certificates through community colleges, unions, and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards. These areas could include but are not limited to the following trades; Construction, Technology, and the Medical field.

Support Strategic Communications

• Provide support in storytelling, media events, and overall increase the awareness to our communities of the powerful stories of participants that have and are changing their lives through B2W.
• Develop program communications in coordination with REDF marketing team including quarterly newsletter, participant stories, program flyers, progress and annual report
• Find opportunities and platforms to promote the regional partnership or social enterprise to key stakeholder audiences. Make presentations, lead or participate in workshops and online discussions that make strategic contributions to social enterprises, nonprofits, and philanthropists
• Work with REDF communications and REDFworkshop.org to develop and disseminate high quality communications that advance general or specific knowledge of the social enterprise value chain or talent development solutions

The Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and 4-6 years of proven experience in public sector and policy relating to workforce development or employment of individuals facing barriers to work.
• Expertise and understanding of government contracting, compliance, reporting requirements, and partnership building specifically subject matter knowledge of Los Angeles workforce, homelessness, opportunity youth and reentry services.
• Possess a “generalist” toolkit and approach; expertise leading and tackling multiple facets of government contracts and projects including program management, compliance, programmatic and fiscal reporting, marketing and outreach, providing technical assistance, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously; able to identify solutions around barriers for both self and more junior staff
• Strategic and thoughtful in use of communications as a tool to share knowledge, get buy-in, consult with others, collaborate, and drive effective decision-making.
• Strong collaborator; comfortable working with others that possess a wide diversity of backgrounds, skills, and experience; naturally finds ways to upskill others
• Able to make important decisions under conditions of ambiguity and imperfect information; able to identify and evaluate complicated trade-offs
• Supportive of REDF’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (https://redf.org/wp-content/uploads/REDFs-Commitment-to-Diversity-Equity-Inclusion.pdf)
• Continuously uses feedback and embodies a growth mindset to improve work product and personal development; confident in giving and receiving feedback to other team members
• Able to travel up to 30% for work purposes (once business travel resumes)

The Culture

Every team member at REDF has an impact, with the ability to influence and iterate on our strategy. We balance autonomy with collaboration, leading with learning, and innovation with expertise. We listen, ask questions, and challenge the status quo and each other to uncover solutions that move us all to a better tomorrow.

REDF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our different experiences, backgrounds, and stories are our strength. We know that an equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplace makes us more effective, innovative and agile. We welcome and will consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or arrest and conviction history. EEO is the Law. REDF welcomes all.

The Perks

• 13 paid holidays and ample vacation time
• A generous dollar-for-dollar retirement plan match up to 4% of your base compensation
• Opportunity to learn continuously by building your skills and broadening your perspectives at conferences, workshops, and more
• Competitive, comprehensive benefits package

Position Location and Pay Range:

California; Remote arrangements not considered. The salary range for this position is $90,735 – $119,542 and reflects San Francisco and Los Angeles based positions. The range will be adjusted according to candidate’s location.

COVID Vaccine Requirement

Despite California’s movement towards herd immunity, low case rates, etc., the COVID-19 pandemic still exists at large. We have a responsibility to provide working conditions that mitigate any direct threat to the health and safety of our employees and others affiliated with REDF and the broader community. REDF employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for accommodation through the Director of HR by emailing recruiting@redf.org (please include “Accommodation Request, Manager, Government Partnerships & Policy” in the subject line). Our COVID-19 Vaccine Policy will adapt as we continue to review our obligations under Federal, state, and local laws.

Join Us! Please submit your resume and cover letter via REDF’s applicant portal. A personalized cover letter is required; applications without one will not be considered.