Director, Operations Workforce

OUR ORGANIZATION:  

Kinexus, recently recognized as one of Nonprofit Times 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 2022 and 2026 Best Nonprofits to Work For, is a cutting-edge community development organization with growing initiatives to create an economically thriving Michigan. We are change agents who create solutions for business, workforce, and community challenges to promote economic vitality.

OUR TEAM:

The Michigan Works Team is made up of dedicated professionals who work to develop the local workforce and build a talent pipeline to meet current and future needs of employers in the area.  At the same time, we are helping jobseekers in our community find sustainable employment.  The Michigan Works! Team offers a variety of services to jobseekers at almost any level, including career coaching, scholarships for classroom training in high demand occupations, and on-the-job training opportunities.  We work closely with the Business Team to connect jobseekers to multiple types of employment from entry level work to professional careers.   

OUR DESIRED OUTCOMES:

Our long-term outcome is to attract, retain, and develop talent to support economic growth and vitality in Southwest Michigan. The Director, Operations plans, implements, and leads workforce staff with a demand-driven and business-oriented approach. This leadership position charged with expanding and improving services, developing systems and practices which promote Michigan Works! mission, and ensuring quality delivery of services and products. The Director must also develop the appropriate strategies to implement developmental and instructional opportunities beyond core Michigan Works! services through collaboration with leadership and community partners. The Director will focus on these three areas: 1. Service expansion and management 2. Systems knowledge management and development and 3. Strengthening of organizational operations.

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU:

The Director of Operations is a leadership position responsible for the operational excellence, compliance, fiscal stewardship, and continuous improvement of Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren workforce programs and service delivery. The position ensures high-quality, customer-centered services while driving organizational performance, developing leaders, and maintaining compliance with all federal, state, and local workforce requirements.

• Provide leadership for Michigan Works! workforce operations across multiple service locations, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery throughout the Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren region.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate operational strategies that improve organizational effectiveness, customer experience, program outcomes, and long-term sustainability.
• Provide direct leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for managers and supervisors while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee implementation of workforce development programs funded through WIOA and other federal, state, and local funding sources, ensuring full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and grant requirements.
• Provide oversight of program budgets, expenditures, and fiscal performance by collaborating with finance staff to develop budgets, monitor spending, forecast financial needs, maximize available funding, and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Monitor contract performance, grant deliverables, and key performance indicators to ensure achievement of negotiated outcomes and organizational goals.
• Analyze operational, financial, and performance data to identify trends, mitigate risk, and implement data-driven improvements that increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain operational policies, standard operating procedures, quality assurance processes, and internal controls that promote consistency and regulatory compliance.
• Support process improvement projects, technology implementation, and system enhancements that improve staff productivity and customer outcomes.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to establish strategic priorities, organizational objectives, staffing plans, and resource allocation decisions.
• Develop and maintain strong workforce partnerships within the community.
• Ensure operational readiness for monitoring, audits, and program reviews while implementing corrective actions and continuous quality improvement initiatives as needed.
• Promote an organizational culture that reflects integrity, innovation, exceptional customer service, equity, accountability, and employee engagement.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:  

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources, Education, Organizational Leadership, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience managing complex operations, multi-site programs, or workforce development services.
• Demonstrated experience with overseeing operations, budget oversight, organizational leadership, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, relationship-building, and analytical skills.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: 

• Familiarity of local, state, and federal regulations in any focus area.
• Knowledge of the philosophy of the workforce development services including but not limited to employment and training services through Workforce Development Agency, Department of Education, Departments of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services.
• Demonstrated knowledge of database systems.
• Three (3) years' experience running or managing a small to medium sized department, organization, team, or company.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to lift to 25 pounds at times.  
• Must be willing and able to travel between offices located in Benton Harbor, Paw Paw, and Cassopolis MI.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Competitive salary & benefits
• Flexible and open
• Opportunities for development, growth and giving back 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US: 

• A robust onboarding experience to integrate you into our team.
• Team of Teams training in support of the organizational strategies.
• Job training and development to ensure you are established and growing in your role.
• Cross Operational Meetings with your peers.
• Be a part of transformational change in Michigan.

We have unique culture that requires individuals to be BOLD, INSPIRATIONAL, ENTREPRENEURIAL and INCLUSIVE. We spend more waking hours with each other than we do with family or friends, so finding someone that adds to our culture is extremely important.

Kinexus Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids, reasonable accommodations and/or services are available upon request for individuals with disabilities. Michigan Relay Center: 711 Voice and TDD. Kinexus is a partner of American Job Centers.