DESCRIPTIONThe City of Long Beach Economic Development Department is seeking a dynamic leader to oversee its Workforce Development Bureau as the Executive Director of the Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network (PGWIN). PGWIN connects adults, youth, and businesses to opportunities—job seekers to employment, and businesses to skilled workers. Reporting to the Director of Economic Development, this role is pivotal in steering initiatives that bolster local economies and uplift the welfare of residents. The Executive Director will oversee three direct reports, 43 total staff, and a budget of $11 million. They will ensure synergistic operations and strategic alignment with the City’s vision of becoming America’s next great international city and a magnet for 21st century talent!
This position is essential to the City's economic and workforce development strategy, focusing on educational initiatives from K-12 to career transitions. The ideal candidate is a communicative and collaborative leader, capable of fostering team cohesion and a positive work culture. They will possess a strong understanding of workforce innovation, with a focus on retention and the effective utilization of federal funding to implement the City's 52 growth strategies , particularly in public services and space-related programs. Help thousands of youth and adult job seekers build their skills, find good jobs, and contribute to their community - apply today!
THE COMMUNITY Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and five golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best-value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council Members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under the direction of a separately elected official, Board or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities Department (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments.
The City is supported by a FY 2024 total budget of approximately $3.3 billion with a General Fund budget of $719 million. More than 6,000 full and part-time employees support municipal operations with the vast majority being represented by twelve employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov .
THE DEPARTMENTThe mission of the Economic Development Department is to create economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs. It is segmented into five bureaus including Workforce Development, Business Development, Pier H, Business Operations, and Real Estate Development. It has 86 total staff members and operates on an approximate annual budget of $30 million. The Department is committed to providing world-class workforce development programs and initiatives. It partners with educational institutions to build a pipeline for the future, creating connections between companies and institutions across all sectors by leveraging a talented workforce, and providing fulfilling job opportunities.
EXCITING PROJECTS & INITIATIVES- Enhance Hiring Pipelines: Foster talent pipelines from high schools, vocational skills training programs, and institutions of higher education into green jobs, especially jobs supporting space/technology for Black, Latino and Cambodian students and other students of color, students with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ students.
- Expand Internship Programs: Work with high schools and post-secondary institutions to build job skills for underserved youth and provide pathways for the future City workforce.
- Create Business Incubators: Provide technical assistance for both new and existing small businesses and help them navigate business licenses, permitting requirements, and loans and grants.
THE JOB / THE IDEAL CANDIDATEThe Executive Director will lead the Workforce Development Bureau and ensure the PGWIN program’s operational success, providing oversight for three direct reports, 43 total staff, and a budget of $11 million. This visionary and influential leader will focus on major personnel initiatives including retention, recruitment, and building a strong talent pipeline for the future. They will also navigate complex grant management requirements, ensuring compliance with federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) standards while achieving programmatic outcomes. This position is essential to the City's economic and workforce development strategy, focusing on educational programs from K-12 to career transitions. The Executive Director will drive forward the mission to create meaningful opportunities for the people of Long Beach. They will possess a strong understanding of workforce innovation, and act as a member of the executive team to strategize effective ways to allocate resources for programs with high impact!
They will act as a public face of the organization, engaging in extensive community outreach. They will partner with educational institutions, businesses, and nonprofit entities to develop workforce pipelines that address and leverage emerging industry trends. The ideal candidate is a personable and outgoing leader who will use their strengths in public speaking, outreach, and engagement to serve the city as the voice of PGWIN. With a diverse Workforce Investment Board, the ability to value various perspectives and engage a wide array of stakeholders is essential.
Recruitment Brochure: CLICK HERE EXAMPLES OF DUTIESCORE COMPETENCIES for this role include...- Financial Acumen: Serves as a capable administrator of the budget and ensures proper allocation of resources.
- Vision: Inspires staff to carry out the mission and vision of PGWIN and the Economic Development Department.
- Strategic Thinking: Develops and maintains long-term plans to guide actions.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses data and key performance indicators to communicate the success of programs or assess areas for improvement.
- Relationship Building: Enjoys interacting with people and effectively builds meaningful relationships and community partnerships.
REQUIREMENTS TO FILEEDUCATION - Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, preferably in Business, Public Administration, or a closely related field. Candidates may substitute experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
EXPERIENCE - A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional level experience in leading economic development projects, community engagement initiatives, or workforce development programs; three (3) years of which must have been at a supervisory or managerial capacity.
SELECTION PROCEDUREHOW TO APPLY: This recruitment is conducted by WBCP For first consideration, apply by September 6th at: https://wbcpinc.com/job-board
Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check.
The City of Long Beach is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the
California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting: https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.
The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please contact the Administration Bureau at (562) 570-6781.
SECURE THE DATES:- Round one virtual interviews will take place on September 25th. Finalists will move forward to round two in-person interviews on October 2nd. Candidates invited to interview must be available for both days.
QUESTIONS?Please contact your recruiter, Terri, with any questions:- terri@wbcpinc.com
- 866-929-WBCP (9227) toll free
- 805-450-8296 (direct)
The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally.As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:
Retirement:California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% or 2.7% (depending on hire date) @55 for "Classic" members and 2% @62 for new members as defined by PEPRA, subject to the compensation limitations set by PERS. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.
Health and Dental Insurance:The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.
Life Insurance:City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
Disability Insurance:City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Management Physical:Annual City-paid physical examination.
Vacation:Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.
Executive Leave:Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.
Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
Holidays:Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.
Transportation Allowance:Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;
- Department Head $650.00
- Deputy Director/Manager/Director (Harbor/Utilities) $550.00
- Division Officer/Superintendent/ Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA $450.00
- Assistant to Executive / Executive Assistant / Executive Secretary/ Executive Support Staff $300.00
Deferred Compensation Plan:Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation).
- Classic CalPERS Members: The City will contribute a maximum of up to two percent (2%) of base salary* for all qualified Classic CalPERS members.
- Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) CalPERS Members: Effective the second full pay period following City Council adoption, the City contribution will increase from two percent (2%) to three percent (3%) of base salary* for all qualified PEPRA CalPERS members.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA):Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule:Available (subject to City Manager approval).
Paid Parental Leave: The City provides one hundred and sixty (160) hours of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child, regardless of the gender, marital status or sexual orientation of the parent.
Closing Date/Time: 9/6/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
