Senior Advisor Workforce Development

Job Description

SUMMARY

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza), is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy programs, and an Affiliate Network of 300+ community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels.

The Senior Advisor, Workforce Development is a role that will support UnidosUS’s Protect, Defend & Advance (PD&A) Campaign by advancing organizational priorities in workforce development policy and practice. The Senior Advisor is a member of the institution-wide campaign team and will serve as UnidosUS’s institutional expert on workforce development policy, including career pathways, skills training, apprenticeships, sector-based strategies, and labor market solutions. The Senior Advisor plays a key role in communicating and carrying out tactics that elevate promising policy and program workforce development solutions. The Senior Advisor will play a key role in developing and advancing UnidosUS’s workforce development priorities in Congress and in select statehouses. The Senior Advisor is expected to support UnidosUS’ engagement efforts on workforce development with government officials, lawmakers, corporate/industry officials, Affiliates, and funders.

The Senior Advisor must be available for in-person Capitol Hill visits and events. The position requires occasional travel, including to UnidosUS events.

This is a part-time temporary exempt position expected to run through December 31, 2026.

Location: This position is hybrid, and will be based in Washington, DC. UnidosUS policy is to work onsite two days per week to fulfill the duties of the position.

Schedule: Part-time, 20 hours per week.

Salary: $85,000-$95,000 (prorated based on 50% FTE)

Essential Functions:

• Lead and collaborate on drafting, editing, and publishing material that provide information, advice, and recommendations about policy, practice, and regulations in a range of workforce development areas, including career pathways, apprenticeships, skills training, sector- and placed-based strategies, skills-based hiring practices, and labor market trends.
• In collaboration with Senior Vice President of Programs and Senior Vice President of Economic Initiatives, shape the communications strategy in support of workforce development strategic Campaign goals.
• Establish, cultivate and maintain influential relationships with key members of Congress, federal and state officials, corporate/industry leaders, Affiliates, partners, and funders.
• Lead, convene, and participate in coalitions of experts and advocates on select workforce development policy issues.
• Work directly with and partner with community-based Affiliate leaders to ground the Campaign and deepen our impact on policymakers, corporate/industry leaders, and philanthropy.
• Together with the Vice President of Workforce Development and Adult Education, serve as UnidosUS’s institutional experts on workforce development, including policy and programmatic solutions that ensure access to quality jobs with clear pathways to economic mobility.
• Advise and support UnidosUS leadership, including the organization’s Cabinet and the President and CEO, to achieve strategic goals related to workforce development.
• In collaboration with UnidosUS leadership, support fundraising efforts for the PD&A Campaign.
• Support efforts to keep the UnidosUS Board of Directors, Affiliates, partners, and staff informed about workforce development policy efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of public policy, economics, labor relations, education, or social sciences.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant workforce development, labor, or economic development policy experience.
• In-depth knowledge of policy analysis, with a demonstrated ability to analyze and develop new policy ideas.
• Demonstrated experience publishing material, producing analyses, and other written forms of communication with the public and community-based organizations.
• Knowledge of workforce development policy issues, including career pathways, apprenticeships, skills training, sector- and placed-based strategies, and skills-based hiring practices.
• Experience communicating priorities in public settings such as coalition meetings, congressional briefings, major conferences, and with the media.
• Experience staffing principles and senior leadership in their engagement with Congress.
• Demonstrated experience working with community-based organizations or other nonprofits, community colleges, employers, and other workforce development stakeholders.
• Robust experience working with underserved populations and strong cultural competence.
• Flexibility to travel, approximately 5%.
• Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Latino community and Latino workforce trends.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field of public policy, economics, labor relations, education, or social sciences.
• Experience working for a nonprofit organization, a housing regulator, or on Capitol Hill.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) verbal skills.

Skills and Abilities

• Steadfast commitment to UnidosUS mission, vision, and values (Excellence, Respeto, Accountability).
• Commitment to supporting and advancing the needs of the U.S. Latino community, Latino non-profit organizations, and the Latino market.
• Project management skills suited to a dynamic work environment with multiple ongoing responsibilities, tight deadlines, and expectations for high-quality work.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of various teams and committees.
• Acute attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite more specifically, Office 365.

Competencies

• Analytical–Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.
• Problem Solving–Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Project Management–Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
• Oral Communication–Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication–Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork–Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
• Strategic Thinking–Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization’s strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Initiative–Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously and perform some repetitive motion activities.
• Sit for prolonged periods of time, frequently required to stand, walk, and sit.
• Frequently required to utilize hand/finger dexterity & frequently required to talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to lift/push light weights up to 25 pounds.
• Vision abilities including close, distance, peripheral, & depth vision; and ability to adjust or focus.
• Utilize visual acuity to operate equipment, read technical information, and/or use a keyboard.
• The noise level in the work environment usually is quiet to moderately loud.

COVID-19 Considerations:

• UnidosUS follows CDC guidance and strongly encourages employees to stay up to date on vaccinations and practice a range of preventive measures to support their well-being and maintain a healthy work environment.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ABOUT US

UnidosUS (formerly NCLR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Since 1968, we have challenged the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of more than 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. We believe in an America where economic, political, and social progress is a reality for all Latinos, and we collaborate across communities to achieve it. For more information on UnidosUS, visit unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads and X.

Employment with UnidosUS is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screen.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.