Position Overview:

The Associate Director of Health Care Pathways Programs at UNITE-LA leads workforce initiatives that connect young adults to high-demand health care careers and work-based learning opportunities. The role oversees the design, implementation and continuous improvement of programs that create accessible pathways into health care careers for the region’s rising workforce. The Associate Director cultivates strategic partnerships with education, workforce, community and employer partners to develop equitable, scalable talent pipelines that address health care workforce needs and expand economic mobility for young adults facing barriers to employment.

As a leader of the Health Care Pathways team, they model UNITE-LA’s values, foster collaboration and accountability and support staff growth and success. The ideal candidate brings health care and workforce development expertise, strong partnership-building skills and a commitment to expanding opportunities for historically underrepresented communities.

About UNITE-LA:

For more than 25 years, UNITE-LA has established itself as a trusted education and business intermediary, dedicated to improving the economic mobility and well-being of the region’s diverse rising workforce. Leveraging strategic cross-sector partnerships at local, statewide, and national levels, we advance policies, practices and systems that strengthen anti-racism and equitable education and workforce outcomes from cradle through career.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Health Care Workforce Strategy & Program Leadership

  • Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of health care workforce initiatives that respond to industry talent needs and create pathways to high-demand health care careers, including UNITE-LA’s My Pathway to Health, Health Sector Collaborative and health care fairs and symposiums.

  • Utilize labor market data, employer insights and workforce trends to identify emerging occupations and inform program strategy, continuous growth and impact.

  • Oversee program operations, including program staff, performance management, evaluation, budgeting, reporting and data-driven decision-making to achieve organizational goals.

  • Advance sustainable health care talent pipeline programming by cultivating strategic funding and employer partnerships, supporting resource development efforts and expanding access to health care careers for historically underserved communities.

• Opportunity Youth Pathways & Participant Success

  • Ensure programs are designed using asset-based, trauma-informed and youth-centered approaches that address the unique needs of opportunity youth.

  • Work collaboratively with partners to provide participants with coaching, career navigation, supportive services and persistence strategies.

  • Promote equitable access to education, training, credentials and employment opportunities within health care career pathways.

  • Incorporate participant voice and feedback into program design, implementation and evaluation efforts.

  • Advance strategies that improve participant enrollment, persistence, completion, credential attainment, employment and long-term career success.

• Health Care Industry Engagement

  • Collaborate with organizational leadership and health care employers to identify workforce needs, align priorities and develop responsive career pathway solutions.

  • Implement expanded work-based learning opportunities, including internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, clinical experiences and employment placements.

  • Support the convening of employer and industry partners to ensure workforce programs align with evolving talent needs.

  • Support employer engagement strategies that promote participant hiring, retention, advancement and career mobility.

• Partnership Development & Ecosystem Building

  • Cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships across K-16 education, health care, workforce, community, philanthropic and public-sector organizations to advance shared workforce goals.

  • Support the convening and engagement of cross-sector stakeholders to strengthen health care talent pipelines, align health care systems, and drive regional workforce solutions.

  • Represent UNITE-LA in key industry and community events while identifying opportunities for collaborative funding, innovative initiatives and mission-aligned partnerships.

• Team Leadership & Project Management

  • Provide leadership and supervision to program staff, consultants and external partners.

  • Manage project timelines, budgets, deliverables and stakeholder communications across multiple initiatives.

  • Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, inclusion and continuous learning.

  • Coach and develop team members to achieve high performance and professional growth.

• Data, Evaluation & Performance Management

  • Track, analyze and report on key performance indicators, including participant enrollment, credential attainment, employment outcomes, retention, wage growth and career advancement.

  • Leverage labor market insights, workforce data and continuous industry and participants' feedback to inform strategy, measure impact and drive program improvement.

  • Develop clear, data-driven reports and presentations for leadership, funders, partners and other stakeholders.

  • Ensure compliance with grant requirements, contracts, reporting obligations and organizational performance standards.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated success professionally managing complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships.

• Experience designing and implementing workforce programs serving underserved or historically marginalized populations.

• Strong project management, relationship-building, facilitation and communication skills (i.e. Salesforce and Asana)

• Experience using data to inform strategy, program improvement and outcome measurement.

• Experience managing participant data and outcomes through case management systems and public workforce reporting platforms, including CalJOBS and other state or federally funded workforce program tracking systems, with a strong understanding of data quality, compliance requirements and performance reporting.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion and economic mobility for young people.

Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Experience working directly with health care employers, health care associations or health care workforce initiatives.

• Knowledge of health care career pathways, industry-recognized credentials, apprenticeship models and workforce trends.

• Familiarity with work-based learning, apprenticeship and sector-based workforce development strategies.

• Experience serving opportunity youth, young adults or disconnected learners.

• Experience managing grants, public funding and contract-funded programs.

• Professional communication, teamwork, collaboration, reliability and accountability.

• Time management, organization, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability and resilience.

• Customer service and patient-centered mindset, professionalism, workplace etiquette and confidentiality.

• Digital literacy and technology skills, including CRM tools such as Salesforce and project management tools such as Asana.

• Cultural competency, inclusive workplace practices, conflict resolution, relationship building, public speaking, presentation, networking, leadership and peer mentorship.

Compensation and Position Details:

This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary range of $77,750 to $85,000 and an overall salary range of $77,750 to $94,500 commensurate with experience. Our competitive benefits package includes paid sick leave, vacation and work-life harmony time, in addition to a robust paid holiday schedule; 401(k) participation with employer contribution; competitive health, vision and dental insurance; flexible spending accounts; and more. UNITE-LA promotes a culture of work-life harmony with flexible schedules and offers employee growth development plans to support pathways forward.

This position is based in Los Angeles, CA. While many staff continue to regularly work remotely, attendance at our downtown Los Angeles office or at community events in the L.A. region should be expected a few times a month. Participation at weekend and evening events is also expected occasionally. Travel may be required for in- and out-of-state conferences a couple of times each year.

To Apply:

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: “Associate Director, Health Care Pathways Programs – [Last Name].”

UNITE-LA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to developing and sustaining a diverse workforce, because we believe that it makes our organization stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

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