Position Overview:

The Director, College & Career Pathway Partnerships will be a pivotal role on UNITE-LA's Systems Change team by supporting the successful implementation of two major regional initiatives: the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative and the L.A. Purposeful Career Pathways Project.

This role is primarily focused on strengthening K–12 and community college partnerships—building and maintaining robust student-centered initiatives that advance dual enrollment, college and career advising, and career-connected learning. The role will work closely with school-site leaders, district administrators, and system leaders across K-12 and postsecondary systems to support coherent, equitable education-to-career pathways.

The L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative is a multi-year, cross-sector initiative uniting K-12 districts, community colleges, CSU campuses, and regional employers to accelerate equitable degree completion and expand high-demand career pathways in health care, engineering, and computer science. UNITE-LA serves as the regional intermediary—supporting 5 subregional partnerships in advancing collaborative strategies related to dual enrollment expansion, transfer redesign, and integrated work-based learning.

The L.A. Purposeful Career Pathways Project is a three-year initiative funded by the Gates Foundation and co-led by UNITE-LA and the California Community Foundation. The project aims to develop "proof points" within two K-16 subregions (Long Beach and the South Bay) that show how high schools and community colleges can integrate advising, dual enrollment, and career-connected learning into coherent, equitable pathways that strengthen student belonging, purpose, and social capital.

Across both efforts, the Director will lead strategy development, day-to-day project management, partner convening, grant and impact reporting - ensuring strong implementation and alignment across K-12, community college, and regional partners.

SCOPE OF WORK:

UNITE-LA seeks a passionate consultant who can collaboratively drive innovative, institutional and systems-level changes. This position will require 15-20 hours per week over 24 months. It will pay up to $3,750 per month. The consultant will report to the Director of Postsecondary Strategy & Policy and work to align this project to the LA Region K-16 Collaborative and identify public policy opportunities. UNITE-LA’s Systems Team Administrative & Communications Coordinator will support the consultant with logistics, note taking, and project management. The consultant will help represent and operationalize UNITE-LA’s role as the regional intermediary and cross-sector convener.

In addition to UNITE-LA staff, the consultant will work closely with:

• CSU Dominguez Hills (technical and academic leads)
• CSU San Bernardino
• Other partner universities
• Corrections agencies
• Community organizations
• Industry and entrepreneurship partners

The consultant should have knowledge of Credit for Prior Learning, public higher education systems and the barriers experienced by formerly-incarcerated students. Additionally, UNITE-LA is seeking a consultant with skills in setting trust tables, facilitation, communication, and project management, as well as the ability to set an agenda and document/report outcomes to support project design and implementation.