The Career Services Manager is a core member of the Opportunity Build team. The Career Services Manager is responsible for supporting Opportunity Build graduates to secure, stay in, and advance in high road careers, and for working closely with training-aligned, union, and other high road employers to build strong partnerships that lead to Opportunity Build graduate placement and retention.

The Career Services Manager will identify job opportunities, advocate for program participants, and ensure that graduates are placed in high-quality training-aligned union apprenticeship programs and/or sustainable, high-road careers in construction and climate infrastructure.

This position supports and helps lead day-to-day program operations, particularly training, activities, and services that support participant job placement and retention. By leading employer engagement and strategic job placement efforts within Opportunity Build, this position plays a key role in advancing Rising Sun’s mission to build career pathways for economic equity and climate resilience.

The Career Services Manager reports directly to the Director of Opportunity of Build. This position works in close coordination with the dedicated Opportunity Build team and is an integral part of an organization committed to making a significant and lasting impact in the lives of hundreds of people every year.

For more information about Rising Sun, please visit www.risingsunopp.org.

A successful Career Services Manager…

● Builds and maintains strong relationships with the building trades and construction companies; has a strong understanding of apprenticeship programs and union requirements; holds connections with local unions and construction employers

● Enjoys working in the community and meeting new people; strong relationship-building skills

● Has an aptitude and a passion for motivating job seekers to set goals, as well as to find, obtain, and stay in a career

● Remains calm under pressure; handles emotionally challenging situations with professionalism and intention

● Communicates effectively with program participants, team members, partners, and employers; able to develop rapport and build trust with a diverse range of individuals

● Has a passion and a calling for working one-on-one with adults who need additional support to be successful in their careers, and is committed to working alongside individuals to succeed

● Proactively identifies opportunities for improvement and proposes and implements solutions and innovation

● Serves as a model and a coach for program participants, offering stability, consistency, and leadership

● Leads by example, motivating staff and inspiring others to perform their best

● Brings experience working with disadvantaged and/or low-income individuals

● Is well-organized, and skilled at tracking, maintaining, and analyzing data, particularly for participant outcomes and job placement metrics

● Demonstrates self-awareness, understanding their own culture, identity, biases, power, and privilege and how they impact their work

● Is committed to challenging institutional barriers and promoting equitable workforce opportunities

● Is passionate about Rising Sun’s mission and excited to actively champion equitable job access and economic mobility for underrepresented communities

● Is enthusiastic about working in a nonprofit setting, comfortable wearing many hats, and creative with available resources to maximize impact

The responsibilities of a Career Services Manager include…

Job Placement

● Oversee participant job placement by building and maintaining strong partnerships with union apprenticeship programs, high-road employers, and workforce organizations

● Facilitate job readiness workshops, career coaching, and employer connections to ensure participants are well-prepared for the job site

● Collaborate with the Opportunity Build (OB) team to provide targeted placement and retention support for 100+ individuals annually, ensuring all program placement and retention goals are met, providing individualized support for each program participant

● In coordination with the Lead Case Manager, identify which participants and graduates need targeted support and provide higher-touch services as needed

Employer Relationships

● Strengthen the connections with unions, apprenticeship programs, high road construction and climate infrastructure companies for program participants and Rising Sun Lead efforts to build the OB team’s and organization’s knowledge, capacity, and relationships in this area

● Build and maintain a referral network for job placement; negotiate direct entry agreements with local unions

● Build and maintain strong relationships with high road and union employers, apprenticeship programs, and other training-aligned employers, directly connecting them to program graduates

● Proactively outreach to high road, training-aligned employers to increase opportunities for program graduates

● Plan and coordinate field trips to job sites, training centers, and local union shops

Alumni Engagement, Job Retention, and Long-Term Career Support

● Organize alumni events, mentorship programs, add-on training, and networking opportunities to maintain strong post-program engagement

● Regularly communicate with alumni with job opportunities, certifications, and industry insights for at least 12 months post-graduation

● Review EDD wage and employment data and make recommendations

● Collaborate with Climate Careers on alumni events as appropriate

Program Delivery and Leadership

● Identify training curricula, lesson plans, and objectives aligned with union construction careers and high-road employment

● Coordinate field trips, networking events, and employer site visits to expose participants to real-world opportunities; bring in training-aligned guest speakers and working graduates to speak to current cohorts

● Oversee program innovation by piloting new training modules that introduce participants to emerging career pathways in climate-resilient industries

● Ensure that additional training and services are based on employer need, are mission- aligned, and improve career prospects for participants

● Provide support and coverage during key events and program activities, including classes, graduations, alumni gatherings, networking, and funder conversations as needed

Outcomes and Analysis

● Be accountable to participant outcomes, including placement and retention goals

● Track analyze outcomes regularly; implement strategies to increase or maintain core program outcomes related to placement and retention

● Utilize Salesforce, Google Sheets, and other data tools to track placements, wages, apprenticeships, and retention; log employment-related case notes, manage employer engagement, and monitor placement and retention progress

● Implement evidence-based programming, using data insights and centering participant and employer feedback to improve job placement and retention

● Share success stories with the development and communications team

Cross-Department Collaboration

● Support a strong team culture aligned with Rising Sun’s Racial Equity framework and values

● Collaborate with the Climate Careers teams to align alumni services and training where appropriate

● Collaborate with the Policy team to understand high road labor standards and share contractor and employer connections and resources

Other responsibilities as assigned.

To hold this position, you must have…

● Proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and Salesforce

● Experience with workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and union engagement, with existing relationships in the trades

● Ability to travel regularly within California, with a primary presence in Oakland and the East Bay

● Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends during peak programming periods and particularly during the spring/summer

● Residency in California (preferably Bay Area) or willingness to relocate.

● At least 2 years of managerial experience

● At least 2 years’ experience working with individuals experiencing barriers to employment.

It’s a big plus if you have…

● Have experience working with workforce development programs or with the re-entry population.

● Experience in or passion for climate justice and/or environmental sustainability

● Have direct experience in or with the building and construction trades.

● Have experience with the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum

● Have experience using CalJobs

About Rising Sun...

We’re deeply rooted at the intersection of equity, climate, and good, sustainable careers. In 1994, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity began as Rising Sun Energy Center in Santa Cruz, California. Much has changed as we’ve adapted and innovated to respond to the needs of our participants and communities, but today, we remain rooted in our origins. We prepare people throughout the Bay Area and Central California who have been locked out of prosperity for good jobs and green pathways that offer economic equity and mobility while building a climate-resilient future for all.

Learn more about who we are

About our culture…

We are mission-driven and work hard because we care about what we do. We are deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and antiracism, and are actively advancing on that journey, though we know the work is never done. We like working with each other and we like to make work fun. We’re into continuous improvement, learning, transparency, and tough conversations. We practice appreciation and start each meeting with a team-builder, and it’s not uncommon for staff to bring snacks to share that tell a story about who they are and where they come from. When we’re at the office, there’s

usually at least one dog hanging around. We put people first, especially our program participants. We like to promote from within and build each other up, but we also like to bring in new ideas and different perspectives. We’re looking forward to meeting you and hearing about how you can contribute to making Rising Sun a great place to have an impact.

You might also be wondering about pay and benefits...

This is a permanent, full-time, exempt, salaried, and benefited position with an annual starting salary range of $80,594-$84,623.70.

Rising Sun offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

● 100% coverage of Medical, Vision, Dental insurance for employees, 50% coverage for dependents

● 403b contribution option and 3% matching employer contribution after first year

● $100,000 Life Insurance Policy

● 17 PTO days/year (increases each year until year 10)

● 18 Holidays/year (includes 2 floating holidays and a week of closure during winter)

● 4 Restorative days/year

● Birthday off

● Hybrid Remote work options - dependent on position

● Monthly internet and phone reimbursement, totaling $100

● 40% pay from Rising Sun for 12 weeks of parental leave to supplement California's state disability leave and paid family leave payments

● 8 weeks of paid sabbatical after year 7

● Annual professional development budget

● Financial advising through Stonebridge Financial Group

● Access to mental health services and resources through Spring Health

RISING SUN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Rising Sun is committed to diversity and considers all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, and disability status. Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action; Women and individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color are encouraged to apply.