Setting: Full-time, three-year role
Application Deadline: June 9, 2026
Reports To: Director of Viable Pathways to Prosperity
Compensation: $65,000 to $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience, with competitive benefits
OVERVIEW OF ROLE
Chattanooga 2.0 is leading the Viable Pathways to Prosperity initiative to connect the youth of Hamilton County–Chattanooga to high-demand, thriving-wage careers in our region. Through strong cross-sector partnerships, this initiative is working to bridge systemic gaps between K–12 education, postsecondary training and education, and the workforce by creating clear, supported pathways into meaningful careers. The initiative prioritizes expanding opportunity and access for underserved and underrepresented youth by providing practical steps, career-connected learning experiences, industry-aligned training, and direct access to local jobs that place young people on a path toward long-term economic mobility.
The Industry Partnerships Manager represents a new role through the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Prep initiative a new strategic national effort under Viable Pathways. Through this initiative, Chattanooga 2.0, Hamilton County Schools, local labor unions, industry associations, and employers will collaborate to build high-quality pathways from high school into skilled trades careers through career-connected learning, pre-apprenticeships, and Registered Apprenticeships.
The Industry Partnerships Manager plays a key role in advancing this work by developing, strengthening, and sustaining partnerships in the skilled trades aligned to regional workforce demand and evolving industry needs. Working closely with employers, labor partners, Hamilton County Schools, Future Ready Centers, and under the direction of Chattanooga 2.0 leadership, this position will serve as a connector and relationship manager across education and workforce systems. The role will support employer engagement, pathway expansion, apprenticeship development, and work-based learning opportunities through collaborative partnerships.
This is a mid-level leadership role ideal for a dynamic professional with strong relationship management, persuasive communication, and workforce development knowledge, who is passionate about expanding economic opportunity for young people and strengthening the region’s talent pipeline.
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA 2.0
Chattanooga 2.0 is a nonprofit organization established in 2015 to drive systemic change that improves educational attainment, economic opportunity, and quality of life across Chattanooga and Hamilton County. From early childhood education through thriving-wage careers, Chattanooga 2.0 convenes and aligns partners across education, workforce, government, nonprofit, and business sectors to help strengthen systems, remove barriers, and create better outcomes for children, students, and families. Through collaborative partnerships, shared data, and cross-sector coordination, Chattanooga 2.0 supports community-wide efforts that strengthen economic mobility for all.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
As the Industry Partnerships Manager, you will serve as the primary external relationship lead for Viable Pathways to Prosperity’s Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Prep initiative. Your responsibilities will include:
- Build and maintain relationships with employers, unions, industry associations, and workforce partners.
- Recruit new employer partners aligned with pathway priorities.
- Coordinate employer participation in advisory councils, pathway design, and program implementation.
- Develop and manage partnership agreements and MOUs.
- Support expansion of Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities in collaboration with Chattanooga 2.0 leadership, Hamilton County Schools, unions, employers, and other partners.
- Coordinate job shadowing, internships, mentoring, and work-based learning experiences where relevant.
- Support employers and industry in aligning workforce needs with pathway design.
- Facilitate employer participation in instructional design, career events, and student engagement activities, in coordination with Hamilton County Schools’ Future Ready Centers and the Construction Career Center.
- Support pathway planning by identifying workforce trends, employer needs, and emerging opportunities within the skilled trades.
- Help coordinate employer feedback loops and continuous improvement efforts.
- Support the collection and reporting of employer engagement and pathway participation data in collaboration with the Director of Viable Pathways and Director of Data Strategy and Impact.
- Provide regular reporting to the Director of Viable Pathways on industry partner engagement and outcomes.
- Collaborate on communications and outreach materials that highlight pathway opportunities, employer partnerships, and student impact.
- Represent Chattanooga 2.0 at meetings and community events to promote the organization’s mission and goals.
- Participate in pathway table meetings as needed to provide updates and feedback on industry partnerships.
- Support follow-through on action items and partnership commitments to ensure accountability and momentum across initiatives.
- Collaborate with partners to identify opportunities for program improvement and systems alignment.
- Perform other duties as assigned related to the Viable Pathways to Prosperity initiative.
WHAT YOU BRING:
The strongest candidates will have:
- Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience, including employer engagement, workforce development, education partnerships, economic development, or related fields.
- Exceptional relationship-building skills, including the ability to engage, influence, and motivate employers, labor partners, educators, and community stakeholders around shared goals.
- Demonstrated experience building and sustaining partnerships across multiple organizations and stakeholder groups.
- Strong interpersonal, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to represent the initiative confidently in meetings, community settings, and employer-facing environments.
- Understanding of workforce trends, employer needs, career-connected learning, work-based learning, or apprenticeship pathways.
- Experience helping launch or grow new initiatives, partnerships, programs, or collaborative efforts in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
- Strong organizational and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain momentum across partnerships, and follow through on commitments.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to think strategically, collaboratively, and creatively.
- Demonstrated commitment to educational equity, economic mobility, and expanding opportunity for underserved and underrepresented populations.
- Knowledge of skilled trades industries, apprenticeship systems, or union labor environments preferred—particularly within construction-related trades.
- Experience working with K–12 education systems, workforce initiatives, youth-serving organizations, or community partnerships preferred.
- Familiarity with Tennessee workforce, education, or apprenticeship systems preferred.
Details:
- Fully funded position through June 2029 as part of a three-year national initiative.
- Hybrid work environment with regular in-person engagement across the community.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off.
To apply, email your resume and cover letter to Jessica Friedman at jessica@chatt2.org by June 9, 2026. Tell us what excites you about this role and this organization, and how you can help us achieve our goals for the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Prep initiative.
