The Samaritas Talent Network prepares participants for employment, matches them with employer partners, supports retention, and helps them advance into stable, higher-wage career pathways. The Managing Director, Talent Network will lead the launch and growth of an emerging workforce participation enterprise within Samaritas. This is a builder role for an entrepreneurial leader who can translate a proven model into a scalable, revenue-generating business—developing the market strategy, building employer and funding partnerships, creating sustainable revenue streams, refining the service model, and building the team and infrastructure needed for growth. Over time, this role has the potential to help shape the Talent Network into a broader enterprise within Samaritas.
Core Responsibilities
Enterprise Launch, Product Development, and Start-Up Leadership
- Translate the Talent Network business plan and proven workforce participation model into a clear, repeatable operating model, including workflows, referral pathways, employer engagement processes, participant supports, and performance tracking.
- Own implementation of the business plan, establishing milestones, timelines, staffing needs, revenue goals, and measurable outcomes, while identifying opportunities to refine and expand the model.
- Build the infrastructure required to make the model scalable and replicable, including intake, assessment, job readiness, employer matching, retention coaching, data tracking, reporting, and other core operating systems.
- Work with the Chief Growth Officer and internal partners to test, refine, and adjust the product, business model, and operating approach based on participant, employer, market, and financial performance.
Revenue Growth, Contracts, and Business Development
- Build and diversify revenue through employer contracts, public-sector and workforce-system partnerships, philanthropy, subcontracting opportunities, sponsorships, strategic partnerships, and other fee-for-service models in high-demand sectors. Develop relationships that generate both employment opportunities and sustainable revenue for the Talent Network.
- Partner with Growth, Grants, Finance, Legal, Advancement, and other internal teams on pricing, contract development, grant proposals, billing structures, employer agreements, partnership models, and long-term sustainability.
- Own and monitor revenue generation, contract performance, placement outcomes, retention and advancement, and employer satisfaction to demonstrate both mission impact and business value.
Program Operations, Team Building, and Service Delivery
- Oversee daily operations and ensure participants receive timely, culturally responsive, and practical workforce support.
- Build and evolve the organizational structure, talent strategy, and team needed to deliver and scale the Talent Network, including identifying the capabilities and roles required as the business grows. Supervise assigned staff, contractors, and other team members.
- Ensure participants are employment-ready through resume support, interview preparation, skills assessment, language or licensing support, career pathway planning, and connections to training or credentialing partners.
- Develop strong internal referral pathways with Samaritas programs, including housing, refugee services, child and family services, behavioral health, and other service lines.
- Connect participants to barrier-removal supports such as transportation, childcare, housing stabilization, benefits assistance, financial coaching, behavioral health, and other resources.
Employer Engagement, Value Proposition, and Talent Pipeline Development
- Serve as the primary executive relationship-builder with employers, industry partners, and other decision-makers, establishing credibility and translating the Talent Network model into a compelling business proposition.
- Develop and articulate a compelling employer value proposition that demonstrates the business case for partnering with the Samaritas Talent Network, including workforce reliability, retention, advancement, and the value of whole-person employment supports.
- Develop employer pipelines that match participant talent with real labor market demand while identifying opportunities to expand the model into new populations, markets, sectors, and geographies where Samaritas can create meaningful workforce and economic mobility impact.
- Manage employer partnership processes that support successful placement and retention, including onboarding expectations, candidate fit, communication protocols, performance measures, and barrier resolution through key retention milestones.
- Plan and coordinate hiring events, employer convenings, career exposure opportunities, apprenticeship connections, and sector-based pathway development, as appropriate to the business strategy and market opportunity.
Data, Outcomes, Market Intelligence, and Performance Management
- Establish and manage performance dashboards for the Samaritas Talent Network.
- Use data and market intelligence to monitor program quality, improve operations, guide staffing and investment decisions, support funder reporting, demonstrate return on investment, and identify opportunities for growth.
- Ensure accurate and timely data entry into CRM, job-matching, case management, or other technology platforms used by the program.
- Prepare regular updates for the Chief Growth Officer, Samaritas leadership, funders, employer partners, and other stakeholders.
Internal Collaboration, Enterprise Alignment, and External Representation
- Partner with the Chief Growth Officer and Samaritas leaders to align the Talent Network with broader growth, economic mobility, innovation, and service strategies while leveraging Samaritas capabilities and infrastructure as a competitive advantage.
- Work with Marketing and Communications to promote the Talent Network to employers, participants, funders, and community partners.
- Coordinate with program leadership when services overlap to ensure alignment with existing program requirements, contracts, funding rules, and regulatory standards.
- Represent Samaritas in workforce development coalitions, employer meetings, community partnerships, public workforce conversations, and other external settings.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to operate entrepreneurially in ambiguity, create structure where it does not yet exist, turn a concept or program into a repeatable/scalable model, and move comfortably between strategy and hands-on execution.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, workforce development, human services, public administration, nonprofit management, or related field preferred. Equivalent experience may be considered.
- Demonstrated experience building, launching, scaling, or leading a business, venture, product, program, social enterprise, or other growth-oriented initiative, with meaningful experience in revenue generation, partnership development, business development, or enterprise growth. Experience in workforce development, staffing, employer engagement, human services, program operations, economic mobility, or social enterprise development is highly relevant.
- Knowledge of or experience with Michigan workforce systems, Michigan Works!, WIOA, TANF, refugee employment, staffing agencies, employer-based training, apprenticeships, or sector-based workforce partnerships is helpful but not required.
- Experience working with refugees, immigrants, foster youth, individuals with behavioral health needs, housing-insecure families, or other populations facing complex barriers to employment preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing fee-for-service models, employer contracts, public/private partnerships, grants, earned revenue strategies, or other sustainable business models.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Strong understanding of barriers that affect workforce participation and retention, including housing, transportation, childcare, behavioral health, language access, benefits, and poverty-related instability.
- Executive presence and persuasive communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate, present, sell, and negotiate a compelling value proposition with employers, funders, community partners, executives, and other decision-makers.
- Ability to use data to manage performance, improve operations, and tell a compelling story of impact.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn CRM, job-matching, case management, or workforce technology platforms.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel within Michigan as needed.
Core Competencies
- Entrepreneurial and enterprise-building mindset.
- Revenue generation and business development.
- Strategic relationship building and employer-focused problem solving.
- Product and business model development.
- Executive presence and persuasive communication.
- Data-informed decision making.
- Resourcefulness, adaptability, and comfort with ambiguity.
- Mission-driven leadership.
Key Performance Indicators
- Implementation, scalability, and sustainability of the operating model.
- Growth in active employer partnerships, contracted revenue, and diversified revenue-producing opportunities.
- Achievement of annual placement, retention, participant advancement, and employer satisfaction targets.
- Strong participant experience and employer satisfaction.
- Reliable data tracking and reporting.
Working Conditions
- Location: Southeast Michigan is preferred, with some flexibility. This role requires regular travel across Michigan, including to employer partners, Samaritas sites, community meetings, and key markets such as Grand Rapids.
- Physical Demands: Office, community, and employer-facing settings. No significant physical demands.
- Work Environment: Office setting with a collaborative environment. Some flexibility to work remotely.
- Travel Requirements: Periodic travel to Samaritas sites, employer locations, community meetings, hiring events, and workforce convenings across Michigan.
To Apply
Please use this LINK to apply.