Professional Development and Alumni Engagement Manager in Oceanside, California at NPOWER INC

****This role requires candidates to live in San Diego, California. Please confirm if you currently reside in San Diego when applying***

The Professional Development and Alumni Engagement Manager plays a critical role in ensuring the success of NPower’s SkillBridge Program by delivering high-quality professional development, fostering an engaged alumni community, and collaborating with corporate partners to create engaging networking opportunities for transitioning service members. This role is responsible for implementing established curriculum, developing new and fresh curriculum, and facilitating a structured Professional Development ecosystem which includes lesson planning, direct instruction, and the integration of guest speakers and alumni mentors. Additionally, the manager maintains and strengthens the SkillBridge alumni network, organizing engagement initiatives, mentorship opportunities, and career connections that empower alumni to serve as program ambassadors.

The position also collaborates closely with the Career Placement Manager (CPM) to optimize guest speaker engagements, leverage existing partnerships, and provide input on potential new corporate collaborations. This role requires a strong ability to execute program initiatives, create digital learning and promotional materials, and support career placement efforts by relaying alumni and employer insights to the CPM. Candidates must be comfortable working with active-duty service members across all ranks and branches of service and must be actively engaged in adapting, acclimating to, and complying with all DoD regulations under the SkillBridge MOU.

Under the direction of the East Coast Professional Development & Alumni Engagement Manager and the Regional Director, the Professional Development and Alumni Engagement Manager (West Coast) must be able to successfully execute the following duties, roles, and responsibilities:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Professional Development

• Lead and facilitate Professional Development classes, delivering structured instruction that equips transitioning service members with essential career-readiness skills, networking strategies, and job market insights. Core topics include: Resume Writing, LinkedIn Profile Optimization, Business Communications and Professional Etiquette, Interview Readiness, Networking Strategies, Job Search Techniques, and Salary Negotiations.
• Conduct engaging warm-up sessions at the beginning of each class, incorporating current events discussions, baseline assessments of program progress, attendance tracking, and conversations to maintain awareness of student needs related to career readiness and job search.
• Develop and refine the Professional Development curriculum, including lesson plans, digital learning materials, and structured class sessions that align with industry trends and employer expectations.
• Curate and coordinate guest speaker engagements in collaboration with CPM by recommending, securing, and preparing guest speakers—including industry leaders and corporate partners—to enhance students’ learning and networking opportunities.
• Actively collect and analyze student feedback by developing and distributing weekly surveys, collaborating with the East Coast Professional Development Manager/Alumni Engagement Manager (PDM/AEM) to assess student progress and refine the curriculum based on insights.
• Collaborate with the Career Placement Manager (CPM) to align professional development sessions with employer hiring needs, share insights on student strengths, and assess CPM’s network to identify corporate speakers and recruitment opportunities for current students and for alumni events.
• Manage and maintain a structured monthly events calendar, incorporating professional development workshops, networking sessions, and career-readiness initiatives to maximize student engagement and preparedness.
• Effectively manage a classroom of active-duty military personnel, demonstrating a firm but fair approach that maintains order, respects military culture, and fosters an environment that supports the transition from military to civilian professional expectations.
• Maintain cultural awareness and sensitivity, recognizing the unique experiences, communication styles, and hierarchical structures within the military community while guiding students toward adapting to corporate and civilian work environments.

Organizational support

• Actively contribute to the continuous growth of the SkillBridge Program by adopting a solutions-based approach—conducting independent research on best practices, tools, and industry trends and sharing insights with the team.
• Serve as a thought leader within the Placement Team as well as the collective NPower SkillBridge Team, collaborating with leadership to refine strategies, improve processes, and enhance student outcomes.
• Familiarity with developing and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve efficiency, track and manage program data, and prepare official reports for leadership and team-wide meetings is a plus.
• Coordinate and track West Coast SkillBridge Alumni, ensuring engagement and ongoing support for program graduates.
• Work with the Regional Director and East Coast Professional Development & Alumni Engagement Manager to plan, coordinate, and execute graduation ceremonies and networking events, fostering continued engagement with SkillBridge graduates.
• Maintain a baseline understanding of core Career Placement Manager (CPM) functions and be prepared to professionally engage with corporate partners in the absence of the CPM, facilitating student career placements, networking opportunities, and relationship management.
• Support program growth by analyzing and providing alumni data to develop compelling region-specific marketing materials that aid in recruitment, fundraising, and SkillBridge expansion efforts.
• Collaborate with regional Alumni Engagement Managers and Professional Development Instructors to share insights, refine approaches, and apply lessons learned across the program.
• Event planning experience and/or a passion for event coordination is a plus, as this role involves organizing student-centered and alumni engagement events that support career development and networking.
• Engage in strong collaboration with the program’s Recruiting and Admissions Manager (RAM) to address student concerns and issues, report student progress, and provide insight and feedback on prospective candidates to help refine recruitment and selection strategies.
• Work closely with the RAM to promote career fairs to alumni, identify program ambassadors to attend events, and provide program promotion insight and support to enhance recruitment efforts and community engagement.

Alumni Services

• Develop, implement, and maintain an Alumni Tracking System to support and assist SkillBridge Program graduates in their post-program career journeys.
• Manage and cultivate a strong Alumni Community, creating a structured digital communication cadence that connects recent graduates with established alumni to foster professional development, career growth, and industry networking.
• Implement career tracking mechanisms to monitor alumni progression, including continuing education, certifications, career growth, and salary trends, providing valuable insights for program refinement.
• Facilitate a seamless transition for SkillBridge students into the alumni network, ensuring they remain engaged with the program and have access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and career placement resources.
• Conduct structured alumni and student feedback initiatives, leveraging surveys, focus groups, and direct engagement to collect actionable insights that improve the Professional Development curriculum and better serve the transitioning active-duty community.
• Collaborate with the Career Placement Manager (CPM) and Alumni Engagement team to leverage alumni connections for employer partnerships, opening doors for future SkillBridge students through mentorship and direct hiring opportunities.
• Enhance alumni engagement through organized events, digital platforms, and ongoing communication, ensuring a lasting connection between program graduates and the SkillBridge network.
• Support the creation and circulation of the NPower SkillBridge Alumni Newsletter (National Edition) on a quarterly basis, working under the leadership of the East Coast PDM/AEM to develop content that highlights alumni success stories, career opportunities, professional development resources, and updates from the SkillBridge community.

Alumni Fundraising and Marketing Activities

• Provide alumni data and insights to support fundraising initiatives through direct written and oral reports to NPower SkillBridge Senior Leadership, ensuring decision-makers have access to relevant success metrics, employment outcomes, and program impact.
• Identify and assess potential funding partners, including corporations, philanthropic organizations, and government initiatives, that align with SkillBridge’s mission and may serve as viable sources for program funding.
• Collaborate with the Marketing Team to contribute to program marketing campaigns, providing insights on alumni engagement, success stories, and outreach strategies to strengthen SkillBridge’s brand and mission visibility.
• Create and develop periodic alumni e-newsletter articles in collaboration with the marketing department, ensuring that alumni success stories, career resources, and networking opportunities are highlighted effectively.
• Manage and oversee Alumni social network pages, ensuring consistent engagement, content updates, and active promotion of alumni registration on career platforms and professional social networks.
• General awareness of marketing best practices, providing suggestions and feedback to enhance outreach, engagement, and overall program visibility is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s is a plus) in Organizational Development, Education, Psychology/Sociology/Social Work, Business Administration, Career Counseling, Military & Veterans Studies, Communications, Public Administration, Information Technology (IT), Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in teaching, training, or professional development facilitation.
• Experience working with active-duty military, veterans, or transitioning service members is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with curriculum development, instructional facilitation, and career transition programming is a plus.
• Experience in event planning, employer engagement, or nonprofit program management is highly desirable.
• Alumni of NPower Program a plus.
• Veteran of the Armed Forces a plus.
• Military Instructor-Trainer a plus.

• Strong facilitation skills with experience leading professional development training for transitioning service members.
• Ability to manage and effectively engage a classroom of active duty service members, demonstrating a firm but fair approach with cultural sensitivity to military structure and communication styles.
• Knowledge of workforce development best practices, including job search strategies, resume writing, interview preparation, and professional networking.
• Ability to explain evolving job markets, career pathways, compensation structures, pay and benefits, and hiring trends.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral, written, and listening) with confidence in conducting outreach to alumni, corporate partners, and external stakeholders.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Google Suite, particularly Sheets and Forms, for tracking program data, conducting surveys, and generating reports.
• Experience conducting research, analyzing data, and preparing reports for leadership.
• Familiarity with marketing best practices within the military community, with an emphasis on cultural sensitivity and awareness of DoD regulations regarding visuals and language.
• Ability to develop and implement SOPs, track student and alumni engagement metrics, and contribute to continuous program improvement.
• Proficiency with design tools such as Canva, Adobe, or related applications is a plus for creating digital learning materials, promotional content, and alumni engagement materials.
• Demonstrate the qualities embodied in NPower’s Core Values, including a passion for service, innovation, and community engagement.

• This position requires occasional evening and weekend hours to facilitate alumni engagement events, professional development workshops, or employer networking activities.
• Preference given to candidates with:
  • Veterans / experience working with the military population.
  • Instructor experience.
  • Workforce development and career coaching experience.
  • A background in IT education, professional development, or corporate training.
  • Experience in event planning, employer engagement, or nonprofit program management.