Workforce Partnership & Talent Strategy Manager

About Nava Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple and effective. Since 2015, federal, state, and local agencies have trusted Nava to help solve highly scrutinized technology modernization challenges. As a client services company, we guide agencies constrained by legacy systems to a future with sharp user experiences built on secure, reliable, fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure. We bill for our time, offering our expertise and problem-solving approach to help our government partners enhance their digital products and services. People are at the heart of our work, from members of the public who rely on benefit programs to government agency staff. Through human-centered design and modern engineering best practices, we help our government partners understand user needs and deliver on their missions more effectively. This focus gives everyone at Nava the opportunity to do work that is meaningful, impactful, and deeply connected to public good. Position summary The Workforce Partnership & Talent Strategy Manager is a strategic and highly collaborative leader responsible for designing and managing creative workforce strategies that strengthen Nava’s long-term talent ecosystem. This is not a requisition-based recruiting role. Instead, this position focuses on building the partnerships, programs, and workforce strategies that help Nava proactively develop future talent pipelines, expand access to critical skills, and support the future of Nava’s workforce. This person will lead and scale workforce partnership strategies that connect Nava to emerging talent communities, external institutions, and long-term workforce pathways. They will build and manage relationships with universities, workforce development organizations, training partners, and other external stakeholders to create sustainable pipelines of future talent aligned to Nava’s evolving business needs. They will also lead strategic talent initiatives such as apprenticeship and early-career pathways, ensuring Nava is building the infrastructure needed to support long-term workforce growth. This is a high-impact role for someone who thinks creatively about talent, enjoys building from scratch, and can translate future workforce needs into strategic partnerships and durable talent pathways. Success in this role means stronger workforce partnerships, more scalable future talent pipelines, and innovative workforce strategies that materially improve how Nava plans for and grows talent over time. What you'll do Design and lead workforce partnership strategies that support Nava’s long-term talent and workforce goals Build and manage relationships with universities, academic institutions, workforce development organizations, training partners, and other external talent ecosystems Develop creative workforce strategies that expand access to emerging, early-career, and nontraditional talent pipelines Lead and scale strategic workforce programs, including apprenticeship, early-career, and workforce development initiatives Identify future workforce needs and build talent pathways that align with Nava’s long-term business strategy and evolving skill demands Partner closely with Talent Acquisition, business leaders, and external stakeholders to align workforce strategies with organizational priorities Design and implement strategic talent initiatives that improve workforce readiness, talent access, and long-term workforce sustainability Own the end-to-end lifecycle of workforce programs and partnerships from strategy and design through execution, measurement, and continuous improvement Lead cross-functional execution of workforce and partnership initiatives, ensuring strong collaboration, adoption, and measurable outcomes Develop and maintain external partnership frameworks, engagement strategies, and success models for long-term workforce impact Define success metrics, monitor program and partnership performance, and use data and insights to continuously improve outcomes Build reporting and program health metrics to assess partnership value, pipeline effectiveness, and long-term workforce impact Ensure workforce strategies and partnerships are scalable, sustainable, and aligned with Nava’s values and long-term growth strategy Required skills 7+ years of experience in Workforce Strategy, Talent Strategy, Workforce Development, Talent Acquisition, HR, or related fields 4+ years of experience leading strategic programs, partnerships, or cross-functional initiatives Experience in workforce strategy, talent strategy, talent acquisition, workforce development, HR, or related functions Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of professional experience and training Experience building and managing strategic partnerships with universities, workforce organizations, training institutions, or external talent partners Experience designing and scaling workforce programs, talent pathways, or strategic talent initiatives in fast-paced or evolving environments Experience leading cross-functional programs with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities Experience building systems, frameworks, or partnership models that improve workforce or talent outcomes Experience using data and insights to inform workforce strategy and measure program impact Strong workforce strategy and partnership development skills Strong program management and execution skills Strong process design, systems thinking, and operational planning capabilities Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional influence skills Experience with program reporting, partnership metrics, and performance measurement Strong written and verbal communication skills Strong organizational and project management skills Desired skills Experience building university recruiting, apprenticeship, early-career, or workforce development programs Experience in Talent Acquisition Operations, Workforce Strategy, or organizational capability building Experience in consulting, government modernization, professional services, or mission-driven organizations Experience designing programs that improve workforce readiness, talent mobility, or long-term workforce sustainability Experience working with public sector, nonprofit, academic, or workforce development ecosystems 8+ years of experience in Workforce Strategy, Talent Strategy, Workforce Development, HR, or Program Management Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, Behavioral Science, Education, Public Policy, or related field Experience with workforce planning, partnership strategy, and talent ecosystem development Experience with change management and organizational adoption frameworks Experience with workforce analytics, program health reporting, and performance measurement Advanced stakeholder management and strategic communication skills This position is not represented by Nava United Compensation $131,000 — $146,000 USD Other requirements All roles at Nava require the following: Legal authorization to work in the United States Ability to meet any other requirements for government contracts for which candidates are hired Work authorization that doesn’t require visa sponsorship, now or in the future May be subject to a government background check or security clearance, depending on the contract Perks working with Nava Health coverage — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support your overall health needs Insurance coverage — Nava provides disability, life, and accidental death insurance at no cost Time off — vacation, holidays (including Juneteenth), and floating holidays to rest and recharge Company holidays — enjoy 12 paid federal holidays each year on top of your regular PTO Annual bonus — when Nava meets its goals, eligible employees receive a performance-based annual bonus Parental leave — paid time off for new parents, plus weekly meals delivered to your home Wellness program — full platform offering physical, mental, & emotional health resources & support tools Virtual care — see doctors online with no copay through a virtual visit program (depending on available providers) Sabbatical leave — earn extended unpaid leave after continuous service for personal growth or rest 401(k) match — Nava matches 4% of your salary to support your retirement savings plan Flexible work — remote-first environment with flexibility built around your schedule and responsibilities Home office setup — company laptop & setup assistance provided via Staples for remote work needs Utility support — monthly reimbursement to help offset eligible home office utility expenses Learning opportunities — internal training programs and resources to help grow your professional skills Development opportunities — LinkedIn Learning access & an annual allowance for courses, tuition, & certs Referral bonus — get rewarded when you refer great people who join the Nava team Commuter benefits — pre-tax commuter programs to support in-office travel when applicable Supportive culture — A collaborative and remote-friendly team environment where people genuinely care Location We have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin *If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time. Stay in touch Sign up for our newsletter to find out about career opportunities, new partnerships, and news from the broader civic tech community. Please contact the recruiting team at [email protected] if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process. We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States. Equal Employment Opportunity Nava is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, religious creed, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, reproductive health autonomy, pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, marital status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Nava prohibits any such discrimination or harassment. This policy applies to all employees, applicants, contractors, and temporary workers of Nava.