Senior Project Consultant, Employability Initiatives

Job description

Senior Project Consultant, Employability Initiatives

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QA Commons is seeking a high-initiative, creative, and intellectually rigorous Senior Project Consultant to help lead our expanding portfolio of employability and work-readiness initiatives. Ideal candidates are independent consultants or project-based professionals excited to contribute to national work at the intersection of education, workforce, and economic mobility.

About QA Commons

QA Commons is a national nonprofit focused on strengthening how learners develop the Essential Employability Qualities (EEQs) — communication, critical thinking, initiative, teamwork, adaptability, and professional judgment. We help institutions build stronger pathways from education to employment through program assessments, employability badges, research, tools, and large-scale improvement projects.

What We’re Looking For

We value people who can take an idea and run with it—who bring structure to new or evolving projects, offer thoughtful solutions, and make sound decisions even when all the details aren't laid out yet. We’re especially interested in candidates with the initiative and intellectual depth to turn ideas into tangible outcomes.

We’re not just looking for someone familiar with the language of “skills” and “competencies.” We need someone who can create real deliverables, analyze systems deeply, and draw clear connections between how education is designed and the outcomes people actually experience in the workplace.

This role is especially well suited for someone who:

Is currently consulting or doing project-based work with flexibility

Thrives in small, high-trust, high-autonomy environments

Enjoys designing, building, analyzing, and problem-solving

Is motivated by helping learners succeed in a changing workforce

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities will vary based on grant cycles, but may include:

Managing multi-institution employability projects from concept through implementation

Turning qualitative and quantitative data into insights, recommendations, or tools

Designing project plans, templates, rubrics, and frameworks

Drafting reports, briefs, literature reviews, or research syntheses

Supporting development and rollout of employability badges, surveys, or assessments

Leading partner communications and maintaining forward momentum with minimal oversight

Identifying gaps, risks, or next steps and proposing solutions independently

Required Qualifications

A strong grasp of workplace success factors (motivation, initiative, adaptability, communication, problem-solving)

Proven ability to independently manage complex projects

Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and writing skills

Ability to turn messy, ambiguous problems into clear deliverables

Creativity and intellectual curiosity

Excellent communication and professional judgment

Bonus (not required)

One or more of the following areas of expertise would be helpful:

Background in sociology, psychology, or organizational behavior

Experience in at least two of the following:

HR or talent strategy

Experience with employability frameworks or skills taxonomies

Comfort with surveys, data analysis, or qualitative research

Compensation

This role is structured as 1099 independent contractor work and does not include benefits. Compensation is either:

Hourly, paid at the consultant’s established professional rate ($125 – $175 per hour range, with the possibility of adjusting higher or lower); or

Project-based, paid as a lump-sum amount tied to the scope of work for a specific project or grant.

Compensation structure will be determined case‑by‑case based on project needs, available funding, and the consultant’s experience.

Remote

Flexible hours

Project-based compensation (determined by grant funding)

Occasional travel may be available for select projects

Opportunities to grow as QA Commons expands

To Apply

Please complete the short form provided in the link below, which requests:

Brief statements about why you’re interested in employability and the work of QA Commons and your approach to doing your best work

A resume (to be uploaded)

A link to a LinkedIn profile

Selected candidates will be invited to a conversation about the role and may be asked to share a work sample (a report, analysis, framework, tool, or other deliverable they personally created).

We will be reviewing submissions through January 9 and scheduling conversations shortly thereafter.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Part-time

Job function

Project Management and Information Technology

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Worksite address

california, MO, 65018, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.