Director of Path to Trades - Seattle Promise

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Seattle Promise, the Director of Path to Trades provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight for the Path to Trades initiative, a signature expansion of the Seattle Promise program funded through the City of Seattle's Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy. This position is responsible for designing, implementing, and scaling equitable access to high-demand trades training programs for Seattle Public Schools students and Seattle Promise scholars.

The role oversees the development of experiential learning opportunities, including the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Explore Seattle Colleges field trip programming. This position will ensure alignment with regional workforce needs, student success outcomes, and levy investment goals.

About Us

We are a district of three distinct colleges: North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College and five specialty training centers. Which makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington, we are leaders in change and innovation.

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.

What you will be working on

• Strategic Leadership
• Lead the vision, strategy, and implementation of the Path to Trades initiative in alignment with Seattle Promise goals and FEPP Levy priorities.
• Collaborate with district and college leadership, faculty, and staff to expand and scale Discover Seattle Colleges programming with a focus on trades pathways.
• Design and implement Explore Seattle Colleges events for 9-12th grade students, providing hands-on, project-based learning experiences that increase awareness and access to trades programs.
• Partner with Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) leaders and the Seattle Promise Director of Outreach to align programming, recruitment, and student engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with the Seattle Promise Director of Communications to support a coordinated, city-wide marketing campaign promoting high-demand trades programs.
• Engage with City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) partners to develop, refine, and sustain the Path to Trades investment strategy.
• Build and maintain partnerships with business, labor, and public sector stakeholders to align programming with workforce needs and career opportunities.
• Actively work toward fostering cohesion and collaboration between Seattle Promise departments, centering on high quality student experience.
• Operational Leadership
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of Explore Seattle Colleges field trips, including scheduling, logistics, and participant experience for cohorts of 20- 40 students.
• Contract with faculty and instructional teams to design and deliver high-quality, hands-on learning experiences aligned with trades programs.
• Cookordinate resource allocation, facilities, materials, and staffing needed to support program delivery.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Research & Planning to track program outcomes, analyze data, and implement continuous quality improvement strategies.
• Support and actively collaborate with the Assistant Director of Student Events in executing program logistics and ensuring high-quality event experiences.
• Direct career support programming for Seattle Promise and Path to Trades students, ensuring alignment with student success and employment outcomes.
• Establish systems and processes to ensure effective program delivery across multiple campuses and departments.
• People Leadership
• Supervise full-time Student Career Planning Specialists and other assigned staff, providing leadership in hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, student-centered team culture focused on equity, access, and continuous improvement.
• Provide coaching and guidance to staff to ensure high-quality advising and career pathway support for students.
• Partner with faculty, academic deans, and college leadership to align program implementation with instructional priorities and student needs.
• Financial Leadership
• Develop, manage, and monitor the Path to Trades budget to ensure effective use of FEPP Levy funds and compliance with funding requirements.
• Ensure all programming operates within allocated annual and multi-year levy budgets.
• Forecast resource needs and make strategic decisions to maximize program impact and sustainability.
• Ensure accurate application with use of funds, including but not limited to student financial aid aspects of Path to Trades.
• Oversee contracts with faculty and external partners, ensuring fiscal accountability and alignment with program goals.

What you bring as a candidate

• Master's degree in education, workforce development, public administration, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, workforce development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing programs that support student success, career pathways, or workforce alignment.
• Experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing budgets.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and serving diverse student populations.
• Strong collaboration and partnership-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working with K-12 systems, particularly Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
• Experience in trades education, apprenticeship pathways, or workforce training programs.
• Familiarity with Seattle Colleges, Seattle Public Schools, and/or City of Seattle systems and partnerships.
• Experience designing experiential learning programs or large-scale student events.
• Experience using data and evaluation to inform program improvement and decision-making.
• Familiarity and proficiency with various technologies, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, student database systems and student success technologies.
• Ability to travel between worksites within Seattle, including multiple Seattle Colleges campuses.