Director of Programs, SWFT Prepare

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision, strategy, and execution of SWFT Prepare as a national workforce development and internship initiative.
• Develop short-and long-term strategic plans that align with organizational goals and industry workforce needs.
• Establish measurable objectives, KPIs, and success metrics for program outcomes.
• Identify opportunities for program expansion, innovation, and increased national impact.
• Ensure program activities support the development of diverse, highly skilled talent pipelines for industry partners.
• Increase company participation, retention, and long-term investment in SWFT Prepare initiatives.
• Develop and execute employer engagement strategies that increase company participation, retention, and long-term investment in SWFT Prepare initiatives.
• Convene employer advisory groups and engagement forums to gather industry insights and best practices.
• Expand employer participation and support the development of high-quality internships, apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and experiential learning experiences.
• Maintain employer satisfaction and proactively address concerns to ensure strong partner retention and long-term engagement.
• Champion the value proposition of SWFT Prepare by demonstrating measurable return on investment for participating employers through data, success stories, and workforce outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with colleges, universities, technical schools, and academic consortia nationwide.
• Collaborate with university leadership, faculty, career services, and workforce development offices to expand student participation.
• Coordinate institutional engagement strategies that support student recruitment, career readiness, and internship placement.
• Identify and cultivate new partnerships to increase geographic and demographic reach.
• Oversee the implementation and administration of internship, workforce readiness, mentoring, and career development programs.
• Maintain efficient processes for student recruitment, application review, internship matching, onboarding, and program evaluation.
• Maintain participant and member satisfaction to ensure high-quality program delivery.
• Develop policies, procedures, and frameworks to support program consistency and scalability.
• Address challenges related to placements, stakeholder engagement, and program logistics.
• Work with employers and educational institutions to identify critical workforce gaps and opportunities.
• Serve as the connector between employers, universities, students, and workforce partners to ensure alignment between educational preparation and industry hiring needs.
• Collaborate with internal teams to align SWFT Prepare with organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, workforce boards, industry associations, and community partners.
• Represent Space Foundation at conferences, meetings, and industry events related to workforce development and education.
• Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for workforce development initiatives and talent pipeline programs.
• Develop strategies to retain existing employer partners while expanding participation from new organizations across the national space ecosystem.
• Build a sustainable employer engagement model that encourages recurring participation, sponsorship, and long-term investment in SWFT workforce initiatives.
• Analyze program data and develop performance metrics.
• Communicate program impact through data-driven evaluation, reporting, and stakeholder engagement, using insights to drive continuous improvement and workforce outcomes.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for program growth through strategic partnerships, sponsorships, grants, and other funding sources.
• Collaborate with Membership and external partners to secure resources and ensure long-term program sustainability.
• Champion the value and impact of SWFT Prepare internally and externally while ensuring compliance with organizational policies and funding requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Education, Workforce Development, Public Administration, Aerospace, Engineering, Communications, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Workforce Development, Higher Education Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in workforce development, internship programs, talent pipeline development, higher education partnerships, human resources, or program management.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex multi-stakeholder programs involving educational institutions and industry partners.
• Experience collaborating with HR professionals, recruiters, and workforce development.
• Experience identifying partner needs and developing solutions that create mutual value.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentation experience.
• Experience analyzing program data and developing performance metrics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, CRM systems, applicant tracking systems, and related technologies.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience managing partnerships at the national or regional level.
• Experience within the space, aerospace, defense, advanced technology, or STEM industries preferred.
• Experience managing national internship or workforce development programs preferred.
• Knowledge of federal workforce initiatives, grants, or workforce funding mechanisms preferred.