Executive Director Education Alignment & Apprenticeship Strategy

About the role

The Executive Director of Education Alignment & Apprenticeship Strategy leads the strategic integration of education systems and apprenticeship pathways to drive workforce development outcomes under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive strategy to align education and training systems with workforce needs.
• Ensure strategies reflect Serrato's purpose-driven approach, rejecting status quo models and advancing modernization to meet evolving workforce and defense readiness priorities.
• Design and scale registered apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and work-based learning models across high-demand industries.
• Oversee implementation of career pathway programs that integrate adult education, career and technical education (CTE), postsecondary education, and industry recognized credentials.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, employers, labor unions, community-based organizations, and state/federal agencies.
• Serve as a liaison between the workforce board, education systems, and economic development stakeholders to ensure cross-sector collaboration.
• Ensure apprenticeship and education programs are compliant with WIOA regulations, state policies, and federal apprenticeship guidelines.
• Lead efforts to secure and manage federal and state funding to support program goals.
• Monitor performance metrics including the Serrato Dashboard to ensure continuous improvement in outcomes such as credential attainment, employment placement, and equity in access.
• Review and audit all assigned areas regularly for contractual deliverable implementation and compliance.
• Report and discuss contract performance, highlights, and concerns a weekly basis with the CSOI.
• Promote inclusive strategies that increase participation of underrepresented populations in apprenticeships and career pathways, including youth, women, communities of color, immigrants, and individuals with barriers to employment.
• Advocate for policy reforms that remove barriers to education-employment alignment and expand apprenticeship opportunities.
• Coordinate with internal and external policy teams to analyze trends, develop recommendations, and implement systemic changes that ensure continuous modernization and purpose alignment.
• Integrate Serrato Purpose into apprenticeship design, ensuring alignment between academic growth, technical skill attainment, and whole-person development.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and integrate AI-driven insights into workforce and apprenticeship strategies to enhance decision-making and outcomes.

Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from peers, groups of managers, clients, and the general public.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw related conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instruction and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Proficiency in leveraging digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) systems for data analysis, performance tracking, and program modernization.
• Valid State Driver's License.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, apprenticeship strategy, program development, or education system alignment.
• Bachelor's degree required, with preference for fields such as Education, Workforce Development, Organizational Leadership, Human Services, or a related discipline. A Master's degree is preferred.
• Equivalent professional experience in workforce leadership, apprenticeship development, or stackable credentialing may be considered in place of formal academic credentials, in alignment with Serrato's purpose-driven philosophy that values demonstrated impact and whole-person leadership.
• Preferred or highly valued certificates include Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) through the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) or Pre-Apprenticeship Certification experience from the U.S. Department of Labor or state workforce agencies, National Career Development Association (NCDA) Credentials such as Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) or Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF), Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent, and Artificial Intelligence in Workforce or Learning Systems Certification.