Senior Director - Workforce Services

About the role

The Senior Director, Workforce Services provides strategic leadership for programs that create access to education, workforce services, and employment for youth and adults. The team includes Adult Education and Literacy, Skills to Employment, Corrections Education, IowaWORKS services, and other workforce partnerships and programs. The position is accountable for participation, completion, transition and employment outcomes, funding stewardship, program compliance, partnerships, and team performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for Adult Education and Literacy and Workforce Services programs, ensuring alignment with Continuing Education and Training Services (CE&TS), institutional, workforce, and community priorities.
• Oversee Adult Education and Literacy, Skills to Employment, Corrections Education, IowaWORKS services, and other workforce partnerships and initiatives.
• Serve as an active member of the Continuing Education Administrative Team, contributing to strategic planning, cross-departmental coordination, and effective communication to advance division and college priorities.
• Along with the grants department, develop grant applications for department funding opportunities.
• Lead CE&TS responsibilities related to federal, state, local, and private funded workforce programs and partnerships assigned to the department.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with K-12 districts, workforce-system partners, community organizations, correctional partners, funders, and other stakeholders that expand access and improve outcomes.
• Monitor budgets, funding requirements, participant outcomes, established goals, and compliance requirements for all programs in the portfolio; ensure required reporting and corrective action are completed in a timely manner.
• Stay informed of workforce, secondary education, adult education, public funding, and policy trends to ensure programs are prepared for changes and positioned to serve customers effectively.
• Lead strategies to improve access, participation, persistence, completion, credential attainment, employment, and transition outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen pathways from secondary and workforce-access programs into Continuing Education career education, employment, and Kirkwood credit programs.
• Coordinate with Corporate Training, Career and Community Education, Academic Affairs, and external partners to reduce duplication and create clear routes for learners and job seekers.
• Use data and program outcomes to evaluate effectiveness, identify gaps, allocate resources, and recommend changes or new initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop portfolio leaders and staff; establish clear decision rights and enable managers to own daily program execution.
• Represent Kirkwood on relevant workforce, adult education, corrections education and community planning groups.
• Perform other related work duties as assigned.

Performance expectations

• Lead the portfolio with independent judgment and accountability for strategy, program outcomes, financial stewardship, compliance, communication, continuous improvement, and execution.
• Meet or exceed established participation, completion, credential, employment, transition, funding, and compliance goals.
• Demonstrate effective upward management by keeping the Vice President informed through clear, timely communication, presenting recommendations, options, and solutions that facilitate strategic decision making.
• Build a collaborative, high-performing team with clear expectations and strong professional development.
• Use program data, participant feedback, partner input, and financial information to monitor performance and adjust strategy.
• Maintain timely two-way communication within the portfolio and ensure frontline insight and emerging issues reach division leadership.
• Partner across CE&TS and the college to create connected pathways and coordinated services.
• Welcome, value, and nurture people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as support and promote an environment that accepts differences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, workforce development, business, organizational leadership, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of experience in workforce development, adult education, publicly funded programs, professional development, or related areas.
• Previous successful supervisory or people-leadership experience required.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple programs, budgets, performance measures, partnerships, and compliance requirements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, relationship-building, and project-management skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with WIOA, Iowa Workforce Development, adult education, corrections education, or related public workforce/education systems.
• Knowledge of project management and continuous improvement techniques.
• Experience in a community college or higher education environment.

Schedule

The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, but schedule may vary to accommodate business meetings and role requirements.

Physical activities

Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing.