Vice Provost for Workforce Partnerships and Professional Learning

About the role

The Vice Provost for Workforce Partnerships and Professional Learning provides university-wide strategic leadership for Virginia Tech's workforce and professional learning enterprise by fostering innovative educational models and creating educational pathways that respond to evolving workforce needs and employer demand; align with institutional priorities and Virginia Tech’s research and scholarly expertise; and advance Virginia Tech's land-grant mission through educational innovation, workforce preparation, and economic development. The Vice Provost builds partnerships across academic and administrative units and leads the growth of a sustainable portfolio of professional graduate degrees, certificates, executive education, and other credentialed workforce programs. As a member of the Provost's senior leadership team, the Vice Provost advises the Provost on institutional growth and sunsetting strategies related to workforce partnerships and professional learning. The position will be based either in Blacksburg or the Greater Washington, D.C. area, with regular time spent in both locations regardless of which campus site is the primary location.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement Virginia Tech's strategy for professional workforce education; develop an organization that brings coherence to activities related to workforce partnerships and professional learning (organizational design, staffing, governance, long-term strategic priorities, financial operating model) to be a self-sustaining unit; lead university-wide strategic development for professional master’s degrees, graduate certificates, executive education, and other credentialling offerings; advise the Provost regarding institutional investments, policies, and priorities related to workforce education and professional learning; identify and recommend changes to university policies, processes, and governance that enable more agile development and delivery; coordinate workforce education and professional learning strategies across Virginia Tech's statewide locations to maximize institutional impact while responding to regional workforce priorities.
• Organizational Strategy and Portfolio Management: Lead institutional market and feasibility analysis and portfolio planning to identify opportunities for new workforce education and professional learning initiatives (in-person, fully online, or hybrid) aligned with Virginia Tech's strengths; partner with Graduate School, academic colleges and departments, research institutes, and VCE to develop and manage a university-wide portfolio of workforce education and professional learning offerings, ensuring academic quality, financial sustainability, and alignment with institutional priorities; regularly assess the portfolio using enrollment, financial, workforce demand, learner outcomes, and employer engagement metrics, recommending expansion, modification, or discontinuation as appropriate; establish performance expectations and portfolio review processes for workforce education and professional learning initiatives.
• Partnerships and Pathway Development: Build strategic partnerships with academic leaders across Virginia Tech to leverage faculty expertise, research strengths, and geographic assets; develop strategic partnerships with industry, government agencies, military organizations, health systems, and