Executive Director for the Community College Workforce Cooperative

Executive Director for the Community College Workforce Cooperative

The presidents of Paul D. Camp Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College, and Tidewater Community College are searching for an experienced, enthusiastic, and motivated leader to serve as the inaugural executive director for the newly created Community College Workforce Cooperative (CCWC).

The CCWC is being created to serve as a single point of contact for the workforce training needs of businesses throughout the Hampton Roads region. The executive director will provide leadership, vision, and oversight to ensure the region’s three community colleges are responding to those training needs in a timely, comprehensive, and cost-efficient manner.

The executive director will work with partner community colleges to direct and facilitate start-up of the CCWC, including finalizing the MOU among the partner colleges, establishing governance, shared expectations, and performance measures.

The executive director is expected to engage extensively with external business, industry and other organizational leadership to better understand their existing and emerging workforce training needs and to promote the role of the community colleges in meeting those challenges. The executive director should be a strong advocate who can effectively represent the region’s colleges as a strategic partner and solutions provider for business, industry and other workforce-related organizations.

The executive director is expected to manage the fiscal accountability of the CCWC as profit-oriented organization on behalf of the partner colleges.

The executive director is hired by and reports to an executive board consisting of the presidents of Paul D. Camp Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College, and Tidewater Community College.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide executive management and leadership for the Community College Workforce Cooperative.
2. First year will include significant focus on establishing CCWC; future years will focus on sustaining the CCWC.
3. Lead the cooperative in “market-driven” strategy development for business and industry.
4. Working in collaboration with partner college presidents, vice presidents and other appropriate staff, directs and facilitates the establishment of operational aspects of the CCWC, including formalization of agreements for office space and related support services, as well as physical occupancy of the space.
5. Working in collaboration with partner college presidents, vice presidents and other appropriate staff, directs and facilitates the establishment of administrative and organizational functions needed for the operation of the Community College Workforce Cooperative, including finalization of the CCWC MOU among the partner colleges, establishment of governance procedures, shared expectations and performance measures.
6. Identifies internal and external constituencies and develops strategic alliances. Represents both colleges and college presidents through engagement with regional workforce development, economic development, business and industry, and governmental organizations in regional efforts to address current and emerging workforce needs. Promotes partner college solutions and strategic partnerships with business, industry and other workforce-related organizations to address regional workforce needs. Develops community initiatives and convenes stakeholders. Networks with colleagues in education, business, and the community. Participates in and influences the region’s economic and workforce development planning process.
7. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with various local, regional, state, and federal entities. Also, business, industry, military leaders and HR managers within the CCWC service area to identify potential training opportunities for partner colleges.
8. Prepare and update project budgets and reports. Manages the fiscal accountability of the CCWC in partnership with the executive board. Finalizes initial three-year budget for board approval, to include cost-sharing and revenue sharing guidelines. Three-year budget is to be updated at the end of each fiscal year (i.e., maintaining a three-year rolling budget). Responsible for structuring and maintaining the CCWC as a cost-effective, revenue generator for the partner colleges.
9. Provide status reports to the executive board as requested by the board chair; provide updates between board meetings as appropriate.
10. Manage the board-related matters of the CCWC, serving as primary liaison to the members of its governing board.
11. Assist the CCWC board chair and college presidents with various projects as requested.
12. Supervise assigned staff for the CCWC. Establishes, hires, manages, and evaluates CCWC staff using appropriate VCCS policies. Staff initially to include an administrative support position and a program director. Establishment of additional positions will be approved by the executive board. Hiring of the program director will be done in cooperation with the executive board.
13. Facilitates executive board meetings on an established schedule.
14. Expected to participate in VCCS statewide initiatives and meetings.
15. Perform other tasks as assigned by the college presidents or executive board chair.

KSA’s/Required Qualifications:

1. Demonstrated progression of responsibilities, accomplishments and success in an effective workforce development environment, management of corporate workforce solutions, management of a complex organization in a multi-site, multi-college environment, or similar experience is required. Administrative or management/supervisory experience is preferred. Demonstrated strong leadership skills, comprehensive knowledge of the service region, positive relationships with regional business and industry, demonstrated ability to form collaborative partnerships, experience/understanding of community college training opportunities, and background with federal and state workforce training programs are highly desirable.
2. Understanding of and sensitivity to educational needs and challenges of at-risk and non-traditional students, including students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, international students, and first-generation college students.
3. Working knowledge of consulting, training and development, adult education, and/or sales management.
4. Working knowledge of contract negotiations related to agreements with existing and potential clients.
5. Knowledge of assessing client or business needs, coordinating training staff, and providing necessary training resources. Knowledge of business prospecting and sales techniques, including cold-calling, networking, and lead generation.
6. Knowledge of adult training methods, curriculum design and development, and evaluation methodology. Demonstrated understanding of customized training and targeted industry training solutions for various employee groups.
7. Demonstrated ability to generate resources through grants or other fund-raising techniques.
8. Demonstrated ability to manage resources and staff.
9. Demonstrated ability to work with a governing/oversight board.
10. Demonstrated ability to conduct long-range planning relative to the CCWC; to provide information to a wide range of college faculty and staff and community and business leaders; to make first-rate oral and written presentations; to organize, analyze and innovate; and to negotiate and communicate effectively while establishing cooperative working relationships with a diverse array of individuals contacted in the course of the performance of assigned duties.
11. Proven ability to work well independently and as a member of a team environment.
12. Proven ability to build, manage, and lead project teams, including the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.
13. Demonstrated track record of setting and achieving goals.
14. Strong writing, mathematics, analytical, and communication skills; excellent organizational and interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
15. Computer skills to include word processing, spreadsheet, project management, presentation, and e-mail applications.
16. Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited college or university is required; advanced degree in related field is desirable.
17. The selected candidate will be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest, and must be able to successfully pass the college’s pre-employment security screening.

Preferred Qualifications:
As delineated in the Required Qualifications section.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Interested applicants, to apply, please go to https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/26655

Virginia’s Community College System, an EEO employer, welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce. Therefore, the VCCS is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications. We prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disabilities, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, political affiliation, veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors.