Youngstown State University
Director, Regional Career Pathways & Workforce Alignment
Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, United States, 44502
Director, Regional Career Pathways & Workforce Alignment
Summary
Oversees operations in an assigned area or over a specific function as applicable to the assigned area, including supervision of staff and implementation and administration of all programs and/or services. Plans, develops, and implements organizational initiatives with significant operational scope and complexity. Leads strategic efforts to expand access to middle grades career-technical education (CTE), enhances career advising and mentoring services, and aligns career-connected learning with regional workforce demands. Serves as primary liaison between the institution and regional education, business, and workforce stakeholders. Coordinates initiatives across multiple districts, Career-Technical Planning Districts (CTPDs), postsecondary partners, and industry. Plays a critical role in meeting the deliverables outlined in the FY26-27 Pathway Support Networks grant as position is externally funded. Provides leadership in professional development, technical assistance, planning, and policy implementation to ensure equitable access to high-quality career education and training for all students in the region.
Responsibilities Expands access to middle grades Career-Technical Education (Grades 7–10). Delivers professional learning and technical assistance to Local Education Agencies (LEA) on implementing middle-grade career-focused programming. Identifies districts with limited CTE access and develops district-specific action plans. Grows and supports the pipeline of early-career CTE educators. Coordinates regionally responsive training and supports aligned with identified needs.
Improves Career Advising and Mentoring. Evaluates district career advising plans for quality and scalability. Facilitates professional development on effective career advising practices. Builds and sustains mentoring frameworks with LEAs, businesses, and industry partners. Maintains a regional directory of career advising and mentoring professionals. Convenes and supports a network of career advising professionals across districts.
Oversees regional planning and alignment with workforce needs. Leads the development and publication of a regional CTE plan, in collaboration with stakeholders. Analyzes labor market data to identify emerging opportunities and aligns CTE pathways accordingly. Supports quarterly professional learning focused on regional workforce needs. Provides support to Perkins-eligible recipients in completing Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments (CLNAs) and local applications. Assists partners in reviewing and updating CTE pathways and program alignment. Supports LEAs in preparing and submitting CTE-26 applications in coordination with state agencies.
Strengthens partnerships to support new CTE instructors and administrators. Facilitates collaborative professional learning in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Promotes and supports access to CTAG credit and compliance with CTAG/ITAG frameworks. Leads initiatives to increase CTE instructional capacity and cross-sector alignment.
Directs daily tasks related to the full scope of a department’s/division’s overall programs and/or services.
Qualifications Required Certifications, Training, and/or Licensures: None
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of: strategic planning process; policy administration; process improvement; supervisory techniques; university policies and procedures*; office practices and procedures; department/division goals and objectives*; department/division policies and procedures*; workplace safety practices and procedures*; English grammar and spelling; records management; office management; project management. Skill in: use of office equipment; typing, data entry; computer operation; use of computer software and other programs applicable to the assigned department/division*. Ability to: deal with problems involving several variables within familiar context; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; determine material and equipment needs; calculate fractions, decimals, and percentages; compile and prepare reports; use proper research methods to gather data; understand a variety of written and/or verbal communications; prepare accurate documentation; maintain records according to established procedures; effectively interact with personnel and public to answer routine questions; train or instruct others; move quickly and effectively from one task to another; work independently and in a team environment; develop and maintain effective working relationships. (*) Developed after employment.
Minimum Qualifications: At least a bachelor’s degree in education, career-technical education, educational leadership, public administration, workforce development, or related field; five or more years of progressive leadership experience in career-technical education, workforce development, or K-12/postsecondary education; demonstrated experience in program development, regional planning, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision-making; knowledge of Ohio’s CTE structures, policies (CTE-26, CLNA, CTAG, ITAG, etc.), and workforce initiatives; and experience delivering professional development and technical assistance across various education partners.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience managing externally funded or grant-based projects. Familiarity with federal Perkins V legislation and Ohio’s implementation strategies. Ability to analyze labor market information and apply it to educational planning. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to build effective cross-sector networks and partnerships.
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Responsibilities Expands access to middle grades Career-Technical Education (Grades 7–10). Delivers professional learning and technical assistance to Local Education Agencies (LEA) on implementing middle-grade career-focused programming. Identifies districts with limited CTE access and develops district-specific action plans. Grows and supports the pipeline of early-career CTE educators. Coordinates regionally responsive training and supports aligned with identified needs.
Improves Career Advising and Mentoring. Evaluates district career advising plans for quality and scalability. Facilitates professional development on effective career advising practices. Builds and sustains mentoring frameworks with LEAs, businesses, and industry partners. Maintains a regional directory of career advising and mentoring professionals. Convenes and supports a network of career advising professionals across districts.
Oversees regional planning and alignment with workforce needs. Leads the development and publication of a regional CTE plan, in collaboration with stakeholders. Analyzes labor market data to identify emerging opportunities and aligns CTE pathways accordingly. Supports quarterly professional learning focused on regional workforce needs. Provides support to Perkins-eligible recipients in completing Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments (CLNAs) and local applications. Assists partners in reviewing and updating CTE pathways and program alignment. Supports LEAs in preparing and submitting CTE-26 applications in coordination with state agencies.
Strengthens partnerships to support new CTE instructors and administrators. Facilitates collaborative professional learning in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Promotes and supports access to CTAG credit and compliance with CTAG/ITAG frameworks. Leads initiatives to increase CTE instructional capacity and cross-sector alignment.
Directs daily tasks related to the full scope of a department’s/division’s overall programs and/or services.
Qualifications Required Certifications, Training, and/or Licensures: None
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of: strategic planning process; policy administration; process improvement; supervisory techniques; university policies and procedures*; office practices and procedures; department/division goals and objectives*; department/division policies and procedures*; workplace safety practices and procedures*; English grammar and spelling; records management; office management; project management. Skill in: use of office equipment; typing, data entry; computer operation; use of computer software and other programs applicable to the assigned department/division*. Ability to: deal with problems involving several variables within familiar context; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; determine material and equipment needs; calculate fractions, decimals, and percentages; compile and prepare reports; use proper research methods to gather data; understand a variety of written and/or verbal communications; prepare accurate documentation; maintain records according to established procedures; effectively interact with personnel and public to answer routine questions; train or instruct others; move quickly and effectively from one task to another; work independently and in a team environment; develop and maintain effective working relationships. (*) Developed after employment.
Minimum Qualifications: At least a bachelor’s degree in education, career-technical education, educational leadership, public administration, workforce development, or related field; five or more years of progressive leadership experience in career-technical education, workforce development, or K-12/postsecondary education; demonstrated experience in program development, regional planning, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision-making; knowledge of Ohio’s CTE structures, policies (CTE-26, CLNA, CTAG, ITAG, etc.), and workforce initiatives; and experience delivering professional development and technical assistance across various education partners.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience managing externally funded or grant-based projects. Familiarity with federal Perkins V legislation and Ohio’s implementation strategies. Ability to analyze labor market information and apply it to educational planning. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to build effective cross-sector networks and partnerships.
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