Director of Workforce Strategy and Industry Alignment

About the role

Posting number: 192074 Department: York Technical College Job classification: Temporary, Temporary Grant, Time Limited,Non-Regulatory Posting type: Open Categories: Economic Development Summary LEAD THE WORKFORCE STRATEGY THAT WILL POWER THE REGION’S FUTURE. York Technical College is seeking a Director of Workforce Strategy and Industry Alignment to lead the implementation of the workforce development portfolio for an NSF Regional Innovation Engine focused on grid modernization and advanced energy. As the Engine’s workforce development lead institution, York Technical College is responsible for helping the region anticipate how emerging technologies will change occupations, required skills, credentials, and talent needs. The Director will turn that responsibility into action by coordinating employers, education providers, workforce organizations, economic development partners, and Engine leaders around a shared regional workforce strategy. This is an opportunity to shape workforce development at a regional scale. The Director will not simply manage individual programs. This position will build the structures, partnerships, work plans, and accountability systems needed to prepare the region’s workforce before talent shortages limit industry growth. What You Will Do Reporting to the President of York Technical College, who also serves as the Engine’s Director of Workforce Development, the Director will lead the day-to-day implementation of the Engine’s workforce development portfolio and serve as its primary project manager. The Director will: Translate the Engine’s workforce strategy into clear work plans, timelines, assignments, budgets, and deliverables. Lead the York Technical College workforce development leadership team and coordinate work across staff, contractors, and regional partners. Monitor implementation, identify emerging risks or delays, resolve barriers, and maintain accountability for partner commitments. Analyze employer input, labor-market information, occupational data, and findings from the Engine’s research and commercialization activities. Identify emerging occupations, changing job functions, required competencies, credential needs, and workforce shortages related to grid modernization and advanced energy. Translate industry needs into occupational profiles, competency frameworks, education and training recommendations, career pathways, and talent-pipeline strategies. Establish meaningful processes for employers to validate workforce priorities, competencies, credentials, equipment needs, and program outcomes. Build and support regional partnerships involving employers, colleges and universities, K–12 systems, workforce boards, economic development organizations, state agencies, and community organizations. Expand employer participation in curriculum development, apprenticeships, internships, incumbent-worker training, faculty externships, and other work-based learning activities. Maintain accountability for workforce metrics, milestones, budgets, deliverables, and reporting requirements. Develop dashboards, reports, presentations, and leadership briefings that communicate progress, risks, outcomes, and resource needs. Coordinate workforce development with the Engine’s research, technology translation, entrepreneurship, industry engagement, community engagement, and economic development activities. Represent York Technical College and the Engine in regional workforce, industry, education, and economic development discussions. Who We Are Looking For The successful candidate will be able to move complex work from strategy to implementation. This person will know how to bring organizations with different interests and responsibilities together, establish clear expectations, maintain momentum, and address implementation problems before they jeopardize results. The role requires someone who can engage credibly with employers, educators, researchers, government agencies, and community partners while also managing the details of work plans, budgets, performance measures, reports, and federal requirements. The strongest candidates will be equally comfortable facilitating a regional strategy discussion, analyzing workforce data, briefing executive leadership, and following up on an overdue deliverable. Examples of duties Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in business, education, public administration, economic development, organizational leadership, workforce education and development, or a related field. At least five years of progressively responsible experience in workforce development, education, economic development, industry engagement, or a related field. Experience leading complex projects involving multiple organizations or partners. Experience working with employers to identify workforce needs and develop talent solutions. Experience establishing performance measures, monitoring outcomes, and preparing formal reports. Ability to interpret labor-market, occupational, industry, and program data. Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills. Ability to travel throughout the Engine’s region and occasionally outside the region. Qualifications Master’s degree in a relevant field. Experience supervising staff or leading a cross-functional project team. Experience with advanced energy, grid modernization, utilities, advanced manufacturing, engineering technology, or a related field. Experience working with community or technical colleges. Experience managing federally funded grants, cooperative agreements, or regional workforce initiatives. Experience developing industry-validated credentials, career pathways, apprenticeships, or work-based learning programs. Familiarity with research translation, technology commercialization, or regional innovation ecosystems. Supplemental information Applicants indicating degree(s) on the application may be required to provide unofficial copies of transcripts in the application process and official transcript upon hire. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with the first review of applications beginning September 16, 2026.    Candidates are encouraged to attach a statement of interest in the online application describing how their unique qualifications align with the position. This is a grant-funded position contingent upon the continued availability of funding. Regular regional travel and occasional travel outside the region are required. Evening or weekend work may be necessary to support partner meetings, industry events, Engine activities, and reporting deadlines. Other duties may be assigned based on the operational needs of the Engine and the College.