Executive Director of Student Pathways and Opportunities

Title: Executive Director of Student Pathways and Opportunities

State Role Title: Education Administrator III

Hiring Range: Exact Commesurate Based on Qualifications & Experience

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept of Ed Central Operations

Location: JAMES MONROE BUILDING

Agency Website: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

This position will create connections and implement overarching career pathways initiatives that reflect local, state and national evidence-based practices, funding, policies, programs, and trends to transform and accelerate access to postsecondary pathways in high school for alternative pathways, career and trades training, and military readiness. This position requires a professional who understands elementary and middle school career exploration, high school-to-postsecondary career, trade, and military pathways, in-demand and high-wage industry pipeline development, and resources that are necessary to better empower students with their options.

This work will be done in collaboration with local school divisions, workforce, industry, and CTE professionals, and other Virginia agency partners. The position workflow will include the compilation of educational and student pathways and outcomes, the ongoing evaluation of data, understanding the trajectory of learning within these postsecondary programs and other strategic initiatives as directed, and awareness of state and federal resources to support these efforts.

This position will support the Deputy Superintendent overseeing the Division of Innovation, Student Pathways, & Opportunities under the Chief of Academics & Innovation. Specifics include:

• Student Pathways: Support the Department’s work in transforming and accelerating access to trade, career and military pathways. Design and collect effective strategies to connect schools to opportunities in high value CTE, as well as workforce awareness and readiness communities. This role will work in close partnership with the Executive Director of the Office of Advanced Learning.
  
• Expand Access to Work-based Learning Opportunities: Collaborate with schools, industry partners, workforce board and agencies such as Virginia Works, and other relevant agencies and partners to increase access to high-quality work-based learning, including youth apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and other high-demand work-based learning experiences for students in middle and high school as well as career exposure activities for elementary students.
• Strategic Alignment of Funding Streams: Support the Deputy Superintendent where needed on K-12 priorities alignment for federal and regional grant monies with partner agencies and the Workforce Board, including but not limited to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and GO Virginia funding. Collaborate with the Office of School Finance and Budget to maximize support for Career and Technical Student Organizations to ensure students develop skills, knowledge, and leadership experience related to their chosen career fields.
• Credentialing and Career Readiness Alignment: Ensure credentialing and career alignment, overseeing the integration of high-demand industry-recognized credentials into secondary education programs, ensuring alignment with workforce demands and postsecondary career opportunities. Support Deputy Superintendent as liaison, where needed, with VOEE to ensure continuous review and alignment of Virginia’s high-demand industry list and workforce talent needs.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration and Partnership Development: Assist the Deputy Superintendent to build and maintain strategic partnerships with business leaders, military recruiters, training providers, and postsecondary institutions as well as partner agencies to enhance student access to multiple high-demand career pathways. Engage as directed with critical workforce readiness partners and agencies at the State and Regional Levels and aligned offices across the Department.
• Data-Driven Program Monitoring: Continuously use data and stakeholder feedback to monitor outcomes, inform continuous improvement, supports, and resources, and support policy development aimed at expanding high-quality career-connected and military-connected learning opportunities for all students.
• Project Management of the State Perkins Plan: Serve as project lead to support Deputy Superintendent on the state’s Perkins Plan in partnership with other Department offices, agencies, and secretariats as well as business and industry community partners and school divisions.
• 3E Readiness Support: Support, raise awareness of, and identify evidence-based best practices and program design support for 3E Readiness activities that ready students for postsecondary Employment and Enlistment in partnership with the Executive Directors of the Office of School Performance and the Office of Excellence and Best Practices. Advise on and implement the use of career and postsecondary readiness resources to accelerate efforts for students, schools and the Department.
• Oversee Military Pathways and JROTC Program Opportunities: Assist Deputy Superintendent with strategic direction to the team responsible for military pathways for students, including JROTC, military readiness initiatives, and partnerships with military branches. Ensure alignment with Board of Education readiness goals and support for students pursuing military careers and service opportunities. Engage in regular communication with the Agency’s Military Family and Student Specialist who oversees Military-Connected programming and partnerships.
• Manage EISTC and Neighborhood Assistance Program Coordination: Oversee implementation and coordination of the Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits (EISTC) and Virginia’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) teams, ensuring these programs expand access to high-quality educational opportunities, especially for underserved students, through partnerships with eligible schools and nonprofit organizations.
• Coordinate with the Offices of Advanced Learning, Innovation, and Behavioral Health teams to support the larger priorities, initiatives, and strategic work of the Division of Innovation, Student Pathways, and Opportunities.

Pursuant to Sections 2.2-3114 and 2.2-3115 of the Code of Virginia, the position of Executive Director of Student Pathways and Opportunities has been designated to file by the Code of Virginia, an annual “Statement of Economic Interests” form.

Minimum Qualifications

This position requires a professional who understands elementary and middle school career exploration, high school-to-postsecondary trade, career, and military pathways, in-demand and high-wage industry pipeline development, and resources needed for schools and students to build and participate in these pathways.

Specifically, the ideal applicant will have the following skills, abilities or competencies:

• Working knowledge of local, state and national evidence-based practices, policies, programs, and trends to transform and accelerate access to postsecondary pathways in high school for career and trade training, apprenticeships, and the military.
  
• Experience in Career and Technical education, military, or workforce related programs for in demand jobs.
  
• Understanding of High-Quality Work-Based Learning including the technical supports and relationships needed to expand access to High-Quality Work-Based Learning to high school students.
  
• Ability to collaborate with and understand the needs of postsecondary workforce training partners and employers, including Virginia’s robust military and defense community.
• Knowledge of Virginia’s 3E Readiness Framework and the foundational principles thereof.
  
• Working knowledge of the Perkins and Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Acts including funding requirements and preferences, required and recommended partnerships, and any state or regional coalitions informing funding for these formulas and grants.
  
• Ability to design and launch policies and programs to support middle school awareness and readiness for high school pathways opportunities.
  
• Ability to use and collect data to better understand, evaluate, and inform continuous improvement in student pathways and opportunities, and policy development.
• Ability to interpret and apply education policy and funding mechanisms (e.g. Perkins V, EISTC, Neighborhood Assistance Programs, etc.).
  
• Knowledge of the design and educational support to earn industry and post secondary recognized credentials; and to coordinate with postsecondary partners to accept and support access to such credentials.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships with Commonwealth high schools, community colleges, military partners, institutions of higher education and public universities, workforce training partners, Virginia’s workforce agencies, coordinators, and funding partners.
  
• Experience managing cross-functional team and coordinating multi-agency or multi-sector efforts.
  
• Skills in data collection, analysis, and program evaluation to support continuous improvement and accountability.
  
• Ability for visionary and strategic thinking, novel solutions.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and work with ambiguity.
  
• Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to foster positive working and collaborative relationships and align goals across sectors.
  
• Possess strong time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
  
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, set timelines, track progress, coordinate cross-functional teams, and deliver results within scope and budget.
  
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access.

Additional Considerations

• Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration, workforce development, business, or a related field.
  
• 5-7 years of work experience in one or more of the following fields:
  
  • Career and Technical Education
  • Workforce development, apprenticeship, or trade training programs
  • K-12 or post-secondary education administration
    
  • Military-connected education programs
    
  • Program and grant management within education or nonprofit sectors
    
• Experience with cross-sector partnerships, including collaboration with business/industry, military, postsecondary institutions, and/or community organizations.
• Preferred (not required) licensure or certifications include:
  
  • Teaching or administrative license, especially in secondary education or CTE
  • Knowledge or certification in Perkins V administration, work-based learning coordination, or credentialing frameworks is a plus.
  • Experience in budget allocation, leadership, management, and evaluation of staff.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Pursuant to Sections 2.2-3114 and 2.2-3115 of the Code of Virginia, this position has been designated as requiring you to disclose your financial interests. Financial interests shall be disclosed as a condition of employment and thereafter as required. The mechanism you will use to disclose these interests is called Statement of Economic Interests.

A résumé will be accepted in lieu of a completed state application. Applications submitted via e-mail, postal service, fax or hand-delivered will not be considered. Successful candidates must pass a criminal background check. Commonwealth of Virginia employees may have teleworking options available. Final teleworking agreements will be reviewed and approved upon hire.

Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process:
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to prove their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: https://www.vadars.org/drs.cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process. For assistance call: (804) 225-2021, [TTY: 786-8389]

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and the VDOE that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. The Virginia Department of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: N/A

Email: humanresources@doe.virginia.gov