Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, seeks an Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development to provide strategic leadership for SPCE's workforce initiatives and employer engagement.

Reporting to the Dean, you will shape educational offerings, build partnerships with industry and government, and oversee program innovation, growth, and external relations to advance workforce vitality in the Commonwealth and beyond.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent combined with substantial relevant experience in workforce development or continuing education.
• Demonstrated leadership in program development and partnerships.
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to translate workforce needs into educational offerings and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for SPCE's workforce development initiatives.
• Build relationships with employers, industry groups, and government agencies.
• Identify workforce trends and translate needs into programs and partnerships.
• Lead partnerships, contract negotiations, and cross-campus collaboration.
• Oversee development of certificates, microcredentials, and non-credit offerings.
• Provide supervision and budget oversight as needed.
• Support Madison Promise and learner success initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development

Working Title: Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: School of Professional & Continuing Education

Department: 100066 - Professional & Continuing Education

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $110,000 - $135,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 09/25/2026

About JMU

Mission

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision

To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are

Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information

JMU's School of Professional & Continuing Education (SPCE) fosters learning across lifespans through transformative education and enrichment. SPCE offers a range of programs, including youth camps, adult degree completion, professional and workforce development, and lifelong learning, as well as partners with academic units across JMU to support a number of online or off-campus degree and certificate programs. The Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development serves as a senior member of the School of Professional & Continuing Education (SPCE) leadership team and provides strategic leadership for workforce development, employer engagement, partnership development, and innovative educational initiatives that advance the mission of James Madison University and SPCE.

Reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean works collaboratively across the university and with external partners to identify emerging workforce needs, develop responsive educational solutions, expand strategic partnerships, and enhance JMU's role as a preferred partner for economic vitality and talent development throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.

The Associate Dean serves as a key representative of SPCE and JMU with employers, industry associations, government agencies, community partners, and educational institutions. The position contributes to strategic planning, resource development, program innovation, and operational leadership within SPCE.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a member of the SPCE senior leadership team and Dean's Council and contribute to the strategic direction, growth, and continuous improvement of the school.
• Collaborate with the Dean and other Associate Dean to implement SPCE's strategic plan and institutional priorities.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and new revenue generation aligned with workforce and community needs.
• Represent SPCE on university, regional, and statewide committees and initiatives.

Workforce and Professional Development

• Lead the development and implementation of workforce-focused initiatives that support talent development and economic vitality.
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, industry leaders, workforce boards, chambers of commerce, and government agencies.
• Identify emerging workforce trends and translate those needs into educational programs and partnerships.
• Advance SPCE's and JMU's role as a responsive and publicly accountable partner addressing workforce and community challenges.

Partnership Development

• Develop and sustain strategic partnerships with external organizations to expand educational opportunities and community impact.
• Negotiate and manage partnership agreements, contracts, and collaborative initiatives.
• Foster cross-campus collaboration to connect university expertise with external partner needs.
• Support the development of regional, statewide, and national partnerships that enhance JMU's visibility and impact.

Program Innovation and Growth

• Collaborate with academic and administrative units to develop workforce-aligned credit and non-credit educational offerings, prioritizing JMU faculty engagement while establishing strategic partnerships with external organizations, industry experts, and vendors to address workforce needs that cannot be met through existing institutional expertise or capacity.
• Oversee the creation and expansion of certificates, microcredentials, customized training programs, and other innovative learning opportunities, providing institutional leadership and coordination for the development, approval, implementation, and management of microcredentials across the university.
• Assist in identifying new markets and audiences for SPCE programs and services.
• Utilize data and market intelligence to guide program development and investment decisions.

Resource Development and External Relations

• Support fundraising, grant development, sponsorship opportunities, and philanthropic initiatives aligned with SPCE's professional development and workforce priorities.
• Serve as an ambassador for SPCE with external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with University Advancement, Alumni Relations, and other campus partners to advance strategic initiatives.
• Promote SPCE's non-credit professional development programs, services, and impact through presentations, meetings, and community engagement.

Leadership and Administration

• Provide direct supervision and leadership for assigned personnel and initiatives.
• Assist with budget planning, resource allocation, assessment, and operational decision-making.
• Support compliance, assessment, and reporting requirements as appropriate.

Madison Promise and Learner Success

• Provide strategic oversight for SPCE's responsibilities related to the Madison Promise, including the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of guaranteed pathways and learner success initiatives.
• Collaborate with academic colleges, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, and other university partners to ensure successful implementation and sustainability of guarantee programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution or an equivalent combination of advanced education and significant relevant professional experience.
• Substantial professional experience in workforce development, professional or continuing education, economic development, higher education, employer engagement, community innovation, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience developing and managing programs, including the ability to translate workforce need into innovative educational programs, services, and partnerships.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining strategic partnerships with employers, industry, government agencies, community organizations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders, with the ability to lead collaborative initiatives and build consensus across organizational boundaries.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, including the ability to represent an organization effectively with senior leaders, employers, community partners, and other external audiences.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound judgment, and organizational agility, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctorate, terminal degree, or other advanced professional credential relevant to the position.
• Demonstrated success developing revenue-generating programs, employer partnerships, grants, contracts, sponsorships, or other externally supported initiatives.
• Knowledge of emerging trends and best practices in workforce development, professional and continuing education, alternative credentials, lifelong learning, and employer-responsive education.

Additional Posting Information

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.