Dean of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development

University-of-Hawaii-System; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 105,000 - 180,306; Full time

Job summary

The University of Hawaiʻi, Kapi'olani Community College, is seeking applications for the Dean of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development. This full-time permanent role leads the Office for Academic Affairs unit, coordinating workforce development initiatives and bridging credit and non-credit programs.

The position requires a Master’s degree and significant leadership experience in higher education or workforce development, with a strong emphasis on strategic planning, partnerships with

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Workforce Development, Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, or a related field.
• Academic rank of associate professor (C4) or have a demonstrated record of comparable professional experience.
• Significant progressive leadership experience in higher education, workforce development, or a related field that reflects knowledge of organization and administrative/management principles, theories, and practices.
• Knowledge of programs, policies, and operations of postsecondary higher education institutions.

Responsibilities

• Directs, coordinates, and evaluates the activities of personnel in the Experiential Learning and Workforce Development Unit; serves as senior manager and coordinator for bridging credit and non-credit programs.
• Leads recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention of staff to promote workforce readiness aligned with the college's strategic plan.
• Provides leadership in developing culturally-responsive experiential learning opportunities for all students, on and off campus, aligned with the college’s strategic plan.
• Oversees accreditation self-study and program reviews, and participates in ongoing strategic planning and assessment initiatives.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Industry partnerships

Data-driven decision-making

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Workforce Development, Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, or related field

Academic rank of associate professor (C4) or comparable experience

Doctorate degree (Desirable)

Job description

Dean of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development (0089176) | University of Hawai'i page has loaded.

Full-Time Permanent

Job Number

2026-01517

Kapi'olani Community College - Office for Academic Affairs

Description

University of Hawai‘i, Kapi‘olani Community College, is seeking applications for the Dean of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development position. Please see the information about the position, the duties and responsibilities, the minimum and desirable qualifications, and the job application attachments below:

Position Title: Dean of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development

Position Number:0089176

Hiring Unit:Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs’s Maunulau Office of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development

Location:Kapi'olani Community College

Date Posted:July 17, 2026

Closing Date:August 31, 2026, 11:59 pm HST

Salary Information:$105,000 to $180,306 (Commensurate with education and experience; within budgetary limitations)

Full Time/Part Time:Full Time

Temporary/Permanent:Permanent

Other Conditions:Excluded executive, full-time, non-tenurial, general funded to begin approximately January 2027. If selected for the position, the appointment is contingent upon verification of all minimum and additional qualifications including official transcripts, licenses, certificates, and work experience documentation.

Introduction

The Dean of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development is a critical member of the Kapi?olani Community College Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs’s Maunulau Office of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development unit, working closely with the campus’s leadership - Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services, Deans, Kapi?olani Grants Office, Principal Investigators, Assessment Coordinator, Office of Institutional Effectiveness and others to ensure the integration of a workforce readiness mindset across all levels of Kapi?olani Community College. This position ensures that every student has opportunities for informed career reflection and planning, experiential learning, and the development of career success competencies. The position is pivotal in coordinating workforce development efforts, building capacity among faculty and staff, and fostering strong connections with employers and community stakeholders to align educational pathways with industry needs. This position addresses gaps in workforce readiness efforts by strengthening alignment between credit and non-credit programs to support seamless stackable credential pathways responsive to workforce and student needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs, coordinates, and evaluates the activities of personnel, including support staff, in the Experiential Learning and Workforce Development Unit. Serves as senior manager, lead facilitator, and coordinator for bridging the credit and non-credit programs.
• Directs the employees in the unit and works with them to plan, design, and deliver quality programming aligned with the College's mission and strategic plan, congruent with contemporary industry and technology standards; situated within the College's established budgeting, planning, assessment, human resource, and review cycles; and in compliance with applicable statutes, regulations, and policies.
• Supervises, coordinates, and facilitates the employees of units in the development of short-/long-term goals and initiatives to accomplish the College's academic or community service missions; ensuring optimum faculty and staff performance and achievement; and enhancement of the quality of education, student learning outcomes, and the well-being of students.
• Provides effective leadership, direction, and support in the recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention of highly qualified and proactive employees who promote workforce readiness mindset that is framed in the Kapi?olani Community College Strategic Plan, ensuring it is integrated into all credit and non-credit programs; assesses and makes recommendations regarding faculty evaluation, contract renewal, tenure, and promotion; facilitates in-service training and staff development.
• Provides leadership in the development of culturally-responsive experiential learning opportunities for all students, both on and off campus; ensures that such initiatives are within the parameters of the College's strategic plan; reviews and makes appropriate recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) on new program and activity proposals; directs the scheduled evaluation of academic programs and activities.
• Directs accreditation self-study and/or program reviews of assigned divisions; assists in the periodic review/update of the College's strategic plan, long-range educational development plan, organizational plan, and capital improvement plans; modifies approved operational plans based on evaluation results and organizational priorities; monitors and integrates into all divisions emerging assessment and accreditation initiatives.
• Provides leadership in Strategic Plan implementation and the planning and setting of priorities for workforce development programs, and organizing and managing of operational resources. Represents and articulates the operational needs and initiatives (to include those of institutional support) of the unit when meeting with other administrators and key staff officers of the College to discuss new campus requirements or initiatives, to resolve problems/disputes impacting programs supervised, and to report on the status of existing programs/services.
• Develops and implements strategies to provide students with continuous opportunities for career reflection and planning throughout their educational journey in ways that are grounded in kuleana and other campus values.
• Oversees the development of specific career success learning outcomes and competencies within the curriculum and ensure students can articulate and demonstrate these competencies to potential employers and educational institutions.
• Mentors and supports employees in the unit for their professional development toward successfully meeting their expectations. Provides leadership and initiatives in the development of programs and policies that build positive faculty and staff morale, continuously promote excellence in programs, and contribute to the progress of the strategic mission of the college and the university.

Administrative Support

• Provides leadership and direction to unit in the review and revision (if required) of College policies and procedures; coordinates with College administrative staff personnel to ensure implementation and compliance of applicable statutes, regulations, and policies.
• Responds to requests for information, identification of problems, investigation of complaints against faculty, adjudication of disputes and grievances, and disciplinary action against faculty and staff within established guidelines and in coordination with appropriate College administrative staff personnel.
• Coordinates employees in the unit to work with the College Human Resources Department in the maintenance of faculty and staff positions.
• Coordinates and builds capacity among faculty and staff to integrate workforce readiness into their curricula and student interactions. Collaborates with all academic programs and Student Affairs to ensure a unified approach to workforce development.
• Addresses challenges in integrating workforce readiness, particularly into instruction and academic counseling in arts and sciences. Work to overcome the distinction between credit and "non-credit" or "continuing education" programs to better serve students and employers.
• Formulates projected program targets, budgets, and expenditure plans for future academic years in accordance with fiscal guidance provided by the VCAA; develops a corresponding justification, and articulates the budgetary requirements in the establishment of a projected College budget for the three units that fall under this position.
• Allocates operational funds to the unit based on approved expenditure plans; oversees with College Business Office fund expenditures and deviations by the three units that fall under this position; and adjusts or obtains additional resources to meet unforeseen requirements.
• Explores and secures funding and other resources through a variety of sources to include State, Federal, corporate, private, program/divisional-based cost-savings, and College entrepreneurial initiatives.
• Works with the College Auxiliary Service to ensure facilities allocated to assigned divisions are conducive to the promotion of student learning achievement.
• Coordinates the writing of grants with the support of the Office for Institutional Effectiveness (OFIE) and the VCAA to procure external funding, and supervise grant funded projects.
• Serves as a member of the campus Executive Leadership Team providing a proactive locus of communication and coordination for campus initiatives.
• Adheres to applicable laws, regulations, and policies and procedures of the University, raises awareness among staff, and directs them in such a way that University compliance requirements are met.
• Identifies and mitigates through policy development/revision/enhancement and training, areas of risk and developing risk to the University, e.g., legal, financial, reputation, and compliance risk, and ensure team is aware and focused on addressing same.

Employer, Alumni, & Community Engagement

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with employers and community stakeholders to identify workforce needs and create opportunities for students, with a specific focus on Native Hawaiian businesses and organizations.
• Coordinates student employment opportunities on campus and within the community. Develop and manage alumni relations related to workforce development.
• Partners with organizations like the UH Foundation to support workforce development initiatives.
• Represents the college at community and campus events, in meetings with other institution personnel, and promotes the university by participating in community, state, and national events and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
• Proactively participates in the planning, management, and execution of campus initiatives as part of the Executive Leadership Team.

Personnel Management & Resource Allocation

• Oversees the effective placement and utilization of key positions, including the Workforce Development Student Counselor, Workforce Development & Community Partnership Liaison, and Workforce Development Coordinator.
• Addresses outstanding issues related to the organizational placement and employment categories (faculty vs. APT) of workforce development positions.
• Identifies and secures necessary resources, including technology and communication tools, and data access/interpretation capabilities, to support workforce development initiatives.
• Coordinates faculty members, staff, and/or students on a range of programmatic matters and promotes campus communication.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Workforce Development, Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Attained the academic rank in an institution of higher learning of associate professor (C4) or have a demonstrated record of comparable professional experience.
• Significant progressive leadership experience in higher education, workforce development, or a related field that reflects knowledge of organization and administrative/management principles, theories, and practices.
• Knowledge of programs, policies, and operations of postsecondary higher education institutions.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret administrative directives and guidance to ensure IT operations align with organizational standards and industry best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, strategic planning, and fostering industry partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing teams and fostering a collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to understand the current workforce trends and employer needs.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective and responsible working relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare speeches, conduct research, and prepare reports.
• Familiarity with data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement processes.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizational structures and foster cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise extreme tact, diplomacy, initiative, and sound judgment in authentically inclusive frameworks.

Desirable Qualifications

• Doctorate degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Workforce Development, Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Experience as an administrator or in carrying out administrative responsibilities in education, public administration, organization or resources management, personnel management, fiscal management, and/or grants administration.
• Experience in program and/or curriculum development and evaluation, staff development, personnel supervision, resource development, budget preparation, program and student learning outcomes, educational best practices, or computer usage in the management of an educational institution.
• Commitment to Kapi‘olani Community’s goal of positioning the college as a leading Native Hawaiian/Indigenous serving higher-education institution.
• Knowledge of the community service mission of a community college and its interrelationship to instructional programs and support services.
• Graduate-level coursework or certification in career development, program evaluation, data analytics, strategic planning, or project management.
• Familiarity with University of Hawai`i Community College programs and policies related to academics, student services, research and scholarship, and administrative affairs.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs related to Experiential Learning and Workforce Development in a postsecondary institution.

Inquiries: Darsh Davé, Human Resources Manager, [e-mail]

EEO, Clery Act, ADA

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/ Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks. In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office. Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link:https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/