Director of Workforce Pell Implementation Initiatives

Laguardia; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

LaGuardia Community College seeks a Director of Workforce Pell Implementation Initiatives to lead the federally funded FIPSE grant, ensuring alignment with federal NYS policy, program development, and institutional readiness. You will oversee workflows integrating noncredit workforce programs with financial aid, enrollment, data reporting, and academic pathways.

The role requires extensive experience in workforce development, higher education, and grant management, with strong leadership,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education, public administration, workforce development, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in workforce development, higher education, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex initiatives and interpreting policy or regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Serve as principal lead for the Workforce Pell FIPSE grant, including deliverables, timelines, and outcomes
• Develop and manage project plans, milestones, and performance tracking systems
• Interpret Workforce Pell federal and NYS policy and translate into operational workflows
• Ensure adherence to eligibility metrics including completion, job placement, and earnings outcomes
• Lead program eligibility submissions and coordination with NYS agencies
• Design institutional workflows for enrollment, financial aid integration, and program tracking
• Coordinate across ACE, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, Academic Affairs, Registrar, and Career Services
• Engage employers, industry partners, and labor unions to align programs with workforce demand
• Collaborate with CUNY Central to ensure consistency with system-wide implementation
• Oversee data tracking systems aligned with Title IV-level reporting expectations
• Represent the College in City, State and Federal Workforce and Higher Education initiatives related to Workforce Pell and noncredit to credit program design
• Performs other duties as assigned

Skills

Policy interpretation

Project management

Grant management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in higher education/public administration/workforce development

Job description

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY). The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries. We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY. Primary Location: LAGUARDIA C. C. Bargaining Unit: No Reporting to the Vice President for Adult and Continuing Education and Workforce Development, the Director of Workforce Pell Implementation Initiatives will serve as the lead architect and project director for LaGuardia Community College’s implementation of Workforce Pell under a federally funded FIPSE grant. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for ensuring that the College is fully prepared to design, launch, and sustain Workforce Pell-eligible programs in alignment with federal regulations and New York State policy. The Director will be the primary individual accountable for delivering the grant’s outcomes, including program development, institutional readiness, compliance infrastructure, and employer alignment. This includes building and operationalizing internal workflows that integrate noncredit workforce programs with financial aid systems, enrollment processes, data reporting, and academic pathways. The role requires a deep and evolving understanding of Workforce Pell policy at both the federal and state levels. The Director will monitor policy developments, interpret guidance, and translate requirements into actionable institutional processes to ensure compliance and program eligibility. The Director will work directly with New York State agencies to support program approval submissions and respond to state and federal requirements. The Director will lead cross-functional coordination across the College and engage external stakeholders, including employers, industry partners, and labor unions, to build awareness, validate program design, and support workforce alignment. The role also coordinates with CUNY Central to ensure system-wide alignment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as principal lead for the Workforce Pell FIPSE grant, including deliverables, timelines, and outcomes
• Develop and manage project plans, milestones, and performance tracking systems
• Interpret Workforce Pell federal and NYS policy and translate into operational workflows
• Ensure adherence to eligibility metrics including completion, job placement, and earnings outcomes
• Lead program eligibility submissions and coordination with NYS agencies
• Design institutional workflows for enrollment, financial aid integration, and program tracking
• Coordinate across ACE, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, Academic Affairs, Registrar, and Career Services
• Engage employers, industry partners, and labor unions to align programs with workforce demand
• Collaborate with CUNY Central to ensure consistency with system-wide implementation
• Oversee data tracking systems aligned with Title IV-level reporting expectations
• Represent the College in City, State and Federal Workforce and Higher Education initiatives related to Workforce Pell and noncredit to credit program design
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education, public administration, workforce development, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in workforce development, higher education, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex initiatives and interpreting policy or regulatory frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing federally funded grants (e.g., FIPSE, DOL, NSF)
• Knowledge of Title IV financial aid and Workforce Pell requirements
• Experience with noncredit workforce programs and employer engagement
• Familiarity with labor market data and performance metrics

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong policy interpretation and analytical skills
• Project and grant management expertise
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Cross-functional collaboration and leadership
• Data-informed decision-making and problem-solving

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may supervise Workforce Pell Specialist and ACE Workforce Data Specialist roles.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

This is an office-based position with standard professional working conditions. Occasional travel may be required.

Additional Information

This position is funded through a federal grant and is contingent upon continued funding availability and satisfactory performance. The role may be subject to audit and reporting requirements.

About LaGuardia Community College

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students. Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

Pay Range

$100,000 - $125,000

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.