Executive Director of Workforce and EnRich

Richland Community College; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Richland Community College seeks an Executive Director of Workforce and EnRich to provide strategic leadership for its comprehensive workforce development portfolio. The role oversees EnRich, Essential Skills, and grant-funded and non-grant-funded initiatives, aligning programs with college strategy and community needs.

The director will lead budgeting, evaluation, and expansion, while fostering trauma-sensitive, resilience-centered practices across credit and non-credit education and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership and ability to manage complex workforce initiatives.
• Strong planning, organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and PR skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of grant administration, budgeting, and program evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and executive leadership for the college’s workforce development portfolio.
• Lead development, implementation, and evaluation of workforce programs and services.
• Identify, pursue, and administer grant opportunities with compliance and reporting.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets and ensure stewardship of resources.
• Build strategic partnerships with employers, industry, and community organizations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Organizational development

Project management

Program administration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, workforce development, education, human services or related field

Job description

Position Details

Position Title: Executive Director of Workforce and EnRich

Job Category: Full-Time Staff

Division: External Relations

Department: Main Campus

Job Description: The Executive Director of Workforce and EnRich provides strategic leadership, executive direction, and administrative oversight for Richland Community College’s comprehensive workforce development portfolio, including EnRich, Essential Skills, Grant-Funded and Non-Grant-Funded workforce initiatives, workforce equity programs, customized employer training, continuing education, and career pathway initiatives. The Executive Director is responsible for the planning, development, implementation, budgeting, evaluation, expansion, and sustainability of workforce development programs that respond to the needs of students, job seekers, employers, industry partners, and the broader community. The Executive Director leads the integration and expansion of the EnRich methodology and Essential Skills throughout workforce education and training, ensuring alignment across credit and non-credit programs, employer partnerships, community collaborations, career pathways, and workforce initiatives. The position provides leadership in advancing trauma-sensitive, resilience-centered, and participant-focused practices that promote belonging, mastery, independence, accountability, psychological safety, resilience, and lifelong learning. The Executive Director works collaboratively with the Vice President of External Relations, Dean of Applied Science and Technology, faculty, administrators, College departments, employers, workforce agencies, educational institutions, community organizations, economic development organizations, government agencies, and funding partners to identify workforce needs and develop responsive workforce solutions. The Executive Director provides oversight of both grant-funded and non-grant-funded workforce initiatives, including program development, grant administration, employer engagement, customized training, professional development, continuing education, workforce equity, performance measurement, compliance, budgeting, staff supervision, and continuous quality improvement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide strategic and executive leadership for Richland Community College’s comprehensive workforce development portfolio, including EnRich, Essential Skills, grant-funded and non-grant-funded workforce programs, customized training, continuing education, workforce equity initiatives, and career pathways.
• Establish departmental goals, priorities, performance expectations, and accountability measures aligned with the College’s mission, strategic plan, and workforce development priorities.
• Lead the development, implementation, evaluation, expansion, and continuous improvement of workforce development programs and services responsive to student, employer, industry, community, and regional workforce needs.
• Provide leadership for the implementation, integration, and continuous improvement of the EnRich methodology and Essential Skills across workforce education and training programs and strategic initiatives.
• Identify, pursue, develop, and administer grant opportunities and oversee grant-funded initiatives, including compliance, budgets, performance measures, deliverables, reporting, and sustainability.
• Develop and manage departmental and program budgets; monitor revenues and expenditures; and ensure responsible stewardship of college, grant, and program resources.
• Assess workforce needs using employer engagement, labor market information, community needs, program data, and industry trends to identify skill gaps, emerging opportunities, and areas for program development.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with employers, industry associations, educational institutions, workforce agencies, government entities, community organizations, economic development organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Lead the development and delivery of customized employer training, professional development, continuing education, industry-recognized credentials, career pathways, workforce-readiness programs, and other responsive workforce initiatives.
• Monitor and evaluate program performance and outcomes and use data, stakeholder feedback, and industry trends to guide program improvement and strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate with College leadership, academic departments, faculty, student services, institutional research, grants, finance, marketing, and other departments to coordinate and integrate workforce development initiatives.
• Oversee externally funded initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, workforce development, education, human services or related field is required. A minimum of five years of experience in business training and development, including at least three years of administrative and supervisory experience.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, project management, and program administration skills, with the ability to lead complex initiatives and manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent planning, organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and public relations skills.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to effectively engage employees, students, employers, community organizations, workforce agencies, educational institutions, government agencies, and funding partners.
• Knowledge of workforce development principles, adult learning theory, career pathways, employer-driven training, continuing education, and workforce system development.
• Knowledge of trauma-sensitive practices, resilience-building strategies, Essential Skills, emotional intelligence, and barriers to employment experienced by diverse populations.
• Knowledge of grant administration, grant compliance, program evaluation, performance measurement, budgeting, data analysis, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Ability to analyze labor markets, participant, employer, enrollment, financial, and program outcome data to identify trends, assess effectiveness, and develop strategic recommendations.
• Ability to develop, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve workforce programs based on employer needs, industry standards, participant outcomes, labor market information, and established best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with employers, industry associations, educational institutions, workforce agencies, government entities, community organizations, economic development organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Experience supervising, coaching, developing, and evaluating employees while establishing clear expectations, accountability, professional development, and performance standards.
• Ability to manage departmental and grant-funded budgets, monitor revenues and expenditures, and ensure responsible stewardship of college and grant resources.
• Strong understanding of community college operations and the flexibility required to respond to business, professional, industry, student, and community needs.
• Knowledge of College district demographics, regional workforce conditions, business communities, and economic development organizations.
• Ability to work effectively in changing environments, manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and respond professionally to complex or sensitive situations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

A master’s degree in a related field is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to lift 10 pounds of weight.
• Operate standard office equipment such as phone, computer and calculator on a frequent basis.
• Must be able to receive, process and provide visual and verbal information.
• Respond to concurrent, multiple issues in a Professional Manner.
• Work effectively in stressful situations.

SALARY

E-15 ($89,646.50-$112,058.13)

POSTING DETAIL INFORMATION

Posting Number: S309P

Number of Vacancies: 1

Job Open Date: 10/06/2026

Job Close Date: 10/21/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Advertising Summary: The Executive Director of Workforce & EnRich provides strategic leadership for Richland Community College’s workforce development initiatives, including EnRich, Essential Skills, employer training, career pathways, continuing education, workforce equity, and grant-funded programs. This visionary leader connects students, job seekers, employers, industry, and community partners to create innovative workforce solutions that lead to career opportunities, economic mobility, and stronger communities. The Executive Director expands the EnRich methodology and Essential Skills across workforce education while advancing trauma-sensitive, resilience-centered, and participant-focused practices that build belonging, mastery, independence, accountability, and lifelong learning. Working across the College and throughout the community, this position leads the development, implementation, funding, evaluation, and sustainability of workforce programs that prepare people for meaningful careers and help employers build a stronger workforce.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

1. How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
   • RCC Career Site
   • Personal Reference
   • HigherEd Jobs
   • LinkedIn
   • Indeed
   • Newspaper
   • Social Media
   • Other
2. What is the highest level of education attained?
   • GED
   • High School Diploma
   • Associates Degree
   • Bachelors Degree
   • Masters Degree
   • PHD
3. How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
   • 0-1
   • 1-3
   • 3-5
   • 5-7
   • 7+

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcripts

Optional Documents