JAG State Director

South Dakota State Government; Pierre (SD); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

The State Director of the JAG-SD program leads statewide implementation and growth, guiding the program in alignment with state priorities and national standards. The role supervises two staff and collaborates with districts to improve student outcomes.

Based in Pierre or remote SD, the position involves travel, office time, and occasional evenings/weekends, with competitive benefits and retirement options under SDRS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required; experience in business, project management, or education preferred.
• Knowledge of work-based learning, career development, and project-based learning for middle and high school students; understanding barriers to high school completion.
• Ability to develop relationships with stakeholders and external partners; collaborate with division leadership; analyze problems and exercise sound judgement.
• Skills include data collection/analysis and effective communication; manage budgets, contracts, and grants; supervise staff.

Responsibilities

• Guide strategic direction and growth of the JAG program in South Dakota; ensure alignment with national JAG standards.
• Provide fiscal management and operational oversight.
• Work with school districts to support high-quality programs that improve outcomes.
• Build statewide partnerships across education, business, industry, and philanthropic organizations; represent JAG-SD at events.
• Travel within the state; some evenings and weekends may be required.

Skills

Data analysis

Communication

Budget management

Staff supervision

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

State Director

The South Dakota Department of Education is looking for a State Director of the Jobs for America's Graduates program in South Dakota (JAG-SD). This position is part of the Division of College, Career, and Student Success, which leads efforts to ensure all students have the experience and support they need to complete high school equipped for success in college, career, and life.

JAG-SD is a program supervised by the South Dakota Department of Education and is proven to help students persist through graduation. Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young people of great promise.

JAG-SD Mission:

Empowering South Dakota's young people with the skills and support to succeed in education, employment, and life.

The JAG-SD State Director is a proactive leader who guides the strategic direction and growth of the JAG program in South Dakota. This position is responsible for statewide program implementation, ensuring alignment with state priorities and national JAG program standards. The JAG-SD State Director provides fiscal management and operational oversight. The State Director works directly with school districts to support high-quality programs that improve outcomes for students facing significant barriers to high school completion. This position will build and maintain strong statewide support from key stakeholders. This includes developing external partnerships across education, business, industry, and philanthropic organizations, as well as other state agencies. The State Director represents and promotes JAG-SD and the South Dakota Department of Education at state and national events.

The State Director supervises two JAG-SD program staff. This position reports to the Director of the Division of College, Career, and Student Success.

For more information on JAG, please visit jag.org and https://doe.sd.gov/JAG-sd. This is a full-time position that works as an employee of the South Dakota Department of Education with regular office hours. This position could be located in the department's office in Pierre or work as a remote employee in South Dakota. Approximately 60% of the work is conducted from the office and 40% of this position's time is spent traveling for work-related duties and events. Most travel is in-state; occasional out-of-state travel is required. Some evening and weekend hours are required.

Licenses and Certifications:

National Career Readiness Certificate of silver or higher preferred.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Bachelors degree or higher is required; professional experience in business, project management, or education is preferred.

Knowledge of:

• work based learning, career development, and project-based learning for middle and high school students;
• common barriers to high school completion;
• strategic planning methods that support program growth, continuous improvement, and long-term sustainability.

Skill to:

• collect, analyze, and report data for a variety of audiences;
• communicate ideas and information effectively to a variety of audiences using a range of communication tools and technologies;
• manage financial operations, including budgets, contracts, and grants in accordance with state and federal regulations;
• supervise and develop staff.

Ability to:

• develop and sustain relationships with stakeholders and develop networks to strengthen program supports;
• identify, educate, and onboard potential external partners;
• collaborate effectively with division leadership to help guide the division toward its goals;
• analyze problems and exercise sound judgement when making decisions independently;
• adapt, take initiative, and creatively solve problems;
• actively seek, collect, and evaluate information to learn more about issues, events, and best practices related to effective JAG models.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

This position is eligible for Veterans' Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here . This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

'An Equal Opportunity Employer'

#LI-Onsite

Job ID: 38002

Agency: Department of Education - Division of College, Career, and Student Success

Location: Statewide within the state of South Dakota (potential to be remote)

Salary: $75,000 - $80,847/annually, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: L

Closing Date: 10/23/2026