Manager of Workforce Programs and Pathways

Dominican University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and view

Retirement plan with employer matching

Tuition remission for employees and/or

Flexible spending accounts (FSA)

Generous paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Dominican University in Chicago, IL, seeks a Manager of Workforce Programs and Pathways to lead and coordinate workforce development initiatives on the Chicago Campus. You will oversee dual credit and college pathway partnerships, enrollment operations, and program performance, reporting to the CEO of the Chicago Campus and collaborating with Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management.

The role emphasizes budgeting, compliance, and learner success, with responsibilities spanning program

Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience in workforce development, continuing education, higher education program management, enrollment operations, dual credit, or related area.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to monitor program performance and inform decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations and performance of workforce certificates, credentials, and training programs.
• Use labor-market, enrollment, outcome, and financial data to evaluate program viability and recommend expansion, modification, or discontinuation.
• Manage cohort schedules, instructional needs, and annual workforce program calendars.
• Oversee recruitment funnel with the Adult Recruiter and target enrollment goals.
• Oversee learner progression from application through enrollment, participation, and completion.
• Monitor attendance, persistence, certification, and completion; coordinate interventions and academic support.
• Support pathways for workforce learners to advance into additional certificates, associate, or bachelor’s programs.
• Manage workforce program budgets, revenue, expenses, and financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with workforce funding, grants, contracts, and reporting requirements.
• Track workforce enrollment, retention, completion, certification, and employment outcomes.

Skills

Experience

Data-driven decision making

Program management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, education, workforce development, higher education, management, or a related field

Job description

Position:Manager of Workforce Programs and Pathways

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Id:2384

# of Openings:1

JOB TITLE: Manager of Workforce Programs and Pathways
DEPARTMENT: Chicago Campus
REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Manger of Workforce Programs and Pathwaysprovides leadership and day-to-day management of workforce development programs and coordinates a growing portfolio of dual credit and college pathway initiativesat the Chicago Campus.

Reporting to the CEO of the Chicago Campus and working closely with the Executive Director of Academic Affairs, the Manager is responsible for the operational performance of workforce programs, including scheduling, budgets, compliance, data and reporting, and learner success. The Manager ensures programs are effectively implemented, financially sustainable, responsive to workforce needs, and positioned to support continued enrollment and program growth.

The Manager also leads the operational coordination of dual credit and college pathway partnerships, collaborating with Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, partner schools, and campus staff to establish clear processes for student enrollment, course participation, credit attainment, and transition into Dominican University degree and credential programs.

Working closely with the Adult Recruiter, the Manager connects recruitment and enrollment efforts with program capacity, scheduling, learner progression, and program performance. The Manager uses enrollment, completion, workforce, and financial data to identify opportunities to strengthen existing programs, improve learner outcomes, and support the development and growth of workforce and pathway offerings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Workforce Program Management

• Manage the day-to-day operations and performance of workforce certificates, credentials, and training programs.
• Use labor-market, enrollment, outcome, and financial data to evaluate program viability and recommend program expansion, modification, or discontinuation.
• Manage cohort schedules, instructional needs, and annual workforce program calendars.

Recruitment, Enrollment, and Learner Success

• Regularly review the recruitment funnel with the Adult Recruiter and identify strategies for programs below enrollment targets.
• Manage the transition of learners from application through registration, orientation, program participation, and completion.
• Monitor attendance, persistence, certification, and completion and coordinate interventions and academic support as needed.
• Support pathways for workforce learners to transition into additional certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or other University programs.

Financial and Workforce Funding Management

• Manage workforce program budgets, revenue, expenses, and financial performance.
• Manage relationships and operational processes with WIOA and other workforce funding partners.
• Ensure compliance with workforce funding, grant, contract, and reporting requirements.
• Develop program budgets and pro forma analyses in partnership with the CEO and Executive Director of Academic Affairs.

Data, Reporting, and Operations

• Track workforce enrollment, retention, completion, certification, employment, and transition outcomes.
• Maintain operational workflows and ensure accurate workforce program records and reporting.

Dual Credit and College Pathways

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Chicago Campus dual credit and dual enrollment portfolio in collaboration with the Executive Director of Academic Affairs.
• Coordinate with school partners and University departments on student enrollment, registration, scheduling, onboarding, and program logistics.
• Maintain timelines and operational processes that support students from initial participation through successful course completion.
• Track dual credit enrollment, credit attainment, persistence, and matriculation into Dominican University programs.
• Coordinate with Enrollment Management and campus staff to strengthen the transition of dual credit students into Dominican certificate and degree programs.
• Support the development and implementation of new dual credit and college pathway partnerships as the portfolio grows.

Partnerships

• Serve as an operational liaison with workforce agencies, employers, community organizations, school partners, and training providers.
• Coordinate across University departments to ensure workforce and dual credit programs have the necessary instructional, technology, registration, and learner-support resources.
• Represent the Chicago Campus at workforce, dual credit, school, and community meetings as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, education, workforce development, higher education, management, or a related field.
• Three or more years of experience in workforce development, continuing education, higher education program management, enrollment operations, dual credit, or a related area.
• Experience managing programs, projects, budgets, or complex operational processes.
• Demonstrated ability to use data to monitor program performance and inform decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree; experience with WIOA or workforce-funded programs; experience with dual credit or dual enrollment; experience with adult learner enrollment and industry-recognized credential programs.

Physical Demands

• Ability to spend long durations of the workday sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times

Salary and FLSA Status

• Salary: $65,000 - $70,000 annually
• FLSA Status: Exempt (Salaried), Full-time (at least 37.5 hours per week)

BENEFITS

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer matching contributions
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependents
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Generous paid time off (PTO)

Official transcripts will be required of finalists. Employment contingent upon successful background check.

About Dominican University

Dominican University is a Catholic, comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago, with an additional campus in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Dominican University offers associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It is highly regarded for its academic rigor, thoughtful accompaniment of students, intentional affordability, and values- based, relationship-centered learning environment.

Dominican currently enrolls over 3,800 students, including 2,690 undergraduates and 1,114 graduate students. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of undergraduate students identify as Latinx, 5% as Black or African American, and 3% as Asian. Under-represented minority students comprise 77% of the undergraduate enrollment and 38% of the graduate enrollment. Over 90 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Nearly half of all undergraduates are first‑generation college students; over half are federal Pell Grant recipients, illustrating their families’ level of income; and 58% are eligible for low‑income MAP grants from the State of Illinois.

Recognized since 2011 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, Dominican is committed to expanding and enhancing educational opportunities for Latinx students and all students from historically underrepresented groups. For more information, visit www.dom.edu .

Expectations for all Dominican Employees

To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, give compassionate service, and participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, engage in university service work that promotes collaboration and community building. This includes participating in organizational initiatives, supporting campus events, contributing to community outreach, and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment through involvement in various staff-driven activities and groups.

Institutional Statement

Dominican University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Dominican University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.