Policy Associate (Workforce Education)

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) invites applications for a leadership role to guide workforce education policy and program development across the state. You will oversee planning, evaluation, and coordination of resources to support economic development, work-based learning, and certificate programs.

Headquartered in Olympia, remote or hybrid work arrangements may be considered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of related experience and/or education.
• 3 years' experience in workforce education program administration or related professional experience.
• Ability to lead and coordinate statewide policy initiatives and programs.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder meetings and related activities to shape policies and processes.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Willingness to travel in-state and out-of-state.

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide direction and technical leadership for education programs and grants.
• Develop and influence programs to ensure equitable inclusion of populations facing barriers.
• Oversee policy development, statewide planning, and program operations.
• Analyze educational needs and interpret laws, policy, and legislation; recommend programs.
• Represent SBCTC to internal and external policy stakeholders and councils.
• Provide support to colleges to access funds and ensure timely, equitable distribution.

Skills

Leadership

Policy guidance

Stakeholder facilitation

Communication skills

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) invites applications from qualified individuals interested in providing leadership and policy guidance for the operation of discrete workforce education programs. This recently vacated position supports the mission of SBCTC by providing for the program development, expansion, and operation of several of the state's Workforce education policy areas including, but not limited to Economic Development, Industry Demand, Work based Learning, Non-Credit course pathways, incumbent worker training, and workforce certificate and degree programs.

Headquartered in Olympia, Washington, remote or hybrid work arrangements may be considered.

• Provide statewide direction and technical leadership to a full-range of education programs and grants including the coordination and management of the resources involved.
• Provide program direction, wherever applicable, to design, implement, and influence programs to ensure fair and equitable inclusion of populations facing barriers
• Provide policy development, statewide planning, implementation, program operations, and oversight in assigned workforce education policy areas.
• Provide comprehensive analysis of educational needs, interpretation of state and federal laws, policy and legislation recommendations, and program/policy evaluations. Utilize consideration of content, instructional processes, and resource generation and allocation within assigned policy areas.
• Represent and/or provide staff support to various internal and external policy stakeholders, boards, commissions, and councils including State Workforce system initiatives, Economic Development, Workplace Learning initiatives, The Workforce Education Council, Continuing Education, and others as necessary.
• Provide support and technical assistance to colleges in all assigned policy areas. Technical assistance efforts should be designed to enable colleges to access funds to meet local needs in a manner that is equitable, clear and easy to understand, strategic, flexible, and timely.
• Meet state and federal legal and fiscal requirements for all assigned programs.
• Conduct and/or coordinate statewide, regional, and local professional development and training activities.
• Access, input, and analyze data from the SBCTC information systems and other workforce development databases and systems.
• Other special projects and duties as assigned.
  

• The successful candidate must be able to work collaboratively, think creatively, act resourcefully, and exhibit excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Sharp, quick, agile, and effective responsiveness and decision-making abilities articulated clearly and precisely.
• Commitment to community colleges and their mission of serving diverse and underrepresented student populations.
• Demonstrate commitment and the ability to enhance and contribute to growing an inclusive workforce through leadership that contributes to diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environments for our students, fellow staff, and agency partners.
• Three year' experience in workforce education program administration or related professional experience.
• Experience facilitating and conducting stakeholder meetings and related activities, which lead to new or revised program policies, procedures, and/or processes.
• Experience with developing and/or implementing strategies that strengthen and expand program offerings, streamline processes for colleges, and/or develop strategic partnerships.
• Knowledge of national, state and local workforce development trends to include the ability to analyze labor market information.
• Experience with data analysis and trend identification to develop policy and programmatic recommendations.
• Leadership skills related to coordinating, assisting, and/or implementing workforce education training programs and/or grant initiatives.
• Ability to evaluate, mentor, and supervise staff while promoting professional and career development.
• Knowledge of the Washington community and technical college system and governance structure.
• Bachelor's degree OR equivalent combination of related experience and/or education.
• Must be available for travel both in-state and out-of-state.