Trades & Apprenticeship Program Coordinator

NorthWest Arkansas Community College; Arkansas; On-site; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) is seeking a Trades & Apprenticeship Program Coordinator to support the Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program (WAAP) and ensure compliance with DOL requirements and NWACC policies.

The role partners with the Workforce Specialist and the Director of Trades & Apprenticeship to recruit students, manage enrollment and retention, and coordinate outreach with employers and instructors. This is an on-site, full-time position in Northwest Arkansas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in administration, management, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of program administration or related experience.
• Related education and experience may be substituted with approval.

Responsibilities

• Assist prospective and current apprentices with onboarding, enrollment, registration, program navigation, and connection to campus and community resources to support student success and retention.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for apprentices, employers, instructors, and program partners; communicate program expectations, requirements, progress, and related updates.
• Maintain accurate apprenticeship records, documentation, databases, and compliance tracking for attendance, on-the-job training hours, wage progression, licensing requirements, and applicable state and federal reporting.
• Support compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship standards, NWACC policies, and applicable state and federal regulations; assist with audits, annual reviews, and required reporting processes.
• Coordinate program operations, including instructor onboarding support, training preparation, instructional materials, supplies, equipment needs, semester processes, and end-of-term activities.

Skills

MS Office proficiency

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in administration, Management, or a related field

Tools

Canvas

Workday

Job description

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas. As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education.

NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers. NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.

The Trades & Apprenticeship Program Coordinator serves as the operational and administrative backbone of the Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program (WAAP). This role supports apprentices, employers, instructors, and program leadership while ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship requirements and NWACC policies.

The Coordinator works closely with NWACC’s Workforce Specialist and the Director of Trades & Apprenticeship to support student recruitment, enrollment, retention, compliance tracking, reporting, and employer engagement.

Essential Duties

Assist prospective and current apprentices with onboarding, enrollment, registration, program navigation, and connection to campus and community resources to support student success and retention

Serve as a primary point of contact for apprentices, employers, instructors, and program partners; communicate program expectations, requirements, progress, and related updates

Maintain accurate apprenticeship records, documentation, databases, and compliance tracking for attendance, on-the-job training hours, wage progression, licensing requirements, and applicable state and federal reporting

Support compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship standards, NWACC policies, and applicable state and federal regulations; assist with audits, annual reviews, and required reporting processes

Coordinate program operations, including instructor onboarding support, training preparation, instructional materials, supplies, equipment needs, semester processes, and end-of-term activities

Assist with employer outreach, recruitment activities, career fairs, community events, workforce initiatives, program marketing materials, website updates, reports, presentations, and outcome tracking

Additional duties may be assigned as necessary to support the goals and objectives of the department and college

Rate of Pay

Rate of Pay: $16.00 per hour

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in administration, Management, or a related field

Minimum of two years of program administration or related experience

Related education and experience may be substituted with approval

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Zoom, and related communication and reporting tools.

Ability to learn and utilize institutional, apprenticeship, licensing, and compliance systems, including Canvas, Workday, U.S. Department of Labor, Arkansas apprenticeship, and related portal systems

Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, records, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Effective written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate professionally with students, employers, faculty, staff, and external partners

Demonstrated initiative, problem-solving ability, professionalism, confidentiality, teamwork, and data management skills to support program operations and reporting needs

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is:

• Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding
• Sitting
• Standing
• Walking

Constantly:

• Hearing
• Repetitive motion
• Talking

Environmental Conditions

The following work environment characteristics are representative of those encountered by employees while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. The work environment typically consists of a professional office setting with a moderate noise level, including sounds from conversations, office equipment, and occasional movement of staff. Lighting is standard for office spaces, and the temperature is controlled to remain within a comfortable range. Employees may occasionally need to visit other areas, such as storage rooms, conference spaces, or outdoor locations, where environmental conditions may vary. Infrequently, exposure to louder noise levels or physical activities, such as moving lightweight materials, might be required.

NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding areas. As the largest community college in Arkansas, it offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training that can lead to careers in business, computer science, art, communications, culinary, nursing, construction and more. NWACC faculty and staff are committed to the success of our students and helping them develop intellectually, personally and interpersonally. NWACC professors are exceptional scholars who mentor traditional and nontraditional students within a campus and online environment that values and encourages diverse perspectives and ideas. Northwest Arkansas is one of the most economically stable regions in the nation and serves as the base of operations for Walmart, Tyson Foods Inc., and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Their close proximity to the college offers opportunities for internships, career training and post-graduation employment, as well as access to world-class art, culture and entertainment. Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains also offer wonderful outdoor experiences and hiking trails within a short drive of the college. With its strong economy, beautiful surroundings and high-end amenities, Northwest Arkansas is also often ranked by publications as one of the nation's best places to live. With its steady growth in population, it's on track to soon become one of the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. Such growth has increased cultural diversity, as well as opportunities to support various cultural events, cuisine, businesses and services.

NWACC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution, and welcomes applications without regard to age, race, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity.