Center of Excellence Manager (Labor Market Analysis and Research)

Salary: $7,362.00 - $7,585.00 Monthly
Location : Santa Clarita, CA
Job Type: Classified Administrator
Job Number:
Division: Workforce and Economic Advancement
Department: Economic Development
Opening Date: 10/26/2026
Closing Date: 12/2/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Two weeks prior to the deadline to submit applications, the diversity of current applicants will be assessed. Upon review, if the pool does not include sufficient diversity at that time, the application window may be extended.

The Santa Clarita Community College District/College of the Canyons is seeking afull-time, grant-funded, Center of Excellence Manager (Labor Market Analysis and Research) in the Workforce and Economic Advancement division.

Salary Placement:

These twelve (12) month per year positions will be on an individual contract. These classified administrator positions will be placed on Range 5 of the Administrator Salary Schedule. Step placement is based on experience. Initial salary step placement for new employees is customarily at step 1, 2, or 3 ($7,362.00 / $7,472.00 / $7,585.00 per month) of this 20-step salary range. All administrators are on an employment contract and exempt from overtime and compensatory time accumulation.

District Classified Administrator Benefits:

Full-time employees are provided with a diversified employee benefits program that includes sick time, vacation time, discretionary time, medical, dental and vision insurance including dependent coverage, disability, and life insurance as well as Section 125 options. These benefits commence on the first of the month following date of hire. Professional development and educational incentive opportunities are provided to all classified administrative employees.

Classified employees contribute to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), a defined benefit retirement plan through the State of California.

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the general direction of the Director, Regional Center of Excellence (COE), the Center of Excellence Manager works with administrative and instructional staff, community colleges, and external agencies to develop and implement workforce research studies. The research conducted by the Regional Center of Excellence focuses on the South Central Coast Region, including Northern Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.

The Center of Excellence Manager conducts labor market and higher education research to support informed decision making related to career education programs and workforce development. The position contributes to regional and statewide research projects; identifies research questions and appropriate project designs; develops research instruments and data collection processes; analyzes and interprets data; prepares and presents research findings; coordinates and disseminates information; and performs other related duties as assigned.

Example of Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

1. Assists the Director, COE in the planning, design, implementation, and dissemination of research and evaluation studies related to labor market trends and educational outcomes to support workforce development and educational planning.
2. Conducts extensive statistical and technical research and evaluation studies, including literature reviews. Designs, maintains, manipulates, and queries specialized databases and information systems to support research activities.
3. Implements research studies, including coordinating the analysis and tabulation of results. Analyzes data using appropriate software applications, such as Microsoft Excel, R, Tableau, or similar tools for data analysis, management, and visualization.
4. Assists the Director, COE in responding to inquiries and provides detailed and technical information regarding research projects, including Labor Market Information (LMI) used to support program recommendations.
5. Identifies and extracts data from a variety of sources; inspects and codes data in preparation for analysis; creates project documentation and databases; and interprets research findings to support data-informed decision making.
6. Presents research findings, analyses, and interpretation clearly and effectively in narrative, graphic, tabular, written, and oral formats.
7. Prepares, and maintains comprehensive reports and delivers presentations explaining labor market research findings, implications, and applicability to workforce and educational planning.
8. Designs, prepares and administers surveys to regional colleges, business and industry partners, and community stakeholders in support of research projects.
9. Assists the Director, COE in preparing quarterly and annual narrative reports, renewal documents, and other required documentation in accordance with applicable grant and contract requirements.
10. Assists the Director, COE in presenting research findings at local advisory board meetings, regional consortium meetings, community college planning events, conferences and employer-education forums.
11. Maintains datasets, research information systems, and organized archives of information and reports to support efficient data collection, analyses, reporting, and responses to research inquiries.
12. Consults with internal and external stakeholders regarding the analysis, compilation, and interpretation of data. Provides technical guidance regarding research design, survey development, and test validation. Responds to questions and requests for information regarding research-related activities.
13. Represents the Center of Excellence, as assigned by the Director, at regional and statewide forums and organizations addressing community college research, labor market information, and workforce development.
14. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Demonstrated Knowledge and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Qualitative and quantitative research design, and data analyses techniques.
• Research and evaluation theory, design, methodology, sampling and analytical techniques.
• Technical research report writing.
• Research software applications for data analyses, data management, spreadsheet, presentation, graphics, and word processing software applications (such as R, and Microsoft Office Suite).
• Survey Administration software (e.g. Qualtrics, Survey Monkey).
• Survey sampling, design, and research.
• Collection and coding of data.

Ability to:
In addition, applicants should possess the following abilities and attitudes that have been identified as important to success performance in the position:

• Gather, validate, and interpret data from a wide variety of sources, including literature and Internet searches.
• Manage multiple assignments and projects by establish priorities for, planning, and organizing a variety of tasks. Utilize and maintain project details in project management system.
• Work accurately and independently while meeting schedules and timelines.
• Exhibit a strong understanding of ethical, compliance, privacy and security issues; apply relevant policies and procedures related to access, security, and delivery of data and research.
• Take responsibility and use professional judgment based on established guidelines and procedures.
• Type with speed and accuracy; make arithmetical calculations in like manner.
• Work effectively and demonstrate currency of knowledge with various forms of technology (hardware/software) utilized in providing high-quality services.
• Provide appropriate information to the students, faculty, staff, and the public in a professional manner.
• Communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Establish and maintain strong professional working relationships with campus academic and administrative offices, departments and programs, to ensure the quality and accuracy of data provided by those offices.
• Demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and the community.

Qualities of a Successful Community College Leader:
Every administrator with the College is expected to be:

• Committed to Student Access, Engagement, and Success.
• Willing to take strategic risks related to student-oriented change.
• Capable of building strong teams.
• Motivated to establish urgency for improvement.
• Able to plan lasting internal change.
• Results-oriented, ensuring effective implementation, routine assessment of programs and continuous data-informed improvement.
• Effective at communicating and listening to foster strong relationships, shared priorities, and inspire trust and action.
• Considerate of fiscal responsibilities and sound operations.
• Dedicated to entrepreneurial fundraising that aligns to student access, engagement, and success goals.
• Effective in developing effective external partnerships to achieve broader aims for student success.
• A creative, innovative, energetic instructional leader; a technologically sophisticated professional who is skilled in various technology applications.
• A supporter of consistent and on-going professional development initiatives, in pursuit of the college's strategic goals.
• A fair-minded, ethical, and honest leader with excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the courage and integrity to lead and accept responsibility.

Qualifications and Minimum Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Requirements:

Education:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college.

Experience:
Two (2) years of full-time equivalent experience applying quantitative or qualitative research and analysis.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Master's degree.
• Additional years of experience that demonstrates the ability to conduct complex analyses.
• Previous experience working in a higher educational institution.
• Previous experience working with data related to labor market and workforce trends, student and educational outcomes, or community demographics.

Experience with the Below is Desirable:

• Conducting complex research projects, evaluating alternatives, making recommendations, and preparing technical reports .
• Working with Directors to identify and define problems, determining methodology, evaluating data, making recommendations with appropriate justification and developing/implementing a plan of action.
• Organizing and prioritizing a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organizing own work, setting priorities, and meeting critical time deadlines.
• Establishing and maintaining working relationships with staff, senior management, representatives of regional community colleges, officials, contractors and the general public.

Physical Characteristics:

Sedentary position requires use of a computer and related equipment for extended periods of time; frequently exerting 10 to 20 pounds of force to move objects; communicating and providing information to others; work outside on all parts of the campus and in varying weather conditions. In the event of an emergency, employees will be relied upon to serve as emergency service workers. Travel from site-to-site to include other college districts as needed.

Further Details

Conditions of Employment:
Successful completion of background fingerprint clearance, p