Role Overview:

The Senior Director of Secondary Pathways & Student Readiness serves as a senior leader responsible for advancing Indiana's vision that every student graduates prepared for enrollment, employment, enlistment, and service. This position leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of statewide strategies that strengthen high school transformation, career-connected learning, work-based learning, graduation pathways, student readiness, and postsecondary success. The Senior Director will work across K-12 education, higher education, workforce development, economic development, employers, and community partners to ensure students have access to high-quality pathways aligned to their goals and Indiana's workforce needs. The position will oversee major strategic initiatives, drive policy implementation, monitor outcomes, and support local education agencies in delivering meaningful opportunities that prepare students for success beyond high school.

This position reports to the Assistant Secretary of Education and serves as a member of the agency's senior leadership team.

Role responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Lead statewide implementation of Indiana's secondary education and student readiness priorities.
• Develop and execute strategic initiatives that advance college, career, military, and civic readiness.
• Serve as a key advisor to agency leadership on matters related to secondary education, workforce alignment, and postsecondary pathways.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment across state agencies and strategic priorities.

Graduation Pathways & Diploma Implementation

• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of Indiana's high school diploma and Graduation Pathways framework.
• Monitor statewide implementation of readiness seals, pathway requirements, and student readiness indicators.
• Develop guidance, resources, and supports for schools and districts.
• Evaluate policy effectiveness and recommend improvements based on data and stakeholder feedback.

Career-Connected Learning & Work-Based Learning

• Expand access to high-quality work-based learning experiences, including internships, apprenticeships, clinical experiences, and employer partnerships.
• Coordinate efforts with employers, workforce development organizations, higher education institutions, and intermediary partners.
• Support development of scalable systems that increase student participation in career-connected learning opportunities.
• Advance innovative approaches to career advising and pathway navigation.

Postsecondary & Workforce Alignment

• Strengthen alignment between secondary education, postsecondary institutions, workforce development, and industry needs.
• Support initiatives that increase credential attainment, dual credit participation, and postsecondary enrollment.
• Collaborate with state and regional partners to develop talent pipelines aligned to high-demand industries.
• Monitor labor market trends and recommend pathway investments that address workforce needs.

Data, Accountability & Continuous Improvement

• Establish performance measures and monitor statewide outcomes related to student readiness.
• Analyze participation, completion, credential attainment, and postsecondary success data.
• Develop reports, presentations, and recommendations for agency leadership, policymakers, and stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts through data-informed decision making.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong partnerships with school leaders, educators, employers, workforce boards, higher education institutions, policymakers, and community organizations.
• Represent the agency at local, state, and national meetings, conferences, and convenings.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement efforts that inform policy and implementation decisions.

Role Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, workforce development, public policy, economic development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-sector initiatives.
• Strong understanding of secondary education systems, college and career readiness, workforce development, and postsecondary pathways.
• Experience managing projects, teams, budgets, and external partnerships.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience working with state education agencies, higher education institutions, workforce systems, or large-scale education initiatives.
• Knowledge of career and technical education (CTE), work-based learning, apprenticeship programs, and student readiness frameworks.
• Experience in policy development and implementation.
• Familiarity with data analysis, accountability systems, and performance management.

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Increased student participation in high-quality pathways and work-based learning experiences.
• Successful implementation of Indiana's diploma and readiness initiatives.
• Growth in credential attainment, dual credit completion, and postsecondary readiness indicators.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership development.
• Achievement of statewide student readiness goals aligned to enrollment, employment, enlistment, and service outcomes.
• Effective execution of strategic initiatives and special projects that advance Indiana's education priorities.

Salary:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $102,024.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., makes recommendations for improvement.
• Develop and coordinate plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision and expectations of agency or program.
• Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
• Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, and delegating assignments, training, monitoring, and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
• Monitor agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
• Communicate with news and other media, responds to media questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner.
• Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues (i.e. federal and/or state agency directors, etc.).
• Coordinate, review, and evaluate the use of appropriate controls and standards for the agency.
• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development.
• Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
• Extensive knowledge of state programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
• Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
• Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
• Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
• Make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions. perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
• Ability to identify problems. determine accuracy and relevance of information, and to use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively give feedback, provide guidance or corrective action, coach, and develop employee skillsets.

A degree is not required.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access

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