Deputy Director, Keystone State Challenge Academy, DMVA

State of Pennsylvania

$89K — $136K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum of five years experience in education or youth counseling.
  • Master's degree in relevant field such as education, counseling, or administration.
  • Experience in managing educational programs.
  • Understanding of state and federal educational standards.
  • Ability to pass a background investigation.
  • Capable of performing essential job functions.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise academic and operational functions of the Academy.
  • Oversee staff training and development programs.
  • Ensure curriculum aligns with educational standards.
  • Coordinate audits and assist with corrective actions.
  • Develop and revise residential policies for the Academy.
  • Analyze budget plans and recommend allocations.
  • Foster an environment that encourages student growth and leadership.

Benefits

  • Full-time, permanent position with a structured work schedule.
  • Staff development and training opportunities.
  • Meaningful role impacting youth leadership and education.
  • Supportive work environment fostering personal and academic growth.
Full Job Description
Salary: $89,996.00 - $136,842.00 Annually
Location : Lebanon County, PA
Job Type: Non-Civil Service Permanent Full-time
Job Number:
Department: Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Opening Date: 08/06/2026
Closing Date: 8/12/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code: 24588
Position Number: 50601966
Union: Non Union
Bargaining Unit: C3
Pay Group: ST10
Bureau / Division Code: 00138100
Bureau / Division: MV Keystone State Challenge Academy
Worksite Address: Fort Indiantown Gap, Building 7-1
City: Annville, Pennsylvania
Zip Code: 17003
Contact Name: Jessie Vuksta
Contact Email: [email protected]

THE POSITION
Are you ready to help lead an academy that empowers young people to grow through discipline, leadership, and education? As the Deputy Director for the Keystone State Challenge Academy (KSCA) within the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA), you will help our students strive towards academic progress, personal discipline, and physical growth. This role supports essential programs that shape cadets into confident and capable leaders. You will have the opportunity to work closely with staff to build an environment where students can achieve their goals. If you are searching for a meaningful career which allows you to strengthen a mission that changes lives, we want to meet you!

DESCRIPTION OF WORK
This position supports the leadership, academic planning, coordination, and operational performance of the Keystone State Challenge Academy while ensuring programs follow all state and federal requirements. As a Deputy Director, you will perform the following duties:

  • Program Leadership: Supervise academic, operational, admissions, and student support functions across the Academy
  • Staff Development: Oversee onboarding, training, and professional skill-building for newly hired and current employees
  • Educational Compliance: Help maintain curriculum alignment with state and federal standards and participate in curriculum review
  • Audit Coordination: Support external inspections, audits, and assessments and assist with required corrective action plans as necessary
  • Policy Management: Develop and revise residential policies related to health care, safety, fitness, and education
  • Budget Review: Analyze financial plans and recommend budget allocations that support program quality and operational goals

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:
  • Full-time employment, 37.5 hours/week
  • Work hours are 8:15 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 45-minute lunch.
  • Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
  • Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
  • You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY
QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:
  • Five years of professional elementary, secondary, or career and technical education, or youth counseling experience; and a master's degree in education, school counseling, educational administration, social work, business administration, public administration, or a related field; or
  • An equivalent combination of experience and training.


Additional Requirements:
  • You must be able to perform essential job functions.


Legal Requirements:
  • You must pass a background investigation.
  • A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination.
  • This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
    • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.


How to Apply:
  • Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
  • If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
  • Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
  • Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
  • All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.


Veterans:
  • Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.


Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):
  • 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).


If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.
01

How much full-time professional experience do you possess in elementary, secondary, or career and technical education, or youth counseling?
  • 5 years or more
  • 4 but less than 5 years
  • 3 but less than 4 years
  • 2 but less than 3 years
  • 1 but less than 2 years
  • Less than 1 year
  • None

02

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
03

How much graduate coursework have you completed in education, school counseling, educational administration, social work, business administration, or public administration? If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.
If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.
You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.
  • 60 credits or more
  • 30 but less than 60 credits
  • Less than 30 credits
  • None

04

How much graduate coursework have you completed in elementary, secondary, or career and technical education, or youth counseling? If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.
If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation report. We can only accept foreign credential evaluations from organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Services (NACES). A list of current NACES members can be found by visiting and clicking the Evaluation Services Link.
You must attach your documentation prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left. You will not be able to add a document to the application after it has been submitted.
  • 60 credits or more
  • 30 but less than 60 credits
  • Less than 30 credits
  • None

05

How much full-time professional experience do you possess in education, school counseling, educational administration, social work, business administration, or public administration?
  • 2 years or more
  • 1 but less than 2 years
  • Less than 1 year
  • None

06

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
Required Question

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