Director, Career and Technical Education/STEM Initiatives

Position Type:
DE Dept of Education/DOE Certified Staff

Date Posted:
10/1/2026

Location:
Delaware Department of Education

Closing Date:
10/15/2026

District:
Delaware Department of Education
Position Title: Director, Career and Technical Education/STEM Initiatives

Reports To: Associate Secretary, Workforce Support

Description of Position: The Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE)/STEM Initiatives provides statewide leadership and strategic direction for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Career and Technical Education and STEM initiatives that prepare Delaware students for success in postsecondary education, careers, and the workforce. The Director leads efforts to strengthen college and career pathways, expand access to advanced coursework, industry-recognized credentials, work-based learning, and other high-quality career preparation opportunities aligned with current and emerging workforce needs. The Director provides strategic leadership for the integration of CTE and STEM initiatives across K-12, postsecondary education, workforce development, and industry systems. The position leads a professional team responsible for developing and implementing statewide initiatives, building cross-sector partnerships, supporting Local Education Agencies (LEAs), and leveraging resources to improve student outcomes and strengthen career pathways. The Director serves as the Department's statewide subject-matter leader for CTE strategy, college and career alignment, STEM/CTE integration, and workforce-connected learning. The Director oversees the implementation and continuous improvement of federal, state, private, and district-funded CTE/STEM programs and grants; ensures compliance with applicable requirements; and uses data, research, and stakeholder input to advance innovation, equity, program quality, and measurable student and workforce outcomes.

Major Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning, and Leadership:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive statewide CTE/STEM strategy aligned with the Department's strategic plan, establishing measurable goals, implementation milestones, and performance indicators that demonstrate progress toward improved student outcomes.
• Provide strategic leadership for Delaware Pathways, ensuring a coherent statewide career pathways system that connects secondary education, postsecondary opportunities, industry-recognized credentials, work-based learning, and employment while responding to the needs and priorities of students, LEAs, and workforce partners.
• Translate statewide CTE priorities into actionable implementation plans that clearly define responsibilities, timelines, resources, expected outcomes, and mechanisms for monitoring progress across the Department and participating LEAs.
• Collaborate with Department leadership and other state agencies to ensure that CTE/STEM initiatives are integrated with broader priorities related to academic achievement, school improvement, student engagement, educator workforce development, special education, multilingual learners, and college and career readiness.
• Establish partnerships and collaborate with employers, community-based organizations, and postsecondary institutions to create and maintain alignment with high school college and career-focused programs.
• Use data analysis to develop new CTE pathways to meet current and projected economic and workforce needs in high wage, high demand, and high skill industry sectors, representative of a global economy.
• Lead the development of 21st Century and STEM aligned career pathways.
• Network with businesses, employer associations, state and local chambers of commerce, and regional economic and community development organizations to communicate the evolution of CTE and career pathways.
• Integrate CTE initiatives with other instructional initiatives within the Workforce Support Team.

Innovation and Support

• Develop innovative practices and solutions that build on the state career pathways system and position employers, community actors, and students to lead and reform our education to employment system.
• Orchestrate approval and renewal processes for innovative CTE pathways and programs of study.
• Develop and implement a differentiated model of technical assistance for local education agencies, which includes support for strategic planning and utilization of CTE programs of study.
• Lead and support state and system innovation, which includes statewide efforts to create high-quality CTE program of study models, professional learning routines, and other technical and adaptive supports.
• Develop systems to approve and monitor local programs and assess LEA progress with the development of CTE programs of study and career pathways.
• Oversee professional learning models for CTE teachers.
• Communicate effectively to ensure that accurate, timely, and complete information is available regarding CTE to key stakeholders and through other means of communication.

Supervision: Provide effective supervision and skill development to Workgroup staff

• Serve on state and regional CTE committees, the state workforce development board, the state apprenticeship board, and other boards and commissions.
• Supervise staff responsible for leadership and programmatic components of the state career pathways system, including state standards development, administrative code, and federal data collection and reporting.
• Provide leadership and vision to the department and other partner state agencies related to the planning, development, and implementation of initiatives related to high school, out-of-school youth, and postsecondary student preparation for meaningful jobs.
• Conduct all staff evaluations in a timely manner in accordance with the Department's evaluation system.
• Assist staff to develop individual work plans, professional growth models, and provide coaching to promote community, organizational culture, and to provide regular and ongoing feedback to staff.

General Duties

• Represents the Department at state and national conferences, workshops and seminars and serves on state and national committees, planning councils and task forces.
• Ensures that appropriate state and federal standards and regulations are met.
• Directs all required and all special reports, including required federal and state reporting and updates.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Career and Technical Education, STEM Education, Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction, Workforce Development, Education Program Administration, or a closely related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years demonstrated successful leadership related to Career and Technical Education programs, career pathway systems, working in a high school or college, central office, or in the public or private sector.
• Experience in managing multiple projects while ensuring that goals and priorities are met.
• Knowledge of Career and Technical Education programs and policies relevant to education to employment systems and STEM initiatives.
• Knowledge of basic principles of equity and their application in formal education and workplace settings.
• Experience with federal grants, department monitoring, and technical assistance preferred.

Skills:

• Superior project and program management, strategic planning, grant management, budget development, evidence-based practice, operational management, and educational leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to deliver measurable results within established timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and continuously improve statewide strategies, initiatives, and programs aligned with organizational priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of Career and Technical Education, STEM education, career pathways, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials, college and career readiness, and emerging workforce needs.
• Ability to understand and connect K-12 education, postsecondary education, workforce development, business and industry, and community systems to develop coherent and sustainable career pathways.
• Superior ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, establish measurable goals and performance indicators, monitor implementation milestones, and deliver results within established timelines.
• Advanced project management skills, including the ability to manage complex, multi-year initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and interdependent deliverables.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in the development, implementation, monitoring, compliance, and reporting of federal, state, private, and other grant-funded programs.
• Ability to analyze and interpret program, student, workforce, and performance data and use evidence to identify needs, inform decisions, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement.
• Knowledge and demonstrated ability to develop and monitor budgets, allocate resources strategically, and leverage funding and partnerships to maximize program impact.
• Exceptional ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with LEAs, educators, postsecondary institutions, workforce development organizations, employers, industry partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to lead organizational and system-level change, foster innovation, address barriers to implementation, and build support for new initiatives and approaches.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal and state laws, regulations, policies, program requirements, and accountability standards applicable to CTE, STEM, education, and workforce initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to distinguish between urgency and effectiveness; establish thoughtful priorities; manage multiple initiatives and deadlines; and coordinate work without creating unnecessary competing demands for staff or LEAs.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgment, identify risks and opportunities, develop solutions, and make timely decisions with appropriate discretion.
• Ability to lead, develop, motivate, and hold professional staff accountable while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented team environment.
• Ability to work effectively with senior leadership and across organizational units to advance shared priorities, resolve complex issues, and ensure alignment and coordinated implementation.
• Demonstrated discretion, professionalism, integrity, and ability to handle sensitive information and complex matters appropriately.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment, respond to emerging priorities, manage ambiguity, and maintain effectiveness under pressure.

Salary:
Salary Range: $120,544.34-161,291.16 annually. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's education and experience in accordance with the Department of Education's compensation policy. The position includes a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, participation in the state retirement program, annual, sick, and personal leave, and supplemental benefits options. Direct deposit of payroll checks is a condition of state employment, and employees are paid on a lag pay schedule with the first payment made after approximately one month of employment.

Notes:
A criminal background check is required. The successful candidate must demonstrate during the interview process an understanding of diversity, educational equity and multicultural education. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. The selected candidate should expect to perform any other related activities needed to deliver the position's key duties and responsibilities and follow any other instructions as defined by his/her supervisor.