Closing Date:

University of Arkansas – Fort Smith

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development, the Director of the Center for Business & Professional Development leads and manages the Center for Business & Professional Development (CBPD). CBPD provides noncredit professional development, customized training, contract training, and open enrollment learning opportunities for regional employers, community partners, and individuals. The Director is responsible for program leadership, employer engagement, faculty and staff supervision, revenue generation, budget administration, customer service, and alignment with the mission of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith and the Center for Economic Development.
Qualifications:

Required Education and/or Work Experience: Master’s degree in business, management, leadership, education, workforce development, organizational development, or a related field. Five or more years of progressive experience in business, industry, workforce development, professional development, higher education, nonprofit leadership, or a closely related field. Demonstrated leadership, budget management, customer relationship, and oral and written communication skills. Other job-related education and/or experience may be substituted for part of these requirements.

Preferred Education and/or Work Experience: Doctorate or additional graduate/professional degree from an accredited institution. More than five years of progressive leadership experience in business, industry, higher education, workforce development, professional development, or nonprofit leadership. Experience with customized training, revenue generation, grants, contracts, marketing, sales, business development, event management, employer engagement, and profit/loss or budget responsibility.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership and Program Development:
• Lead, manage, and advance CBPD as a primary noncredit business and professional development training unit within the Center for Economic Development.
• Develop annual business, budget, marketing, and operational plans for CBPD that are consistent with UAFS priorities and the strategic direction of the Center for Economic Development.
• Establish short- and long-term goals that support CBPD’s mission, promote regional workforce capacity, and strengthen the financial sustainability of the center.
• Use employer feedback, regional workforce data, participant evaluations, and financial performance measures to assess program effectiveness and identify new training opportunities.

Employer Engagement and Training Solutions:
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional employers, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, workforce partners, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Lead employer needs assessments and develop responsive customized training solutions, proposals, and delivery models for business and industry clients.
• Identify, coordinate, and evaluate open enrollment professional development opportunities that meet the needs of individuals, employers, and the broader community.
• Represent CBPD and UAFS at community events, employer meetings, professional association meetings, and other workforce and economic development activities.

Faculty, Staff, and Instructor Oversight:
• Supervise assigned CBPD faculty, staff, instructors, contractors, and related program personnel.
• Work with faculty and instructors to establish individual performance, program, and financial goals; meet regularly to monitor progress and support continuous improvement.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain qualified faculty, instructors, and staff who support CBPD’s training mission and customer service expectations.
• Set high standards of performance, conduct regular performance evaluations, and encourage professional development for faculty and staff.

Financial, Contract, and Grant Administration:
• Develop, monitor, and manage the CBPD budget, including revenue targets, expenses, net revenue, and financial performance for open enrollment and customized training activities.
• Oversee the contract, invoicing, registration, and customer service processes for open enrollment, customized training, and contract training programs.
• Identify, pursue, and administer grants, contracts, sponsorships, and other funding sources that support training efforts and expand access to workforce development opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, grant and contract requirements, fiscal procedures, and applicable local, state, and federal requirements.

Collaboration and Communication:
• Maintain regular communication with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development regarding CBPD operations, opportunities, challenges, financial performance, and strategic priorities.
• Establish effective working relationships with other UAFS departments and colleges to support interdisciplinary programming, employer engagement, and regional service.
• Collaborate with state and regional organizations, including workforce boards, economic development agencies, and training assistance programs, to support monetary training assistance for employers and participants.
• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner that fosters teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and service to internal and external customers.

Other Job Duties and Responsibilities:
• Attend and participate in required faculty, staff, administrative, university, commencement, and community events as appropriate.
• Maintain consistent and timely attendance and fulfill other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: To perform the job successfully, the following competencies are required for the essential functions of this position:
• Knowledge of professional development, customized training, workforce development, business operations, budget management, marketing, sales, and customer relationship management.
• Ability to lead faculty and staff, manage multiple projects, build partnerships, evaluate program effectiveness, and use data to support decision-making.
• Strong communication, organization, prioritization, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse employers, participants, faculty, staff, students, community partners, and public agencies.

Additional Information:

Working Relationships:

The Director of the Center for Business & Professional Development reports
directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development. The position involves frequent contact with university faculty and staff, regional employers, community leaders, workforce partners, public agencies, professional associations, and the general public. The Director must maintain positive collaboration with regional employers in business and industry and effective working relationships with UAFS colleges and departments.

List Employees Supervised:

Assigned CBPD faculty, staff, instructors, contractors, and related
program personnel.

Special Job Dimensions:

Work is performed primarily in an office, classroom, training, and event
setting. The position requires frequent meetings and occasional travel for employer visits, community events, conferences, and out-of-town activities. Extended hours, evening, or weekend work may occasionally be required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly uses a computer and other office technology, communicates verbally and in writing, and may sit or stand for extended periods. The employee may occasionally lift materials up to 10 pounds.

Background Check Requirements:

Criminal Background Check and Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR)
Check. Position requires employee to complete Arkansas Mandated Reporter training prior to employment.

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and/or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS  

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.