Cuyahoga Community College

Executive Director, Manufacturing & Engineering

Cuyahoga Community College$95K — $110K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Education, Business, Engineering, or related field; relevant experience may substitute
  • Minimum five years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development or technical education
  • Success managing workforce-aligned or technical training initiatives with measurable outcomes
  • Experience collaborating within complex organizations
  • Familiarity with curriculum design, industry certification standards, and regulatory compliance

Responsibilities

  • Set the vision and direction for academy programs aligning with regional workforce needs
  • Oversee design, delivery, and evaluation of non-credit and credit-aligned programs
  • Collaborate internally across Workforce Innovation and with academic leadership
  • Engage with employers, industry groups, government agencies, and community stakeholders
  • Recruit, onboard, supervise, and support instructors and staff
  • Manage daily operations including scheduling, staffing, budgeting, and reporting
  • Support student recruitment and drive strategies for retention and completion

Benefits

  • Work-life balance with standard college hours (M-F, 8:30am-5pm)
  • Opportunity to engage with industry partners and community stakeholders
  • Ability to shape and influence workforce development programs
  • Access to resources for professional development and continuous improvement
  • Focus on student success and community impact
Full Job Description
Executive Director, Manufacturing & Engineering

Department: WCED EVP Office

Location: Manufacturing Technology Center

Reports To: VP, Skill-Based Education & Career Pathways

Recruitment Type: External/Internal

Requisition ID: req6395

Employment Type: Administration and Professionals

Union Position: Non-Union

Work Schedule: Standard College Hours: M-F, 8:30am-5pm

Number of Openings: 1

Job Description:

SUMMARY STATEMENT

The Executive Director(E.D.) of the Manufacturing & Engineering Workforce Academy is a leadership role responsiblefor the strategic direction, academic quality, and operational execution ofworkforce development programs within the academy. Reporting to the VicePresident of Skills-Based Education & Career Pathways, the E.D.leads the development of high-quality, industry-relevant training aligned withlabor market demand and student success outcomes. This position serves as acritical internal and external connector-working collaboratively across thecollege and externally with employers, workforce agencies, and communitystakeholders. Works collaboratively with the School of Advanced Manufacturing,Engineering & Computer Science to support aligned non-credit to creditpathways and student completion of credit curriculum. The E.D. is expected tolead or contribute to collegewide efforts such as accreditation, programreview, and curriculum development, while also building strong, responsiverelationships with industry partners to shape programming and expandopportunities for learners. This roleleads an Academy team focused on student retention, completion, and excellentcustomer service to all stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Strategic Leadership: Set the vision and direction for academy programs, ensuring relevance, responsiveness, and alignment with institutional goals and regional workforce needs
  • Program Development and Oversight: Oversee the design, delivery, and evaluation of non-credit and credit-aligned programs
  • Internal Collaboration & Governance: Serve as a key collaborator across Workforce Innovation and collegewide, partnering with academic leadership and faculty
  • Industry & Community Engagement: Represent the Academy to employers, industry groups, government agencies, workforce boards, and all community stakeholders
  • Faculty & Staff Leadership: Recruit, onboard, supervise and support instructors and staff
  • Operations & Budget Management: Direct daily Academy operations including scheduling, staffing, budgeting, and reporting
  • Student Success: Support student recruitment efforts and drive an aligned strategy around retention and completion
  • Career Readiness: Collaborate with Career Services and external partners to support work-based learning and employment opportunities
  • Data-Driven Continuous Improvement: Monitor program performance metrics and use evidence to drive innovation
  • Resource Development: Identify and pursue external funding to support program growth and innovation
  • Performs other duties as assigned


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE/TRAINING
  • Bachelor's degree in Education, Business, Engineering or other field related to the academy
    • Significant related experience may substitute for education
  • Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in workforce development, industry training, or community/technical college education
  • Demonstrated success managing workforce-aligned programs or technical training initiatives with measurable outcomes.
  • Experience working collaboratively within complex organizations

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES
  • Possess familiarity with curriculum design, industry certification standards, and/or regulatory compliance
  • Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to lead cross-functional teams and partner effectively across academic and workforce units
  • Demonstrated ability to build and sustain industry or community partnerships
  • Demonstrated advanced project management skills
  • Demonstrated attention to detail and excellent organizational and prioritization skills
  • Ability to collaborate, negotiate and resolve conflicts on major projects
  • Possesses consultation and change management skills
  • Possesses strong analytical skills to identify needs, develop and improve services and evaluate best practices
  • Ability to independently set goals and determine best course of action to achieve desired results
  • Ability to confidentially and discreetly handle subject matters requiring privacy and sensitivity
  • Ability to develop and maintain relationships with key contacts to enhance workflow and quality
  • Possesses sensitivity to respond appropriately to the needs of the community

COMPETENCIES

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES
  • Service Focus
  • Collaboration
  • Quality of Work

VERY IMPORTANT COMPETENCIES
  • Communication
  • Continuous Improvement

IMPORTANTCOMPETENCIES
  • Time Utilization
  • Adaptability

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAND EXPERIENCE/TRAINING
  • Master's degree in Workforce Development, Higher Education Leadership, Public Administration, or a related field
  • Industry-recognized certifications, licenses, and work experience related to the academy's focus area
  • Experience leading program accreditation, review, or curriculum development processes
  • Track record of successful grant writing or public-private partnerships
  • Understanding of workforce policy and economic development strategies

PHYSICALDEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS
(The demands describedhere are representative of those that must be met by an employee tosuccessfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to performthe essential functions.)
  • The work is performed in a normal, professional office environment.
  • The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
  • Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the duties of the job and will perform repetitive motions with hands/fingers using a computer mouse and keyboard to type. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, files, pamphlets, books, etc.
  • Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite.


Target Starting Salary Range: $95,000 to$110,000The final offer for the successfulcandidate is targeted to fall within this range, but will be based upon anassessment of internal equity, the unit's available budget, and the candidate'squalifications in relation to the minimum and/or preferred job requirement(s).

Special Note: If hired, you must reside in the state of Ohio and be within commuting distance of this work location/campus to respond to onsite work demands upon the employment start date and throughout the duration of your employment with the College, as outlined in 3354:1-40-01.1 Recruitment and Selection Procedure.

Special Instructions to Applicants: During the application process, you may be required to attach a cover letter and/or resume. It is recommended that you have these documents ready to be attached electronically to the online application. This system accepts only MS Word or PDF attachments. Any employment with the College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Cuyahoga Community College is committed to attaining excellence through the recruitment and retention of a qualified workforce. Cuyahoga Community College is an equal employment/educational opportunity institution.

About Cuyahoga Community College

Cuyahoga Community College is a public community college in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Founded in 1963, it is the oldest and largest public community college within the state. Tri-C schedules on the semester basis, and offers over 1,000 courses in associate degree programs through traditional classroom settings as well as distance learning services and its flagship offering known as Cable College. Cable College has offered classes live through the Cleveland area cable companies since the early 1990s. The institution promotes academic advancement through transfer articulation agreements with four-year colleges and universities. Tri-C is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Learn more about Cuyahoga Community College

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