Posting Details

Position Information

Posting Number
S1263

This position is open to
Open to All Applicants

Job Title
Vice President of Economic Development & Workforce Innovation

Department
ECDV

Position Type
Exempt

Employment Status
Full-Time-Staff

Salary
Salary commensurate with experience

Open Date
09/11/2026

Close Date
09/25/2026

Open Until Filled
No

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary

The Vice President for Economic Development and Workforce Innovation reports directly to the President and serves as a member of the College's executive leadership team. This position provides executive leadership for Del Mar College's role in advancing regional economic development, workforce competitiveness, industry partnerships, and talent development.

In relations to this role, the Vice President serves as a liaison and subject matter expert to business and industry, economic development organizations, governmental entities, workforce partners, educational institutions, and community stakeholders. The position works directly with plant managers, corporate executives, economic development leaders, and other decision-makers to understand current and emerging workforce needs and position Del Mar College as a strategic partner in talent development, business recruitment and expansion, and regional economic growth.

The Vice President represents the College in local, regional, statewide, national, and, as appropriate, international economic and workforce development activities. The position may accompany economic development organizations, governmental leaders, and regional partners in business recruitment, retention, expansion, site visits, industry meetings, and related activities designed to strengthen the economic competitiveness of the Coastal Bend.

The Vice President provides leadership for innovative and responsive education and training solutions that address changing technologies, occupations, and employer requirements while creating pathways to high-quality careers and supporting the region's long-term economic vitality.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited institution in business, education, workforce development, economic development, engineering, technology, public administration, organizational leadership, or a related field.

Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible leadership in economic development, workforce development, business or industry, higher education, corporate training, governmental or workforce organizations, or related experience.

Demonstrated experience in partnerships with business, industry, education, workforce, government, or economic development organizations.

Experience engaging senior-level external stakeholders and community leaders.

Experience managing budgets, personnel, grants, contracts, programs, projects, or and other related organizational resources.

Leadership experience with complex organizations, programs, projects, or initiatives.

Required Job Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Demonstrated knowledge of economic development, workforce development, business and industry engagement, and talent pipeline strategies.

Understanding of the role of community colleges and higher education in workforce development, economic development, credential attainment, industry partnerships, and regional economic competitiveness.

Ability to establish credibility and develop effective working relationships with business and industry leaders, economic development professionals, governmental leaders, educators, and community stakeholders.

Understanding of the workforce implications of business recruitment, retention, expansion, technological change, and major industrial investment.

Ability to understand complex business and industrial operations and translate employer requirements into education, training, and workforce solutions.

Knowledge of labor market analysis, industry trends, emerging occupations, and workforce development systems.

Demonstrated ability to develop innovative programs, partnerships, or services in response to changing industry and community needs.

Knowledge of customized training, continuing education, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and other employer-responsive education models.

Ability to develop partnerships and secure external resources through grants, contracts, governmental programs, industry investment, or other funding mechanisms.

Ability to provide strategic leadership for budgets, personnel, programs, projects, facilities, and organizational resources.

Strong executive communication, presentation, negotiation, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.

Ability and willingness to travel locally, statewide, nationally, and, when appropriate, internationally in support of College and regional economic development initiatives.

Ability to operate effectively in confidential and time-sensitive economic development environments.

Preferred Qualifications

Earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution.

Senior-level higher education leadership, preferably in a community college, technical college, university, or statewide system.

Experience with high-demand or high-growth sectors such as manufacturing, energy, maritime, technology, or healthcare.

Job Duties

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INDUSTRY LEADERSHIPAdvance the interests, mission, and strategic priorities of Del Mar College and the College District through leadership in economic development, workforce innovation, industry engagement, and strategic external partnerships.

Serve as a senior College representative and subject matter expert on economic development, workforce strategy, industry training, talent development, and the role of higher education in supporting regional economic competitiveness.

Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with business and industry leaders, plant managers, corporate executives, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, workforce boards, governmental agencies, industry associations, educational institutions, and other community and regional partners.

Represent Del Mar College in economic development activities involving business recruitment, retention, expansion, relocation, capital investment, and major regional projects.

Participate with economic development organizations and regional partners in industry meetings, presentations, site visits, conferences, recruitment activities, and travel associated with prospective and existing employers.

Serve as a knowledgeable resource to prospective and existing employers regarding regional workforce capacity, education and training capabilities, talent pipelines, credentials, facilities, and customized workforce solutions.

Position Del Mar College as an early and strategic partner when new industries, technologies, employers, or major capital investments are being considered for the Coastal Bend.

Anticipate significant economic, technological, and industry changes affecting the Coastal Bend and provide executive leadership in positioning the College to respond to emerging workforce needs, business expansion, new industry investment, and changing regional economic conditions.

WORKFORCE STRATEGY & INNOVATIONProvide executive leadership for the development, implementation, and expansion of innovative workforce and economic development programs and initiatives at the local, regional, and statewide levels.

Provide strategic direction for the College's workforce and industry training portfolio, ensuring programs and services remain responsive to current and emerging employer and community needs.

Identify emerging occupations, technologies, industries, and workforce trends and translate those developments into opportunities for new or expanded programs, credentials, partnerships, facilities, equipment, and training solutions.

Lead the development and expansion of customized and corporate training, incumbent-worker training, apprenticeships, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials, continuing education, accelerated training, and other employer-responsive education models.

Promote innovative approaches to workforce education and training, including the appropriate use of simulation, automation, artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, hybrid learning, and other emerging technologies.

Work collaboratively with Academic Affairs and other College divisions to connect workforce needs with credit and noncredit programs and create pathways that allow learners to progress from short-term training into certificates, degrees, and advanced employment opportunities.

Facilitate meaningful industry participation in program development, curriculum alignment, training design, equipment selection, and identification of current and future workforce competencies.

Identify successful workforce and economic development practices that can be scaled, replicated, or expanded through regional and statewide partnerships and position Del Mar College to serve as a model and resource for innovative workforce solutions.

BUSINESS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, & EXPANSIONWork collaboratively with economic development organizations, governmental entities, and other regional partners to support the recruitment of new employers and the retention and expansion of existing employers.

Participate in confidential and time-sensitive economic development projects, as appropriate, and coordinate College responses to workforce-related requests for information.

Develop or coordinate customized workforce and training proposals demonstrating how Del Mar College can support prospective, expanding, and existing employers.

Lead cross-functional College teams in responding to significant economic development and workforce opportunities, coordinating academic, workforce, facilities, finance, grants, technology, and other institutional resources as appropriate.

Establish mechanisms for sustained engagement with major employers and industry sectors to anticipate workforce challenges and opportunities before they become barriers to economic growth.

HIGHER EDUCATION & STATEWIDE LEADERSHIPLeverage knowledge of higher education systems, practices, and partnerships to develop innovative and scalable workforce models responsive to the needs of employers, students, and communities.

Develop and sustain partnerships with colleges and universities, state agencies, workforce systems, economic development organizations, governmental entities, school districts, and industry partners to advance local, regional, and statewide workforce and economic development priorities.

Represent Del Mar College in local, regional, statewide, and national workforce and economic development initiatives, councils, consortia, conferences, and partnerships.

Identify opportunities for Del Mar College to lead or participate in statewide and multi-institutional initiatives that advance workforce development, economic competitiveness, emerging technologies, and educational innovation.

Develop collaborative initiatives and partnerships that extend beyond the College's immediate service area when they advance Del Mar College's mission and the economic interests of the Coastal Bend.

Position Del Mar College as a recognized higher education leader and strategic resource in workforce and economic development.

REGIONAL WORKFORCE & ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCEMaintain a strong understanding of the region's major and emerging economic sectors and the workforce, technology, infrastructure, and talent requirements associated with those sectors.

Monitor labor market information, economic forecasts, industry trends, technological developments, workforce demographics, and employer demand to identify opportunities, workforce gaps, and potential areas for College investment.

Serve as an executive resource to the President and College leadership regarding regional economic conditions, significant industry developments, workforce trends, emerging technologies, and economic development opportunities.

Translate industry and economic intelligence into actionable recommendations regarding programs, credentials, facilities, equipment, partnerships, staffing, and institutional investments.

Establish and monitor appropriate measures of workforce and economic development impact, including employer engagement, training activity,