Job Details

Director Of Workforce Services

Under the direction of the Dean of Business and Workforce Development, the Director of Workforce Services provides strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination of workforce-funded and basic needs programs that support student access, persistence, and completion. This includes oversight of state and federal funding streams such as Early Achievers Grant (EAG), Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET), WorkFirst, Opportunity Grant, Worker Retraining, and other workforce-related initiatives.

The Director is responsible for establishing the vision, structure, and systems that guide program operations, ensuring fiscal accountability, regulatory compliance, and achievement of performance outcomes across all workforce funding streams. This role provides strategic direction and administrative oversight to managers and staff responsible for day-to-day operations, ensuring alignment of programs, services, and partnerships with institutional priorities and community workforce needs.

The position leads the development of processes, partnerships, and service delivery models that integrate workforce funding, student support services, and career pathways into a coordinated system. The Director ensures effective collaboration with internal departments and external agencies, supports continuous improvement through data-informed decision making, and advances equitable, student-centered practices across all workforce and basic needs initiatives.

Duties And Responsibilities

Management And Leadership

• Develop and implement procedures to monitor and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of basic needs and workforce transition services.
• Supervise full-time and part-time staff, including classified, exempt, and student employees, ensuring adherence to collective bargaining agreements and district policies.
• Lead the strategic planning process, setting long-term goals, identifying priority areas, and aligning department objectives with the college's mission.

Fiscal Accountability

• Oversee the fiscal management of programs, ensuring accurate budget tracking, expenditure oversight, and compliance with funding guidelines.
• Conduct internal audits to identify discrepancies and enforce fiscal accountability.
• Collaborate with the finance department and external auditors to prepare for periodic audits and maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Ensure fiscal accountability, regulatory compliance, and achievement of performance outcomes across all workforce funding streams.

Student Support Services Program Management

• Provide strategic and administrative oversight of workforce-funded programs, ensuring effective operations through assigned managers and staff.
• Ensure program compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines.
• Review and evaluate grant performance, budget status, and program outcomes to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
• Provide leadership in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with college stakeholders and external agencies.
• Lead training sessions for program specialists and establish clear program processes and procedures.
• Develop innovative approaches to resource delivery and leverage community partnerships to ensure smooth transitions for students.
• Oversee reporting and data collection for workforce programs, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and accurate statistical data for proposals and budgets.

Career Education, Student Employment, And Workforce Pathways

• Provide strategic oversight of career education, student employment, and workforce readiness functions, ensuring alignment with workforce programs and student employment outcomes.
• Supervise and support the Manager of Career Education and Partnerships, delegating operational leadership of career services, student employment, outreach, workforce skill development activities, and partnerships.
• Ensure alignment of career education and student employment functions with workforce programs to support student access to employment and career pathways.

Basic Needs Program Management

• Design and implement a benefits navigation system that connects students with essential resources (housing, food, transportation, healthcare) and reduces barriers to access.
• Engage in local and state legislative advocacy for policies that support students' basic needs and workforce transitions.
• Act as a liaison with the state board, ensuring alignment with state policies and effective communication between college administration and the board.
• Manage data collection and analysis for basic needs and workforce services, using insights to enhance program effectiveness.
• Prepare annual reports highlighting program performance, achievements, and areas for growth.
• Oversee the administration of SEAG, SSEH, BFET, and WCG programs, ensuring compliance with guidelines and effective support for eligible students.
• Develop targeted outreach strategies to connect eligible students with available resources and support.

Social Work Program Oversight

• Lead the development and delivery of social work services to address barriers such as housing instability, food insecurity, family, and mental health challenges.
• Supervise social work staff, ensuring alignment with professional standards, ethical guidelines, and district policies.
• Integrate social work services with college resources and community partnerships to enhance student access and success.

Student Intake And Support Services

• Facilitate a low-barrier intake process for students, including needs assessments and resource referrals.
• Ensure completion of intake applications for workforce transitions and emergency aid funding.
• Support student access to food assistance programs, including BFET, to reduce food insecurity.
• Provide follow-up to ensure student needs are met and additional referrals are made as necessary.
• Support day-to-day management of workforce transition services and serve on the campus CARE Team for student referrals.

Community Partnerships

• Establish and maintain relationships with community leaders, agencies, and stakeholders to encourage participation, coordinate projects, and support program initiatives.
• Facilitate discussions with community stakeholders on student basic needs and workforce transitions, generating actionable recommendations.
• Strengthen support structures for students, such as FAFSA/WASFA assistance and the Opportunity Grant, to improve access and transitions.
• Collaborate with other Benefit Navigators and the SBCTC to enhance partnerships and increase resource availability for students.

Additional Program Supports

• Adapt to the evolving needs of students and the community by managing other programs or initiatives as assigned, ensuring they are effectively integrated into the department's overall operations.

Spokane Colleges Responsibilities

• Model professionalism and mutual respect in all interactions.
• Comply with district policies, state and federal regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Support and advance the Spokane Colleges strategic plan and perform related duties as required.

Competencies

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Resourcefulness
• Plans & Aligns
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Builds Effective Teams
• Organizational Savvy
• Instills Trust
• Self-Development

Learn more about our competencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Three years of experience; with an emphasis on workforce programs, employment services, or experience working with adults in an educational setting.
• Two years of experience with supervision, budgets, and project management.
• Experience working with diverse individuals in a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Effective communication skills.
• Intermediate to advanced skill level in computer programs including MS Office Suite and Outlook.
• Ability to work occasional evening and/or weekend hours.

Desired Qualifications

• An earned master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Five or more years' experience managing or supervising employees including performance evaluation processes.
• Administrative experience with an emphasis in project management.
• Experience with workforce programs including WorkFirst, Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant (OG), Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Basic Food & Employment Training (BFET) program.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and background noise.
• Work is sedentary.
• Work directly with students/clients.

Conditions Of Employment

• 12-month position.
• Position is exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Requires local or