The Director of Education & Employment position offers the unique opportunity and challenge of working with community partners to develop a new comprehensive program and strategy to provide the highest quality educational services to the targeted audiences that MDC serves. The incumbent directs and coordinates MDC’s education and employment programs to ensure they remain innovative and meet contract goals as required by funders. The Director also serves as a member of MDC’s leadership team to maintain and develop funding resources required to support ongoing programs.

Our ideal candidate is an education professional who brings a demonstrated understanding of and success in implementing systems-level solutions. You offer a breadth of experience in educational program development and management, working with students, parents, school administration, and college advisors. The candidate must bring experience in and a passion for providing needed services to encourage and equip low-income, underserved student populations, many of whom will be first generation college students, to achieve the dream of a college education. Candidates for this position will be culturally competent, and have a strong understanding of the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Design, develop, and implement a strategic plan for the youth (grades 6 – 12), adult education, and employment programs.
• Develop and oversee the budget for the entire department - including pro forma budgets and monthly financial reporting, to ensure revenue and expenses occur as scheduled.
• Practice a detail-focused approach to project proposals and departmental objectives.
• Ensure that all program activities and operations are administered in compliance with applicable federal, state and local licensure requirements, regulations and laws.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure all aspects of the education and employment programs are funded, publicly visible, and fully staffed.
• Evaluate current funding compliance and program effectiveness to ensure clients’ needs and departmental goals are met.
• Identify creative means to ensure all deliverables required by grants.
• Establish a timeline for project execution tied to funding expectations, limitations, required procedures, activities, staffing, and allotment of resources to various phases of projects.
• Supervise, plan and provide for staff development and departmental staff training programs.
• Manage and contribute to the development of outreach strategies that may include relationship development, communications, and compliance.
• Identify internal gaps in services to partner with community organizations to ensure a continuum of educational and employment services.
• Supervise two managers who oversee daily program operations and team members’ work activity.
• Stays abreast of trends in education and employment; develops recommendations for necessary realignment of departmental goals; ensures educational and employment opportunities remain viable and relevant to the people we serve.
• Continually evaluate program services to identify areas for new initiatives, enhance current program content, and support new projects and initiatives.
• Represent the department to external/internal stakeholders and constituencies.
• Maintain and use a data dashboard to inform critical decision-making.

• Master's degree in Education, Administration or Student Personnel Administration.
• Four (4) years experience in educational program development, management, and implementation (TRIO programs desirable).
• Four (4) years experience as a director/manager responsible for the success of multiple programs, including developing and managing budgets.
• Proven record of providing leadership/mentoring to other managers.
• Demonstrated understanding of and success in developing systems-level work.
• Understanding of federal grant processes, including budgets and personnel management.
• Experience with grant writing and sub-contract oversight.
• Experience ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements.
• Experience developing and implementing departmental strategy and vision.
• Experience leading high performing teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a Union environment