Director of Continuing Education & Workforce Development - UT Southern

The Center of Continuing Education & Workforce Development will advance UT Southern’s role as a regional leader in adult learning, workforce development, and community partnership. The Director will provide strategic leadership, direction, and management for academic and non-credit initiatives designed to expand educational access, support workforce advancement, and strengthen the university’s service to the region. The Director will oversee the Interdisciplinary Studies Program, including teaching capstone courses and conducting program assessment as well as other tasks as assigned. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, the Director will develop, implement, and oversee programs for adult learners, working professionals, employers, and community partners, with particular attention to innovative and flexible pathways that respond to emerging workforce needs. This is a full-time in-person position.

Internal leadership: Provide founding leadership for the Center of Continuing Education & Workforce Development within the College of Arts & Sciences;

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for continuing education, workforce development, and professional learning aligned with UT Southern’s mission, strategic plan, and regional priorities;

• Lead the development, operation, and evaluation of credit, non-credit, and workforce-aligned programming, including interdisciplinary studies, prior learning assessment, competency-based education, credentialing, and micro-credentials;

• Represent the center and the university in community, regional, and professional settings.

External partnerships: Build, strengthen, and sustain collaborative partnerships with local businesses, industries, school systems, nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations to identify workforce needs and develop responsive educational programming;

• Design, market, and manage leadership, professional development, and customized training opportunities for employers and community partners.

Programming and assessment: Collaborate with faculty, deans, and university leadership to create innovative academic and non-credit offerings for adult learners, place-bound students, and working professionals;

• Provide leadership for the Interdisciplinary Studies degree program and support its growth as a flexible, student-centered pathway;
• Oversee the development and implementation of Prior Learning Assessment processes that appropriately recognize college-level learning gained through work, military service, training, and other professional experiences;
• Support the exploration and implementation of Competency-Based Education models and other flexible delivery systems that expand student access and success; Use data to assess program effectiveness, support continuous improvement, and identify growth opportunities

• Conduct Interdisciplinary Studies program assessment as part of SACSCOC guidelines

Operations: Supervise center personnel, including hiring recommendations, support, evaluation, and professional development;

• Manage center planning, budgeting, operations, assessment, and reporting;
• Ensure compliance with university, system, accreditation, state, and federal standards relevant to academic, credential, and workforce programming;
• Work across academic and administrative units to coordinate scheduling, student support, enrollment, communication, and service delivery
• Teach LBA 400 Interdisciplinary Studies Capstone and other classes as needed

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

• Demonstrated experience in adult education, continuing education, workforce development, professional learning, or a closely related field;

• Demonstrated experience designing, delivering, or managing education and training programs in higher education, workforce development, adult education, or a related environment;

• Experience in curriculum development, program design, implementation, and assessment;

• Knowledge of and experience with one or more of the following: Prior Learning Assessment, Competency-Based Education, stackable credentials, micro-credentials, non-credit programming, workforce partnerships, or professional development programming;

• Demonstrated ability to identify workforce needs and develop customized or employer-aligned programming in response;

• Proven ability to work effectively, both independently and collaboratively, with cross-functional teams;

• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;

• Record of fostering positive working relationships with faculty, staff, employers, and community stakeholders;

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills;

• Ability to think entrepreneurially and build new programs that support student success, workforce advancement, and regional economic growth;

• Demonstrated supervisory or administrative leadership experience preferred;

• Strong commitment to excellence, transparency, innovation, and attention to detail;

• Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution is required;

• Earned doctorate in a related field is preferred; and

• Commitment to advancing UT Southern’s strategic priorities and regional mission.