Description

The primary responsibility of the Director of Education and Training is to provide oversight and direction, competitively procure and/or develop, administer, and monitor education and training programs supported by Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC). On behalf of the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB), DESC manages a variety of federal, state, local and philanthropic grants that support job training and secondary equivalence education programs. The director is responsible for overseeing a team to manage an average annual training budget of $10M across multiple funding streams, overseeing all components of the education and training service provider contract process, including procurement, selection, contract negotiation, evaluation of performance, and monitoring and validation of data and documentation. In addition, the director is also responsible for overseeing the development and execution of work-based learning and other special education and training programs, including incumbent worker training, customized training, On the Job Training, Going Pro, apprenticeship and contextualized integrated education and training programs.

Requirements

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Training Strategy & Administration

• Manages a network of over thirty (30) training providers.
• Develops and manages DESC training budget across multiple funding streams. Monitors, verifies, and reconciles expenditures of budgeted funds as appropriate. Assists in the preparation of grant and contract budgets.
• Ensures compliance with grants that support training activities. Fully studies and comprehends grant requirements prior to implementation.
• Creates standardized procedures and protocols for selecting, evaluating, and contracting with training providers for the supplemented Eligible Training Provider List, directs contracts, and apprenticeships.
• Develops or refines performance management tools. Establishes performance benchmarks and goals for contracted providers.
• Creates standardized procedures and protocols for training approvals for job seekers. Assists providers in creating processes for serving and tracking job seekers, to maintain a high level of quality and consistency across programs.
• Works with staff, training providers and Career Centers to ensure the Detroit at Work system is fully responsive to the needs of job seeker and employer customers; oversees staff that resolve customer concerns quickly and effectively.
• Assists team in maintaining open communication with all training providers to determine technical assistance needs or opportunities for improvements to the process. 
• Oversees the provision of technical assistance to training providers as well as the evaluation of their effectiveness via on-site visits, reviews regularly filed reports and electronic databases. Ensures overall effective delivery of Detroit at Work training services. 
• Compiles and submits all required programmatic reports for funding sources, including State of Michigan Labor & Economic Opportunity, City of Detroit, and philanthropic partners, in an accurate and timely manner. 
• Develops reports that assist executive leadership in planning future program goals. Develops, researches, and implements innovative and effective training models and programs.
• Works in coordination with the business engagement team to ensure training programs are aligned with high growth in-demand sectors and occupations.

Work-Based Learning and Special Training Initiatives 

• Oversees design, planning, coordination, and implementation of assigned special training programs that are supported through grants with specific deliverables that must be met within a set timeline.
• Oversees provision of consulting services and technical assistance to businesses to develop apprenticeship, customized, On the Job Training, Going Pro, and incumbent worker training programs.
• Creates and refines strategy and policies for provision of work-based learning and special programs. 
• Monitors and evaluates training programs’ effectiveness, investigates trends, recommends, and implements modifications to improve program effectiveness.
• Organizes and manages project specific tasks and activities.
• Prepares reports and analysis setting forth progress and appropriate recommendations or conclusions.

Education Strategy & Administration

• Provides strategic planning, program development and oversight of adult education services with specific oversight of ABE/GED programming aligned with specialized projects designed to meet the needs of adult learners working to achieve academic skills gains and/or high school completion. 
• Develops, plans, evaluates, and implements goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for educational programs in collaboration with multiple college, community, and workforce partners. 
• Oversees the collection, compilation, and analysis of data and the preparation of a variety of complex reports, statements, and communications resulting from education program activities. 
• Develops and coordinates strategies in collaboration with internal and external partners to integrate systems of operations to support participant success in education programs.
• Directs budget development and execution. Oversees assigned budgets under the Adult Basic Education umbrella. 
• Develops and monitors internal systems for compliance with fiscal policies, procedures, guidelines, and rules of funding sources and regulatory agencies.
• Supports budget development (in coordination with finance) and execution. Oversees assigned budgets under the Education umbrella. Develops and monitors internal systems for compliance with fiscal policies, procedures, guidelines, and rules of funding sources and regulatory agencies. 

Internal Operations

• Oversees a team of staff responsible for reviewing and approving individual requests for training support, for reviewing and processing invoices, and for monitoring performance and compliance of education and training providers. 
• Provides staff with resources and day-to-day supervisory support necessary for them to effectively perform their duties.
• Manages staff, which includes assigning work; approving time off; providing guidance and training, giving oral and written reprimands when necessary; effectively recommending grievance resolutions and completing performance evaluations. Establishes annual goals and objectives; counsels’ staff on issues of productivity, quality of work and conduct; and determines staffing needs to achieve program objectives.
• Works closely with DESC’s finance team to ensure funds are obligated, managed, and expended effectively and according to regulations. 
• Develops and implements planning and project management processes to ensure the effective coordination and integration of programs and resources.
• Composes and prepares correspondence involving interpretation of policies, procedures, contracts, and agreements.
• Oversees marketing and outreach activities related to special projects, to include preparing and supervising the production of brochures, bulletins, newsletters, and other promotional materials and/or publication, preparing press releases, designing ads and fliers, and responding to inquiries, developing plan and schedules for release of publicity materials. 
• Prepares executive management and board committee presentations.
• Exhibits professionalism, diplomacy, and ability to appropriately interact with Board members, staff, participants, and local stakeholders while maintaining working relationships in all aspects. 
• Provides excellent customer service.
• Performs related duties as required. 

The above functions are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the person assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business, Education, Public Administration, Social Work, or another field related to program development, adult education, or service delivery. Master’s degree preferred.
• Must have at least five to seven (5-7) years of relevant professional experience, with three (3) of the years in a leadership/management capacity. 
• An equivalent combination of professional work experience, training and education may be substituted for formal education requirements.

SKILLS AND SPECIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Local area travel will be required. The following is a list of required and desired qualifications:

• Highly organized and can manage multiple projects concurrently. Demonstrates project management skills to produce quality, timely, and complete work product. 
• Demonstrated ability to support cross-functional teams. Experience successfully managing and leading other staff.
• Exhibits outstanding written and verbal communication skills, and can prepare timely, accurate and complete reports and presentations. 
• Must be able to compile and analyze a wide variety of data sources and utilize findings for program decisions.
• Demonstrate ability to assess triggers for new policies and procedures, such as, changes to the external operating environment, government policy/legislation, review of strategic directions, new cross-functional initiatives, and need for consistency in service delivery, etc.
• Possess the ability to exhibit professionalism and work under pressure with the ability to reprioritize to meet deadlines.
• Discrete and professional, particularly when handling confidential information. 
• Able to always maintain strict ethical legal adherence. 
• Seeks growing responsibility and shows great capacity for work.
• Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Must include Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Adobe PDF and demonstrated skills in database management and record keeping.
• Demonstrates sufficient understanding of effective adult education and career exploration & planning activities. Demonstrates sufficient understanding of workforce development services and programs. Experience directly managing or implementing training and workforce initiatives is highly desirable.
• Previous experience with human-centered design and design thinking is highly desirable. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes

LICENSES: Valid State of Michigan Driver’s License – Position requires field work.

OTHER: Background check and drug screen required.

The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within our organization. DESC actively seeks applications from women, persons of color, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.