Chief of Workforce Innovation and Readiness

Schedule: Full-time

Under the direction of the Deputy Director of the Division of Career Technical Education and Workforce Readiness, oversees the Workforce Readiness Section, providing leadership and support for schools and districts:

· Implements agency and division workforce readiness priorities;

· Advises agency leadership on workforce readiness strategies, informed by the efforts of other states and research nationally;

· Supports major agency initiatives and policies as they arise;

· Assists in development of agency policy and legislative initiatives;

· Collaborates with other agency offices to ensure alignment of programmatic initiatives (e.g., academic standards, school improvement, accountability) and effective implementation;

· Ensures offices are supported by operational units (e.g., legal, communications, accounting);

· Ensures integration of workforce readiness into initiatives managed by other sections;

· Leads section communications strategy;

· Works with Deputy Director on policy development and stakeholder engagement:

o Working with internal and external stakeholders, provides input to education policies;

o Reviews and approves rule development, and interprets state and federal law (e.g., policies specific to programs, subgroups of students or issues);

· Provides management, leadership, and direction to the section offices;

· Facilitates coordination of program and research/evaluation initiatives;

· Monitors and evaluates work toward accomplishing section goals, strategies and performance measures;

· Represents senior leadership at meetings or functions;

· Conducts continuing studies of center/office practices and recommends improvements as necessary;

· Formulates biennial budget and section/office budgets and ensures alignment with agency goals;

· Monitors project timelines and ensures project completion;

· Communicates with stakeholders and obtains perspectives of agency work and progress;

· Reviews research reports, federal reports specific to legislation, and reports created in response to requests from the Governor or Legislature;

· Researches national trends and thinking (e.g., evidence-based practices, implications);

· Ensures processes are aligned with goals of agency (e.g., policy development, work-flow, and communications);

· Collaborates with administrative personnel in other sections to integrate the planning and implementation of state education policy and programs.

Works with senior leadership to build a strong staff ensuring the competencies needed to support section strategic initiatives:

· Works with section Administrators to ensure the climate and culture of center represents a healthy and productive workplace;

· Works with center Administrators to identify professional development/training needs of center staff;

· Manages cross-office initiatives;

· Conducts performance evaluations of staff.

The work location of this position is 25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You will be required to report to this work location full-time, if selected.

If this position is filled with an internal employee who has an approved telework agreement, the employee may be required to report in-person during the initial training period.

Experience in public administration, education, workforce development, or economic development.

Proven ability to manage enterprise-level initiatives, align complex organizations, and lead through influence and collaboration.

Excellent communication, facilitation, and political navigation skills.

Demonstrated understanding of the workforce readiness policy landscape.