Dean of Workforce Development

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Haverhill, MA

7d • $132,000 - $137,000

About The Position

THE COLLEGE: Northern Essex Community College (NECC) serves about 5,000 credit students each semester on two campuses located in the beautiful, historic Merrimack Valley region of northeast Massachusetts. Our suburban Haverhill campus sits on 106 acres near Kenoza Lake and features a Technology Center and an award-winning Student One-Stop Center. Our urban campus in Lawrence occupies a number of buildings in the heart of downtown. Most recently, we have constructed a new 44,000 square foot health technologies facility, the Dr. Ibrahim El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center. Both campuses are a short drive to Boston and to the beaches and state parks along the coast. The College has been building an organizational culture that values initiative and innovation, and seeks to identify and develop the strengths in students, faculty, staff, and programs in order to grow and improve. NECC is also committed to using evidence to guide planning and decision-making. These values are reflected in the use of Appreciative Inquiry for strategic planning and accreditation; in our investment in strengths-based, institution-wide professional development; and in our ten-year involvement as a Leader College in Achieving the Dream, a national network of community colleges dedicated to using data to close student achievement gaps. We are also committed to the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. With over 40% Hispanic students, NECC was the first federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in New England. We seek leaders who are committed to the community college mission, actively engaged in promoting diversity, and prepared to use their unique strengths and innovation with the goal of student success.

POSITION: Full-Time Dean of Workforce Development (Dean): Corporate & Community Education, Haverhill Campus; 37.5 hours per week; Non-Unit Professional Position.

SUMMARY: The Dean of Workforce Development serves as the College's senior leader for non-credit workforce strategy, and provides senior-level leadership, institutional vision, and executive oversight of Corporate and Community Education. The Dean ensures that corporate training and non-credit workforce development initiatives deliver high-quality, accessible training that prepares a diverse population of learners with the skills needed for meaningful employment and career growth in the regional economy. This role serves as NECC's primary external ambassador for customized corporate training and non-credit workforce development, building strong employer and community partnerships, expanding the College's regional impact, and reinforcing its reputation as a responsive, innovative workforce partner. The Dean leads a multidisciplinary team, drives revenue growth, ensures operational excellence, and builds pathways that connect adult learners, employers, and academic programs. This position reports to the Associate Vice President, Strategic Relations & Resource Development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, education, workforce development, training and development, or related field, or ten years of equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience in workforce development, corporate training, program development, or related field.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, and compliance with state and federal or other governing regulations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with responsibility for teams, strategy, and results.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Commitment to equity, access, and inclusive program design.
• Ability to build and sustain strong internal and external partnerships.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities.
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in higher education, with a preference for community college experience.
• Experience or familiarity with workforce development trends, regional labor markets, and employer stakeholders within climate tech, biotech, health, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Experience building partnerships with employers in diverse, multicultural communities.
• Bilingual (Spanish)

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Institutional Planning Provide executive leadership for corporate training and non-credit community-based workforce development, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, regional and statewide workforce priorities, and sustained responsiveness to evolving labor market demand.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan for Corporate and Community Education that drives performance outcomes, ensures program quality, and supports financial sustainability, including profit and loss responsibility.
• Serve as a key contributor to institutional strategic planning related to workforce development and employer engagement.
• Guide programmatic and financial strategy through the use of labor market intelligence, industry trends, employer input, and institutional data to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Marketing to develop and implement branding, communications, and marketing strategies for Corporate and Community Education programs, ensuring alignment with institutional messaging and effective market positioning.
• Serve as the senior administrator accountable for regulatory compliance and institutional quality frameworks related to non-credit workforce programming.
• Lead NECC's engagement with the NECHE Quality Assurance Framework and state agencies in the exploration of emerging non-credit workforce financing models and data collection.
• Represent NECC externally to advance institutional visibility, thought leadership, and engagement in workforce development policy and practice.
• Workforce Development & Programmatic Leadership Lead the College's non-credit workforce development agenda to ensure programs are designed to equip learners with industry-relevant skills, credentials, and competencies necessary for job attainment, success, and career advancement.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs to align and strengthen learner pathways, with academic pathway development informing and aligning with the Academic Master Plan.
• Facilitate cross-divisional collaboration with student affairs to ensure equitable access to wrap-around supports for non-credit learners.
• Collaborate with the Center for Adult Education to expand workforce-responsive programs, including workplace ESOL and bridge initiatives that reduce barriers, increase access, and support economic mobility for adult learners.
• Advance strategies that strengthen transitions from adult education into further training, credentials, and employment along defined career pathways.
• Set priorities for new and enhanced workforce programs based on employer demand, data analysis, and regional economic strategy.
• Engage employers, advisory groups, and public partners to ensure program relevance, credential alignment, and measurable workforce impact for learners and businesses.
• Provide executive oversight of workforce-related grants, funding initiatives, and associated compliance requirements, ensuring learner success goals and performance metrics.
• Partnership Development & External Relations Cultivate, sustain, and leverage high-impact relationships with employers, workforce boards, industry associations, community partners, and peer institutions to expand access to training, work-based learning, and employment opportunities.
• Partner with employers and industry leaders to co-design training programs that reflect current workplace expectations, address skills gaps, and align with career advancement opportunities.
• Strengthen job placement pipelines and learner outcomes by leveraging employer and institutional partnerships to support retention, advancement, and long-term career success.
• Elevate NECC's visibility and influence within the regional workforce development ecosystem through strategic partnerships, data-informed storytelling, and demonstrated outcomes.
• Revenue Strategy & Growth Lead corporate training and business development strategies to drive sustainable revenue growth, expand market share, and support reinvestment in learner and program innovation.
• Build and sustain executive-level partnerships with corporate and community organizations to advance customized training and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee a diverse portfolio of contract training programs serving corporate, nonprofit, government, and community clients.
• Partner with faculty and academic leaders to design and deliver non-credit and credit-bearing corporate education programs.
• Expand non-credit workforce development/corporate contracts and services to meet regional employer and industry needs.
• Organizational Leadership Lead, mentor, and develop Corporate and Community Education staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture grounded in accountability, continuous improvement, and learner-centered practice.
• Ensure instructional quality, workforce alignment, and positive learner experience through oversight of instructor recruitment, evaluation, professional standards, and program delivery.
• Other Responsibilities Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• complete fringe benefit package including competitive health insurance, dental insurance, basic life insurance, long-term disability insurance, paid sick, vacation and personal leave, educational benefits for employee/spouse/dependents, and excellent retirement benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive