AVP Career Innovation and Workforce Pathways

Roanoke College•Salem, VA

About The Position

The Assistant Vice President for Workforce Innovation and Career Pathways provides strategic leadership for Roanoke College’s efforts to connect students with meaningful career opportunities through alumni engagement, employer and community partnerships, experiential learning, and technology solutions. The position develops and implements an integrated, technology-enabled career ecosystem intended to support student success, persistence, completion, and post-graduation outcomes. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Strategy and Student Success, the Assistant Vice President leads initiatives connecting students with alumni, employers, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, faculty, and regional partners. The role advances career readiness, experiential learning, workforce development, and community engagement, and serves as a senior institutional representative cultivating partnerships that strengthen the value of a Roanoke College education. The position leads career ecosystem strategy and technology platforms; develops community, industry, and alumni networks; expands equitable experiential learning; assesses student and career outcomes; and advances student employment as a developmental experience. It works across campus departments and with external partners to translate institutional priorities into programs and measurable results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and significant progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, workforce development, talent acquisition, business, consulting, technology, economic development, nonprofit leadership, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated success developing and managing strategic partnerships with employers, community organizations, alumni, government agencies, or other external stakeholders.
Experience leading complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and cross-functional collaboration.
Strong strategic planning, project management, and organizational skills.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Demonstrated ability to analyze data and assess program outcomes.
Ability to build relationships and establish credibility with senior leaders, alumni, employers, faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders.
Entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated initiative and innovation.
Ability to translate institutional priorities into actionable programs and measurable outcomes.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Commitment to student success, equitable access, and workforce readiness.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, Workforce Development, or a related field.
Experience implementing career development, mentorship, customer relationship management (CRM), or workforce technology platforms.
Experience developing experiential learning, internship, alumni engagement, workforce development, or community partnership programs.
Experience working with economic-development organizations, chambers of commerce, employers, public agencies, or regional workforce initiatives.
Grant development, partnership cultivation, or resource development experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive vision for workforce innovation, career pathways, and experiential learning aligned with the College’s strategic priorities.
Design and implement a technology-enabled career ecosystem integrating career exploration, mentoring, experiential learning, internships, employer and alumni engagement, and employment opportunities.
Establish metrics, benchmarks, and assessment practices for student participation, engagement, competency development, and career outcomes.
Advise senior leadership on career readiness, workforce development, and experiential learning initiatives.
Lead selection, implementation, integration, and continuous improvement of career technology platforms and related systems.
Collaborate with Information Technology and institutional partners to ensure career technology systems are effective and sustainable.
Represent the College as an ambassador and connector to regional employers, nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions, economic development organizations, and civic leaders.
Collaborate with the Senior Director for Grants and Strategic Partnerships to develop and maintain workforce and community partnerships.
Secure student internships, applied learning opportunities, community-based projects, workforce initiatives, and employment pathways.
Represent the College in regional workforce-development and economic-development initiatives.
Develop and lead a strategy for engaging alumni as mentors, advisers, recruiters, internship sponsors, project partners, donors, and advocates.
Build and sustain regional and industry-based alumni networks, establish engagement goals and performance measures, and assess alumni participation’s impact on student outcomes.
Partner with Advancement and Alumni Relations to coordinate alumni engagement and maximize participation.
Expand equitable access to internships, community-based learning, applied research, project-based learning, job shadowing, and other experiential learning.
Collaborate with faculty and academic departments to connect experiential learning with curricular and co-curricular outcomes.
Promote structured reflection, competency development, and career readiness throughout the student experience.
Develop and implement initiatives that strengthen student preparation for employment and graduate education.
Set measurable goals for student engagement, career readiness, experiential learning, employer engagement, alumni involvement, and post-graduate success.
Analyze and report data to demonstrate effectiveness and inform strategic decisions; use assessment results to improve programs, partnerships, student outcomes, and institutional effectiveness.
Develop innovative on-campus student employment approaches that integrate career development, mentorship, skill development, and institutional priorities.
Ensure compliance with federal work-study regulations and applicable employment requirements.
Collaborate with campus partners to maximize the educational and professional value of student employment.
Foster partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Success, Enrollment Management, Advancement, Alumni Relations, Information Technology, and other campus departments.
Lead cross-functional initiatives and working groups supporting workforce innovation and student success objectives.
Perform other duties as assigned.