Associate Dean, Workforce Development

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District • San Diego, CA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Cuyamaca College seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking leader to serve as Associate Dean of Workforce Development. Under the direction of the Dean of Career Education, the Associate Dean provides leadership, administrative oversight, and project management for the College’s workforce development initiatives, employer partnerships, and career and job placement services. The position advances equitable access to career opportunities by connecting education and training with regional labor market needs, industry priorities, and students’ employment and career advancement goals.

The Associate Dean serves as project manager for assigned local and regional Strong Workforce Program investments, Perkins-funded activities, regional workforce initiatives, and other workforce development grants and special projects. This includes coordinating project planning and implementation; developing and monitoring work plans, budgets, timelines, and deliverables; facilitating collaboration among departments and external partners; ensuring compliance with funding requirements; and overseeing reporting, evaluation, and continuous improvement.

In collaboration with academic deans, faculty, student services, institutional research, and industry and community partners, the Associate Dean strengthens employer engagement, expands work-based learning and employment opportunities, and integrates career preparation and job placement support across career education pathways. The role develops and sustains partnerships with employers, workforce development organizations, educational institutions, and regional consortia to support internships, apprenticeships, industry engagement, and transitions into employment. The Associate Dean supervises and evaluates assigned academic and classified personnel; administers programs, services, resources, and budgets; represents the College in workforce development partnerships and regional initiatives; and uses labor market information, program data, employer feedback, and student outcomes to guide investments, assess effectiveness, address equity gaps, and improve credential attainment, job placement, and career advancement.

The position is a 12-month, 1.0 FTE appointment and is not remote. The anticipated start date is January/February 2027. The listed starting salary is $131,099 at Step A, $136,343 at Step B, or $141,797 at Step C, based on experience. The College offers eligible employees and their dependents medical, dental, and vision coverage at no charge for any of the plans offered.

Requirements

• Education and experience equivalent to a master's degree from an accredited institution plus one year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative position.
• In-depth knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations governing the assigned area and the ability to apply them.
• Knowledge of the technical aspects of the field of specialty.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel evaluation.
• Ability to exercise leadership in advancing the College’s mission and facilitate communication and understanding among faculty, staff, students, and the community in a multi-college district.
• Commitment to the community college concept, including the open-door philosophy and a diverse curriculum for a heterogeneous student population.
• Commitment to a comprehensive, student-oriented environment that facilitates learning and student development, and dedication to improving the educational process.
• Experience managing change, particularly initiatives promoting equity, inclusion, access, and student success.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy; effective organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Ability to understand and follow departmental and College policies and procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, plan activities involving interrelated tasks, and interpret, apply, and explain rules and regulations.
• Ability to operate a personal computer efficiently and effectively in accordance with position requirements.
• Ability to establish schedules and timelines, meet deadlines, and work cooperatively and responsively with College, District, and community constituents.
• Experience with budgets and budget development.
• Ability to delegate successfully, hold others responsible, and instill confidence among staff and faculty.
• Successful fingerprint clearance is required before employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Strong Workforce Program, Perkins, regional collaborations, and other workforce grants.
• A record of connecting students with employers through internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and career and job placement services.
• Experience building industry partnerships and advancing workforce initiatives.
• Strategic thinking, strong project management skills, and entrepreneurial initiative.
• Ability to bring faculty, classified professionals, employers, and community partners together around shared goals.
• Experience working effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and commitment to student success, social justice, equity, and anti-racism.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, administrative oversight, and project management for workforce development initiatives, employer partnerships, and career and job placement services.
• Manage assigned Strong Workforce Program investments, Perkins-funded activities, regional workforce initiatives, grants, and special projects.
• Coordinate project planning and implementation and develop and monitor work plans, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
• Facilitate collaboration among participating departments and external partners, ensure compliance with funding requirements, and oversee reporting, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen employer engagement and expand work-based learning and employment opportunities, integrating career preparation and job placement support across career education pathways.
• Develop and sustain partnerships with employers, workforce development organizations, educational institutions, and regional consortia to support internships, apprenticeships, industry engagement, and transitions into employment.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned academic and classified personnel.
• Administer assigned programs, services, resources, and budgets, and represent the College in workforce development partnerships and regional initiatives as assigned.
• Use labor market information, program data, employer feedback, and student outcomes to guide investments, assess effectiveness, address equity gaps, and improve credential attainment, job placement, and career advancement.
• Plan, organize, implement, and supervise program administration, curriculum, and accreditation in the assigned area.
• Develop and implement programs and services to meet student needs, and facilitate campus collaboration to evaluate program success and promote student success and equity.
• Prepare and monitor program budgets, control and approve expenditures within established guidelines, and maintain contractual agreements with service agencies as applicable.
• Direct development of program goals and objectives and ensure compliance with applicable local, state, federal, and district guidelines.
• Maintain professional relationships with committees, organizations, and associations, and serve as a liaison with educational institutions and community organizations.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrators to interpret, develop, and administer department policies and procedures.
• Direct and administer activities relating to recruitment, enrollment, retention, evaluation, promotion, mentoring, selection, and training of assigned employees.
• Plan and coordinate services and events and implement communication strategies for student success.
• Review state-level programs and research findings to identify best practices and coordinate student retention activities.
• Assist with planning and implementing professional development activities.
• Prepare fiscal, program, district, state, and federally mandated reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible employees and their dependents receive medical coverage at no charge for any of the plans offered.
• Eligible employees and their dependents receive dental coverage at no charge for any of the plans offered.
• Eligible employees and their dependents receive vision coverage at no charge for any of the plans offered.

What This Job Offers

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