Director of Apprenticeship - Public Service Manager I - Anticipated Vacancy
About The Position
The Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Employment Services is seeking a collaborative, strategic, and results-oriented Director of Apprenticeship to provide statewide leadership and direction for Maine’s apprenticeship system. The Director will strengthen and expand access to high-quality work-based learning, build partnerships, support employers and workers, and ensure apprenticeship programs meet quality and compliance standards. The role connects employers, workers, unions and worker organizations, education and training partners, workforce boards, community organizations, and government partners to develop skilled workers and meaningful career pathways. The Director will grow apprenticeship participation across industries, regions, and communities; advance incumbent-worker upskilling; and ensure programs provide meaningful training, support, and recognized credentials while complying with applicable federal and state laws, rules, and policies, including 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30. The role also represents Maine’s Apprenticeship Program with federal partners, other states, national apprenticeship organizations, employers, worker organizations, and workforce leaders. The Director sets strategy and priorities in collaboration with staff and stakeholders, leads grant programs from application and award through implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, and develops Requests for Applications and administers and monitors sub-recipient contracts. The Director leads and develops staff in a supportive, accountable, and collaborative environment. The position is based in Augusta and is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.
Requirements
- A combination of education, training, and progressively responsible professional experience in workforce development, apprenticeship, education and training, labor relations, or business and industry partnerships.
- Demonstrated experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation; strategic planning; partnership development; and administration involving multiple stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience supervising staff, managing budgets and resources, and administering federal- or state-grant-funded programs.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and experience applying federal grant requirements, including applicable laws, regulations, policies, reporting requirements, and performance expectations.
- Knowledge of apprenticeship statutes, rules, policies, and best practices, including 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30.
- Knowledge of federal and state grant requirements, including sub-recipient contracting, monitoring, and performance reporting.
- Knowledge of workforce development systems and the roles of employers, unions and other labor organizations, education and training providers, workforce boards, and community partners.
- Skills in leadership, collaboration, consensus building, relationship development, grant development and management, RFA development, contract drafting and management, written communication, public speaking and presentations, supervision, coaching, and staff development.
- Ability to lead complex statewide initiatives involving multiple partners and priorities; manage multiple grants, contracts, deadlines, and competing priorities; develop stakeholder relationships; build consensus; analyze information and make sound recommendations; communicate with diverse audiences; and lead with professionalism, accountability, flexibility, and commitment to public service.
Nice To Haves
- Experience directly administering or supporting registered apprenticeship programs, such as through a State Apprenticeship Agency, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, or an apprenticeship sponsor.
- Experience developing apprenticeship or work-based learning opportunities for incumbent workers and new entrants.
- Experience working collaboratively and establishing relationships with unions, worker organizations, employers, community organizations, education and training providers, or joint labor-management apprenticeship programs.
- Experience managing federal or state grant programs, including sub-recipient oversight, monitoring reviews, and audits.
- Experience overseeing a multi-year program budget.
- Experience leading a statewide or multi-region program.
Responsibilities
- Provide statewide leadership and direction for Maine’s apprenticeship system.
- Expand apprenticeship participation across industries, regions, and communities.
- Partner with employers, unions, and other worker organizations to use apprenticeship to upskill incumbent workers and help them move into skilled, higher-wage positions.
- Ensure apprenticeship programs provide meaningful training, support, and recognized credentials and comply with applicable federal and state requirements, including 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30.
- Build and maintain partnerships with employers, unions and other worker organizations, education and training providers, workforce boards, community organizations, and other workforce partners.
- Engage employers, workers, unions, and worker organizations to identify emerging workforce needs and develop apprenticeship opportunities responsive to industry demand.
- Represent Maine’s Apprenticeship Program with federal partners, other states, national apprenticeship organizations, employers, worker organizations, and workforce leaders.
- Develop goals, priorities, and implementation plans in collaboration with staff and stakeholders.
- Lead grant programs from application and award through implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, including reports to the Legislature and federal and philanthropic funders.
- Develop Requests for Applications and establish, administer, and monitor sub-recipient contracts.
- Lead, coach, and develop staff, fostering a supportive, accountable, collaborative environment focused on service quality and results.
Benefits
- 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually; vacation accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
- State-paid employee-only health insurance premiums at 85%–100%, depending on salary; a 5% employee-only premium credit is available for participation in the applicable program.
- State-paid 100% of employee-only dental insurance premiums.
- State contribution of 18.86% of pay to Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
- Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
- Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
- Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
- Employee assistance program through the Living Resources Program.
- 42 consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
- Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
