Director of Career Readiness & Workforce Strategy

CSU Pueblo Division of Extended Studies • Pueblo, CO

1d • $78,000 - $86,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Career Readiness & Workforce Strategy leads Colorado State University Pueblo’s workforce development strategy and career readiness initiatives. The role monitors workforce initiatives, labor market trends, funding opportunities, and employer needs, and develops partnerships with employers, workforce centers, government agencies, and economic development organizations. The position serves as the university’s workforce development lead, monitors Colorado Department of Higher Education and Department of Labor activities, manages the campus WIOA strategy, pursues workforce development grants, and supports timely responses to workforce trends.

The director oversees career readiness programming, employer engagement, internships, career fairs, networking events, and experiential learning opportunities that connect students with career pathways and employment. The role works with Academic Affairs to expand internships and embed workforce readiness in the curriculum, including engagement with employers for campus activities and events that serve both local and distance students.

The position also leads workforce education pathways, including stackable credentials, microcredentials, prior learning assessment, and other employer-aligned educational offerings. These efforts are intended to expand access, accelerate degree completion, and respond to the needs of students, the university, and industry.

The director maintains a professional development plan, attends conferences and workshops, participates in campus committees and councils, and engages in relevant professional associations. The position is on-site at the Pueblo Campus. Employment-based immigration sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Two years of experience supervising others.
• Two years of experience working in higher education or an adjacent field.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal workforce initiatives and policies.
• Experience with Handshake or other software, platforms, and assessments used for career services operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the university’s workforce development strategy by monitoring workforce initiatives, labor market trends, funding opportunities, and employer needs.
• Develop partnerships with employers, local workforce centers, state and government agencies, and economic development organizations to align university programs with workforce demand and support student employment and career advancement.
• Serve as CSU Pueblo’s workforce development lead; monitor CDHE and Department of Labor activities; manage the campus WIOA strategy; pursue workforce development grants; and support responses to emerging workforce trends.
• Direct workforce readiness initiatives intended to improve student career outcomes and demonstrate return on educational investment.
• Oversee career readiness programming, employer engagement, internships, career fairs, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Expand strategic internship opportunities in collaboration with Academic Affairs and support embedding workforce readiness in the curriculum.
• Recruit employers for campus engagement and oversee career fairs and networking events for local and distance students.
• Lead the development and implementation of workforce education pathways, including stackable credentials and microcredentials.
• Seek and expand prior learning assessment opportunities for students, employers, and faculty.
• Develop and enhance workforce-aligned educational offerings and credential pathways that serve CSU Pueblo and industry.
• Develop a personal professional development plan and attend conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Participate in campus committees, councils, and user groups, and in relevant local, state, and national professional associations.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible benefit plan
• Basic term life insurance
• Voluntary term life and AD&D insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Travel accident insurance
• Voluntary critical illness and accident insurance
• Annual and sick leave
• Retirement plans
• Employee and dependent tuition discounts
• State employee discounts via BenefitHub
• On-campus event, recreation, and meal discounts

What This Job Offers

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