Director of KnightWORKS Intermediary

Marian University • Indianapolis, IN

10d • Onsite

About The Position

As part of a diverse community of faculty and staff who represent many faith systems and worldviews, Marian University seeks an Director for Knight WORKS, the university’s workforce intermediary initiative led through Saint Joseph’s College. This leader will advance Marian University’s Catholic Franciscan mission and identity by serving as the strategic architect and public face of a first-of-its-kind Earn and Learn workforce model integrating education, employer investment, and public partnership. The Director serves as the primary external leader of Knight WORKS and is responsible for strategic growth planning, senior-level employer engagement, state and philanthropic partnership, and financial sustainability. This individual must be a collaborative and visible leader within the community who can effectively engage the Governor’s Office, corporate partners, philanthropic organizations, and university leadership. This role balances strategic leadership with operational collaboration and execution support. The Director focuses on vision, revenue growth, partnership expansion, and sustainability, while empowering operational staff to manage employer coordination, curriculum alignment, and student placement execution. The Director reports to the Vice President and Dean of Saint Joseph’s College and works in close partnership with university leadership and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of leadership experience in workforce development, apprenticeship systems, economic development, higher education, or public-private partnership environments.
• Demonstrated experience supporting, leading, or coordinating workforce development initiatives, employer partnerships, apprenticeship programs, or similar collaborative efforts.
• Demonstrated success in partnership development, program growth, and stakeholder engagement.
• Established credibility within business, civic, and governmental communities.
• Exceptional professional presence, communication skills, and ability to operate effectively in high-visibility environments.
• Ability to think entrepreneurially while exercising disciplined fiscal oversight.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with state workforce agencies or Governor-led workforce initiatives.
• Demonstrated success launching or scaling innovative workforce models.
• Experience operating in higher education environments while leading externally facing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Actively engage Marian University’s Catholic Franciscan mission and identity by modeling Franciscan Sponsorship Values through leadership rooted in service, integrity, unity in diversity, and accountability.
• Serve as the chief ambassador and public spokesperson for Knight WORKS, representing the initiative in meetings with the Governor’s Office, corporate leadership, philanthropic organizations, workforce agencies, and civic stakeholders.
• Develop and execute a multi-year strategic growth plan for Knight WORKS, including defined targets for student placement growth, employer participation expansion, sector diversification, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead senior-level employer engagement efforts, cultivating anchor partnerships and securing annual employer investment commitments sufficient to sustain and expand the intermediary model.
• Be directly accountable for meeting defined employer revenue targets, including a minimum Year One employer commitment goal of $200,000, with approximately half secured within the first semester to ensure disciplined financial pacing and early validation of employer demand.
• Develop and implement a revenue growth trajectory for Year Two and beyond, increasing employer participation and financial investment in alignment with student placement expansion.
• Design and steward the tiered employer investment model, ensuring strong employer renewal rates and increasing financial participation over time.
• Establish and convene an Employer Advisory Council to provide strategic industry validation and long-term employer alignment.
• Provide high-level fiscal oversight in collaboration with university finance leadership, ensuring responsible stewardship of public investment and employer contributions.
• Operate effectively within a politically visible environment, navigating public-private partnership dynamics while protecting Marian University’s institutional integrity and mission.
• Oversee overall program growth and sustainability, using performance reports provided by the Data and Reporting Lead to guide strategic adjustments and scaling decisions.
• Recruit, supervise, and evaluate Knight WORKS leadership staff, maintaining a clear distinction between strategic leadership responsibilities and operational execution.
• Empower and hold accountable the Employer Engagement and Placement Lead for operational delivery, curriculum alignment with industry needs, OTJ course integration, and student placement execution.
• Provide regular strategic updates to university leadership and board stakeholders outlining employer revenue performance, partnership growth, and sustainability trajectory.

Benefits

• Work hours necessary to perform job requirements satisfactorily on a regular basis.
• Manage absence from work in responsible manner to ensure service to clients, work teams, and coworkers.
• Comply with Marian University policies and practices and seeking clarification of them when necessary.

What This Job Offers

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