Lead Apprenticeship Program Manager

Western Governors University•Salt Lake, UT

21h•Remote

About The Position

Serves as the enterprise lead and strategic architect for WGU’s apprenticeship portfolio, responsible for defining and scaling the university’s approach to integrating competency-based education with work-based learning at a national level. This role operates at the intersection of higher education, workforce systems, and employer partnerships, and is accountable for building scalable, repeatable apprenticeship models that can be deployed across industries, states, and employer partners. This role has enterprise-wide impact, shaping how WGU designs, delivers, and scales apprenticeship and work-based pathways across all colleges and partner ecosystems. This is a highly external-facing role requiring regular engagement with employers, workforce intermediaries, state agencies, and national organizations. Success will be measured by the ability to design, launch, and scale apprenticeship programs that deliver strong learner outcomes, address workforce needs, employer satisfaction, and sustainable growth. This role is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and will be a key contributor to WGU’s long-term strategy in workforce-aligned education.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a related field.
8 years of progressively responsible experience in apprenticeships, workforce development, Higher Education Administration or Leadership, student or academic affairs, or related fields.
Experience designing and scaling programs or systems.
Experience working with external partners.
Deep expertise in apprenticeship systems and workforce models.
Strong understanding of federal and state apprenticeship regulations.
Proven ability to build external partnerships.
Ability to translate policy into scalable program design.
Strong systems-thinking mindset.
Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
Ability to operate in a remote, matrixed environment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Understanding of the industry trends, job opportunities, and educational market trends in the discipline.
Credible voice of the department in external partnerships and presentation opportunities.
Execution focus with the ability to dive-deep and live in the details with a fast-paced weekly execution cadence.
Ability to organize and coordinate activities and results across cross-functional teams.
Ability to build relationships and influence at all levels, both internally and externally.
Ability to be an agent of change in a rapidly changing environment.
Proven ability to analyze data to identify trends and drive innovation.

Nice To Haves

Experience with registered apprenticeship systems.
Experience in competency-based education.
Experience scaling multi-state or multi-employer initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and scaling of apprenticeship programs across WGU.
Design and operationalize scalable apprenticeship systems and models, including turnkey employer solutions.
Influence institutional strategy, design and build decisions, and operating models related to apprenticeship pathways.
Serve as a primary external-facing leader with employers, workforce partners, and regulatory bodies.
Translate federal and state apprenticeship policies into scalable, employer-ready program designs.
Define and operationalize WGU’s role as RTI provider, sponsor, or partner.
Drive employer onboarding, including mentor/journey worker readiness and adoption.
Collaborate across external employers and partners and internal WGU academic, compliance, product, and partnership teams.
Establish and monitor KPIs including enrollment, retention, and completion.
Drive continuous improvement through data-informed insights.
Serve as a national representative and thought leader in apprenticeship innovation.
Perform other duties as assigned.