Lead Apprenticeship Program Manager

Western Governors University•Salt Lake, UT

1d•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.

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.