Program Manager, Workforce Development

Virginia Tech•Arlington, VA

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is a state-funded initiative that connects more than 40 colleges and universities, industry partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen Virginia’s cybersecurity research, education, workforce development, and innovation ecosystem. CCI operates through a central hub and four regional nodes across Virginia. Based at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, the Program Manager will advance CCI’s workforce development mission by designing, developing, and executing initiatives that connect students with employers through experiential learning, internships, project-based learning, career preparation, and other work-based learning opportunities. The role will also partner with CCI Nodes and participate in workforce development initiatives across the CCI network. Reporting to the Director of Outreach, the Program Manager will lead execution across a portfolio of projects of simple to intermediate complexity, managing timelines, budgets, deliverables, and coordination among stakeholders. The role will track engagement and performance metrics, monitor progress against goals, and prepare reports and updates for leadership and stakeholders to support accountability and continuous improvement. The position will develop workforce initiatives in collaboration with internal leadership and external partners, drawing on student needs, employer demand, labor-market trends, and emerging workforce needs. It will cultivate relationships with public- and private-sector partners and serve as a primary contact to facilitate collaboration. The Program Manager will identify, recruit, and steward employers able to offer internships, projects, mentorship, and employment opportunities to CCI students; support partner and CCI Node outreach and marketing; and help expand participation and visibility of CCI workforce programs. The role will establish and maintain systems for measuring student, employer, and program outcomes and use results to improve initiatives. The position is located in Arlington, Virginia, and is eligible for a hybrid arrangement within commuting distance, with a weekly in-office presence. Occasional travel may be required. The position is exempt from overtime, has a 40-hour workweek, and is a restricted appointment. The successful candidate must undergo a criminal conviction check.

Requirements

Master’s degree with experience in workforce development, program management, education, business, public administration, or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree with demonstrated professional experience in workforce development, program management, or a related field in lieu of the advanced degree.
Knowledge of and experience with workforce development principles, practices, and program design, including employer engagement, career pathways, experiential learning, internships, project-based learning, work-based learning, and strategies for connecting students or job seekers with employment.
Experience designing, implementing, or managing workforce development programs that connect students or job seekers with employers and demonstrate measurable internship, employment, or career outcomes.
Experience developing and managing relationships with employers, industry partners, program stakeholders, government agencies, educational institutions, or other workforce stakeholders to create learning and career opportunities.
Ability to manage programs and projects from planning through implementation and completion, including timelines, deliverables, budgets, stakeholders, and competing priorities.
Knowledge of labor-market and industry trends and ability to identify workforce needs and translate them into program strategies and recommendations.
Effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional communications and presentations for diverse audiences.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain effective relationships with students, program stakeholders, corporate partners, government agencies, university administrators, faculty, community colleges, and community organizations.
Ability to analyze workforce, labor-market, program participation, employer engagement, and employment outcome data and use findings to set priorities and inform program development and continuous improvement.
Ability to work independently as a self-starter and contribute effectively as part of a team in a complex, fast-paced organization.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, tasks, and deadlines simultaneously.
Experience planning or supporting meetings, events, workshops, or other stakeholder engagement activities.
Proficiency with office suite tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Nice To Haves

Experience or education in cybersecurity, information technology, engineering, data science, or another cyber-related or technical field.
Experience developing or managing internships, apprenticeships, project-based learning, employer-sponsored projects, mentorship programs, or other work-based learning initiatives.
Experience developing and implementing career-readiness programs or career pathways for employment in technical or high-demand fields.
Experience establishing employer partnerships that result in internships, experiential learning, projects, mentorship, interviews, or employment for students or job seekers.
Experience working in an academic environment, particularly with faculty, students, career services, or academic leadership.
Experience working across government, industry, academia, economic development organizations, or venture capital.
Networking experience, including developing strategic partnerships and negotiating business-to-business agreements or contracts.
Experience establishing new business relationships and securing external funding or sponsorships for workforce or education programs.
Experience with grant management, proposal development, or other public- or private-sector funding mechanisms.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and execute workforce development initiatives that connect students with employers through experiential learning, internships, project-based learning, career preparation, and other work-based learning.
Partner with CCI Nodes and engage with workforce development initiatives across the CCI network.
Manage projects from planning through implementation and completion, including timelines, budgets, deliverables, stakeholders, and cross-functional coordination.
Track engagement and performance metrics, monitor progress against goals, and prepare updates and reports for leadership and stakeholders.
Develop workforce programs in collaboration with internal leadership and external partners, informed by student needs, employer demand, labor-market trends, and emerging workforce needs.
Shape engagement strategies and support experiential and applied programming that responds to employer, government, student, and community needs.
Cultivate and maintain public- and private-sector partnerships and serve as a primary point of contact for partner collaboration and communication.
Identify, recruit, and steward employers that can provide internships, project-based learning, mentorship, industry projects, and employment opportunities for CCI students.
Support partner outreach, CCI Node outreach, and marketing efforts, and help identify and pursue opportunities to expand participation in and visibility of CCI workforce programs.
Develop and maintain systems to measure student, employer, and program outcomes, and use results to improve workforce development initiatives.
Plan and/or support meetings, events, workshops, and other stakeholder engagement activities.