Workforce Development Manager

Black & Veatch Family of Companies•Olathe, KS

18h•Hybrid

About The Position

OCI’s Workforce Development Manager is responsible for designing, launching, and scaling workforce development and apprenticeship programs that support current and future construction project needs across the region. This role serves as a strategic connector between operations, Human Resources, executive leadership, and external partners, including education institutions, workforce agencies, and community organizations to build sustainable talent pipelines for skilled trades and craft professionals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and trades certification and 13-15 years of relevant experience
8–10+ years in aligned experience.
Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement across government, education, and industry.
Working knowledge of training program design, apprenticeship pathways, and education institutions
Proficiency with workforce systems and processes
Strong communication, facilitation, and coalition building skills; ability to operate effectively with senior leaders and external partners.
Demonstrated experience leading workforce development, training, or large-scale talent programs within skilled trades and construction, industries.
Working knowledge of vocational training models, apprenticeships, and alternative talent pipelines such as military transition programs and career/technical education.
Understanding of adult learning methodologies, trade credentialing, and workforce career ladders.
Experience managing training budgets, external funding, or grant-supported programs.
Strong stakeholder management, communication, and program management capabilities.
Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, HR partners, and construction operational teams.
Proven track record of launching programs and using data to measure and improve outcomes.
Hands-on experience evaluating, implementing, and continuously improving Learning Management Systems.
Ability to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (background check, drug screen, motor vehicle records search).

Nice To Haves

Prior work with developing, implementing apprenticeship programs with internal and external stakeholders or similar state level workforce ecosystems; familiarity with non-union craft environments.
Experience delivering apprenticeship awareness and school district engagement (e.g., counsellor training, pathway marketing).

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of regional workforce development, apprenticeship, and craft training programs aligned with OCI project and business needs.
Develop scalable talent pipelines across skilled trades and construction roles, leveraging vocational training, apprenticeships, military transition programs, and career and technical education pathways.
Identify key personnel for craft-to-staff conversion based on overall construction organization needs and coordinate development efforts with staff training operations.
Partner with executive leadership, HR, and operations to align workforce development initiatives with long term workforce planning and project demand.
Lead all craft training elements within OCI including off- and onsite training efforts and craft discipline instruction through supervisor, trainer, and coordinator reports.
Set up and support execution of apprenticeship and craft development programs for existing and emerging projects across the region.
Support project labor readiness through coordination of recruitment, onboarding, mobilization, training, upskilling, career development, and engagement activities.
Collaborate with project teams and Labor Relations partners to ensure workforce initiatives align with site requirements, labor strategies, and applicable regulations.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with education institutions, workforce agencies, government entities, community organizations, and industry partners.
Represent OCI in external workforce ecosystems, supporting partnership agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and collaborative workforce initiatives.
Deliver apprenticeship awareness, school district engagement, and pathway marketing efforts to strengthen early career talent pipelines.
Evaluate, implement, and continuously improve Learning Management Systems (LMS) and related workforce development tools.
Apply adult learning principles, trade credentialing requirements, and career ladder frameworks to ensure training programs are effective and outcome driven.
Manage training budgets and support externally funded or grant supported workforce programs as applicable.
Forecast craft organization career development, learning system enhancements, and learning resource needs as part of OCI’s multi-year growth strategy, and plan direct training team operations accordingly.
Define and track key workforce performance indicators (e.g., enrollment growth, apprenticeship placements, time to mobilize, training completions, partner engagement).
Develop dashboards and narrative reports to communicate workforce outcomes, program effectiveness, and continuous improvement opportunities to leadership and stakeholders.
Ensure all workforce development activities comply with Black & Veatch policies, site procedures, and legal requirements.
Supervises work of others. Responsible for hiring, discipline, and pay administration of their subordinates.