Assistant Executive Director, Postsecondary & Talent Alignment – Federal Programs
The Assistant Executive Director, Postsecondary & Talent Alignment – Federal Programs role is a full-time administrative position within the Programs Division and reports to the Deputy Executive Director for Programs. This executive-level position supports the State’s vision for a modern, demand-driven education and workforce system by helping align postsecondary programs with labor market needs, state priorities, federal policy expectations, and workforce system requirements.
This position serves as a strategic leader in federal postsecondary policy alignment for Career and Technical Education and supports the State’s workforce vision by strengthening connections among Mississippi’s community colleges, workforce priorities, industry needs, Adult Education, secondary CTE partners, external agencies, and federal program expectations. The employee provides leadership, coordination, and support across MCCB internal departments and external partners to promote industry-driven curriculum alignment, cohesive career pathways, and programs that are responsive to current and emerging workforce demands.
CHARACTERISTICS OF WORK:
The Assistant Executive Director serves as the agency’s lead resource on federal postsecondary policy changes impacting Career and Technical Education, including Workforce Pell eligibility, outcomes-based accountability, curriculum alignment, Eligible Training Provider List alignment, and related federal compliance requirements. This position also provides support and coordination to Mississippi’s community colleges in areas where Career and Technical Education intersects with Adult Education, Title IV eligible programs, Workforce Pell, the Eligible Training Provider List, and federal accountability requirements. This position interprets and communicates applicable federal legislation, regulations, and guidance, and supports colleges with implementation as it relates to federal grants and programs administered through the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, including relevant requirements under the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Assistant Executive Director also provides statewide leadership, coordination, and support for professional development, technical assistance, curriculum-related initiatives, programs of study, and instructional delivery models serving Career and Technical Education faculty, staff, and administrators. This position works collaboratively with appropriate team members, the Director of Adult Education, secondary CTE leadership, workforce partners, and industry
stakeholders to strengthen alignment across secondary education, postsecondary education, Adult Education, workforce training, and employment pathways. As federal priorities increasingly emphasize stronger coordination among Carl D. Perkins V, WIOA, Adult Education, and DOL-managed workforce programs, this position supports the development of a more cohesive talent development system that connects learners to industry-driven career pathways leading to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations. This work helps reduce fragmentation between K-12 CTE, post-secondary CTE, Adult Education, DOL’s Title 1 and III programs and the public workforce development system, while supporting Mississippi’s community colleges in responding to evolving workforce, industry, and federal accountability expectations.
This role supports the State’s workforce vision by strengthening alignment among education, adult education, workforce development, and industry partners to prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations; support sustainable talent pipelines; and contribute to improved employment, earnings, and labor force participation outcomes.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Examples of work performed in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Supervise Curriculum staff and provide leadership, direction, and support to advance agency priorities related to curriculum alignment, technical assistance, professional development, and postsecondary Career and Technical Education initiatives.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and technical assistance to the community colleges to strengthen program design, instructional delivery, curriculum alignment, and documentation practices in support of evolving federal program requirements, the State’s workforce vision, and continued program eligibility.
- Serve as a key resource for interpreting and communicating federal postsecondary policy changes impacting Career and Technical Education, including Workforce Pell eligibility, outcomes-based accountability, intersections with WIOA, Eligible Training Provider List requirements, and related federal compliance expectations, and develop practical resources and technical assistance tools to support college implementation.
- Collaborate with AccelerateMS, local workforce development areas, Adult Education, secondary CTE partners, Registered Apprenticeship partners, industry representatives, and other workforce stakeholders to support stronger alignment among education, training, and workforce system priorities.
- Support the alignment of postsecondary programs of study with high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand occupations, as identified by the State and informed by applicable federal requirements, labor market information, employer demand, and industry-driven standards.
- Provide guidance and technical assistance to support the development of high-quality, stackable credential models and career pathways that align with workforce system expectations, Workforce Pell requirements, ETPL considerations, and workforce funding opportunities.
- Work with CTE administrators, AccelerateMS, faculty, business and industry representatives, and appropriate internal staff in the development and review of curriculum frameworks, programs of study, and professional development to ensure alignment with employer demand, emerging industry trends, and current and future workforce needs.
- Collaborate with the Director of Adult Education and related partners to strengthen alignment between Adult Education and postsecondary CTE programs, including Workforce Pell-eligible programs and career pathways, by supporting coordinated strategies that promote learner transition into Integrated Education & Training (IET) pathways and workforce opportunities.
- Maintain a broad understanding of current and emerging issues in higher education, Career and Technical Education, Adult Education, workforce development, federal accountability, program design, talent alignment, assessment, and professional development, and communicate relevant information to agency staff and college constituents.
- Coordinate with MCCB internal departments to support consistent communication, aligned technical assistance, and seamless support to colleges in areas related to curriculum, instruction, student success, workforce alignment, and federal program expectations.
- Support alignment of postsecondary CTE programs and initiatives with applicable federal program expectations, DOL and ED priorities, OCTAE-related guidance, and the State’s education and talent development goals.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree and a minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience, including demonstrated supervisory experience in industry, workforce systems, program leadership, or postsecondary education, with a strong understanding of employer needs, labor market dynamics, talent pipelines, and alignment between program design, program impacts, and 21st century workforce needs for industry.
- Demonstrated ability to navigate, interpret, and apply federal policy, programs, and statutory frameworks impacting postsecondary education and workforce systems, including the Higher Education Act (Title IV), Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and Carl D. Perkins V, with a clear understanding of statutory language framing postsecondary outcomes and workforce alignment.
- Proven ability to translate federal policy and program requirements into actionable strategies, processes, and program design, and to provide technical assistance and guidance to institutions to support implementation, strengthen program impacts, and
- promote alignment across postsecondary education, workforce systems, and economic growth.
- Hands-on experience engaging and collaborating with state workforce systems, economic development organizations, and employer partners to strengthen alignment of education and training programs with labor market demand and industry-defined skill requirements in support of Mississippi’s workforce vision.
- Working knowledge in data-informed decision-making, including program evaluation and performance metrics related to employment, earnings, and postsecondary outcomes.
- Ability to convene, lead, and support cross-sector collaboration among postsecondary education, workforce systems, and industry partners to advance statewide initiatives that strengthen alignment with workforce and economic priorities.
- Excellent decision- making skills, including those involved with conflict resolution, negotiation, and facilitation. Ability to work independently, but possessing the interpersonal skills necessary to work with teams of various college personnel and other internal or external constituencies to build strong and collaborative relationships. Willingness to work nights and weekends and some travel, as necessary, to ensure continuous service delivery to our customers (students, faculty, and colleges). Effective oral and written communication skills, including proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Experience with federal outcomes-based accountability systems.
- Familiarity with Local Workforce Development Boards and the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) requirements and processes, as well as with a basic knowledge of the Department of Labor and its functions pertaining to employment readiness.
3. Experience working with state longitudinal data systems or workforce data.
- Background in policy development, regulatory interpretation, or federal program administration.
SUBSTITUTION STATEMENT:
Graduation from a Bachelor’s degree program of directly related education, talent development, workforce systems, or related field and seven years in postsecondary education, talent development, workforce systems, or directly related experience may be substituted on an equal basis.
Pay: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
