Workforce Program Administration Director

Date Posted: Sep 18, 2024

Requisition ID: 449751

Location:

Indianapolis, IN, US, 46204

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a diverse range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

At the State of Indiana, we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion—we make it our goal to create a welcoming, accessible, and equitable workplace with a workforce that is representative of Indiana's population. As a proud equal opportunity employer, reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.

About the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD):

We strengthen Indiana by understanding workforce needs, aligning resources, and providing access to services that empower Hoosiers to thrive in a changing economy.

Role Overview:

The Director of Workforce Program Administration leads and manages agency-wide efforts to ensure that workforce programs and grants are administered and implemented using a data-driven approach that sets priorities for strategic improvement aligned with the agency’s business objectives. The position works across all agency divisions to develop and communicate the strategic vision, scope, and mission of the Program Administration and Oversight (PAO) team and the Workforce Division overall. This position oversees several programs where DWD administers state and federal grants to local Workforce Development Boards or other grantees, including both formula and competitive funds. The Director assures that sub-grantee programs are aligned and managed with emphasis on improving quality and effectiveness. The Director plays a lead role in the financial, programmatic, and governance processes for programs overseen by the PAO department, and partners with other departments to lead or support various program administration functions. The Director participates in Workforce program strategic planning and provides leadership and coordination for improving the agency’s core workforce functions and evaluating the impact of our passthrough and contracted Workforce programming. The Director leads the Program Administration team in a way that supports the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other workforce program(s) success and fosters innovative program development, alignment with agency priorities, optimal use of resources, and data-informed continuous improvement. The Director utilizes their thorough understanding of the overarching, multi-faceted array of workforce services and functions to conceptualize and help inform the seamless integration of workforce programming utilizing a continuous quality improvement framework. This position reports to the Associate Chief of Workforce Program Administration and Oversight and is a senior member of the collective Workforce Division.

Salary Statement:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $93,002.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience.

A Day in the Life:

The Director of Workforce Program Administration is involved in assisting and advising the Associate Chief with a variety of duties involving a high degree of discretion in interpretation, application, and execution. This person will often represent the agency and directly oversee related workforce programs and grant design issues. This position will involve a need for detailed and accurate application and execution of agency priorities.

Representative duties include, but are not limited to:

• Leads and oversees DWD’s administration and implementation of DWD-managed programs and grants that are granted to local workforce development boards and other grantees, including WIOA Title I; SCSEP; National Dislocated Worker Grants, as issued; and others.

• Oversees financial, programmatic, and governance functions for programs and grants within the PAO department and supports administrative functions across the Workforce Division overall.

• Collaborates across DWD departments and divisions and promotes thought leadership to ensure strategic alignment and consistency in the delivery of workforce programs and grants.

• Researches, designs, and implements appropriate agency-wide strategies and initiatives to ensure alignment across workforce programs and grants for the agency.

• Collaborates on the design of the information technology infrastructure required to support statewide program performance and quality systems for workforce programs.

• Leads initiatives to address complex workforce program problems and drive program improvement using data from internal and external sources.

• Analyzes and synthesizes information across a variety of sources, and then makes recommendations to the Associate Chief and executive team members.

• Collaborates in an intentional and forward-thinking way with colleagues within DWD and across other stakeholder groups to maximize the impact of the DWD’s resources and the overall effectiveness of workforce programming.

• Participates in a national network of professionals, sharing best practices, tools, and materials while participating in ongoing communication activities and capacity-building peer exchanges. Searches out best practices, making the department aware of them, and suggesting areas where they could be implemented.

• Collaborates and coordinates on policy development, implementation, and monitoring to ensure strategic alignment across Workforce programming.

• Other duties and projects as assigned.

What You'll Need for Success:

• Master’s degree or higher, with at least five (5) years of professional experience, including at least three (3) years of experience in planning, designing, and evaluating workforce program initiatives preferred.

• Advanced ability to manage multiple complex projects, ensure progress of required tasks, and meet deadlines.

• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local workforce development programs and structure, with advanced ability to analyze and interpret laws, regulations, and policies.

• Advanced ability to utilize critical thinking skills necessary to extract key lessons from past or current work and use those learnings to both shape and inform future work.

• Ability to communicate complex theories and principles to a broad spectrum, both verbally and in writing.

• Advanced research, writing, and organizational skills.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective and productive working relationships with public and private organizations, practices, partnerships, and Regions.

• Skilled in interpreting statistics, evaluating research studies, and preparing comprehensive reports.

• Working knowledge of federal and state government agency structures.

• Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet agency needs.

• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment.

• Strong organizational, oral, and written communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Proactive nature: able to anticipate conflicts before they arise.

• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively.

• Ability to handle calls and emails with professionalism, courtesy, and accuracy.

• Ensure compliance with relevant state and federal statutes, regulations, and policies.

• Maintain confidentiality in discussing sensitive organizational matters and issues.

• Acts as a change agent, and willing to adjust to change as the agency needs arise that require flexibility.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may provide direct supervision for one or more staff members.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans

• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards

• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution

• Flexible work scheduling options, including the potential for hybrid remote work for employees whose work may be performed outside state facilities

• Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match

• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options

• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:

• 150 hours of paid new parent leave

• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave

• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off

• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years

• Education Reimbursement Program

• Group life insurance

• Referral Bonus program

• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits

• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Free Parking for most positions

• Free LinkedIn Learning access

  Equal Employment Opportunity:

  The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws.

  If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [email protected] .

  The State of Indiana has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.

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