ORGANIZATION
Building a Nation of Learners by Advancing America’s Community Colleges
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. The association represents more than 1,000 2-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 10.5 million students.
POSITION SUMMARY
The AVP, Workforce Strategies, leads the design, implementation, and scaling of AACC’s workforce strategy and education-to-workforce initiatives within the Learning Ecosystems, Workforce Strategies, and Intelligence portfolio. This role positions AACC as a national data-informed leader in student-centered, cross-sector workforce ecosystems that align credentials, work-based learning, and employer partnerships with equity and opportunity. The AVP will drive innovative programs, partnerships, and grant initiatives that connect education, industry, government, and communities to advance economic mobility, civic vitality, and lifelong learner success. Reporting to the SVP, Learning Ecosystems, Workforce Strategy & Intelligence, the AVP collaborates with member colleges, public and private partners, and internal teams to translate workforce demand into scalable practice, governance, and policy guidance aligned with the Strategic Compass.
Job Responsibilities
Lead workforce strategy and innovation
- Design and steward national and regional workforce strategies that align credentials, work-based learning, and employer partnerships with policy opportunities and funding.
- Ground initiatives in real workforce demand and prioritize equity, access, and lifelong learning.
Build and sustain the data-informed intelligence engine
- Develop and operate centralized horizon scanning, data analytics, predictive insights, and scenario planning to guide member institutions and policy discussions.
- Work with the Associate Vice President, Data and Intelligence, to produce strategic intelligence dashboards, foresight briefs, and published reports for internal leadership and external audiences.
Advance student-centered learning models within workforce pathways
- Lead the development and scaling of learner-centered models (e.g., guided pathways, co-design with employers, lifelong learning strategies) that integrate workforce needs with learner success design.
- Ensure access, affordability, and essential needs are embedded in program design and delivery.
Build cross-sector education-to-employment ecosystems
- Convene and manage partnerships across colleges, employers, workforce boards, and government entities.
- Develop and scale regional and national talent ecosystems.
Lead programmatic and grant initiatives
- Manage the unit’s grants strategy, including grant-funded roles, to advance unit priorities.
- Design and oversee program portfolios (regional demonstrations, national labs, mobility initiatives) and secure sustainable funding.
Design and scale partnerships and governance
- Lead cross-institution collaborations (regional multi-college networks, AVP/director cohorts) to align employer needs with curricula and learner supports.
- Coordinate with related executive roles to ensure alignment with policy, funding, and service delivery.
Governance, policy, risk management
- Build adaptive governance models to navigate disruption, AI integration, and risk/crisis leadership.
- Ensure equity, inclusion, and compliance across all programs and partnerships.
Thought leadership and external engagement
- Position AACC as a national voice on data-informed workforce strategy, ecosystem orchestration, and equity-centered innovation.
- Represent AACC in national forums, advisory councils, and policy dialogues; contribute to national narratives and policy discussions.
Leadership, staff development, and collaboration
- Lead and develop a high-performing team focused on workforce strategy, program design, and cross-sector partnerships; foster collaboration with AVPs and directors across portfolios.
- Promote a culture of learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
Internal and external communications
- Clearly communicate workforce strategy priorities, progress, and outcomes to member colleges, partners, and governing bodies.
- Highlight equity, access, and learner outcomes in all communications.
Administrative duties
- Manage budgets, grants, contracts, and vendor relationships related to workforce initiatives; ensure compliance with federal (if applicable) and AACC policies and reporting requirements.
- Align resource allocation with Compass-driven priorities and measurable outcomes.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education and Experience
Experience in higher education, particularly at community colleges, is strongly preferred and will be prioritized in the review process.
- Education: Advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in Education, Public Policy, Workforce Development, Data Science, Higher Education Leadership, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
- Experience: 12+ years of leadership experience in workforce development, higher education strategy, education-to-work systems, and/or public policy with a track record of scale and impact.
- Leadership: Demonstrated success in cross-sector partnerships, large-scale program design, and grant management.
- Skills: Strong data analytics, foresight, scenario planning, and the ability to translate data into actionable strategy.
- Interpersonal Skills: Commitment to equity, inclusion, and access across learning systems and workforce pipelines. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and coalition-building skills.
Work Environment and Reporting
Reports to: SVP, Learning Ecosystems, Workforce Strategies & Intelligence
Supervises: Direct management of program staff; dotted-line oversight of grant-funded personnel as applicable.
Location and travel
This position is based in the AACC office located in Washington, DC and is eligible for a hybrid schedule with one day remote per week. Ther will be periodic travel to member institutions, conferences, and partner sites as required.
Salary and Benefits
- $125,000-$165,000 annual salary
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
- EAP
- Flex Spending Account
- Legal Shield
- Vacation, Paid Holidays and Sick Leave
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Life Insurance
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work being performed by the individual assigned to the position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties, and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
If interested, please submit the following to careers@aacc.nche.edu with the subject “Application for AVP, Workforce Strategies: 1)A cover letter; 2) Your most recent resume. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. To learn more about American Association of Community Colleges, please visit our website at www.aacc.nche.edu.
American Association of Community Colleges is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where all individuals are valued and respected.
Supervisor alignment
Reports to: SVP, Learning Ecosystems, Workforce Strategy & Intelligence (as per the attached supervisor’s role).