Director of Workforce Development

REPORTS TO: Chief Program Officer DECA Inc. , is a non-profit educational organization headquartered in Reston, Virginia, that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges across the globe. The Director of Workforce Development leads the design, validation, and implementation of industry-aligned career competencies that guide workforce preparation and education programs. This role collaborates with employers, industry leaders, educators, and workforce partners to ensure competency frameworks reflect current labor market needs and translate into clear learning standards for career and technical education programs. The Director of Workforce Development is responsible for transforming validated competencies into instructional frameworks that support high-quality curriculum, instruction, and workforce readiness. This position ensures that competency models remain current, evidence-based, and aligned with employer expectations and emerging workforce trends. EDUCATION § Bachelor’s degree in education, workforce development, public policy, business, or a related field. RESPONSIBILITIES INDUSTRY COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT § Lead the development of industry-relevant career competency frameworks across multiple career pathways. § Conduct labor market analysis and engage employers to identify in-demand skills and workforce needs. § Facilitate industry advisory groups and subject matter expert panels to develop competency models. § Establish processes for regular competency review and updates to maintain workforce relevance. COMPETENCY VALIDATION § Design and manage structured validation processes with industry stakeholders to confirm competencies accurately reflect workplace expectations. § Use surveys, focus groups, and data analysis to verify competency relevance and priority. § Document validation findings and maintain records of industry input and approvals. LEARNING STANDARDS & INSTRUCTIONAL ALIGNMENT § Translate validated competencies into clear learning standards and performance indicators. § Collaborate with curriculum specialists and instructional leaders to align standards with high-quality instructional practices. § Ensure competencies support program design, assessment strategies, and credential attainment. PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATION § Collaborate with the Partnership Team to engage partnerships with employers, industry associations, workforce boards, and educational institutions. § Coordinate advisory committees and industry engagement initiatives. § Represent the organization in workforce development collaborations and initiatives. PROGRAM STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP § Provide leadership in aligning workforce competencies with DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program. § Monitor workforce trends and recommend updates to competency frameworks. § Support program evaluation and continuous improvement efforts related to workforce outcomes. DESIRED SKILLS § Minimum 5 years of experience in Career and Technical Education (CTE). § Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development, instructional design, and learning standards. § Experience collaborating with employers and industry stakeholders. § Strong facilitation, research, and project management skills. § Master’s degree in education, workforce development, or a related field. § Experience developing competency-based frameworks or occupational standards. § Familiarity with labor market data and workforce trend analysis. § Experience working with industry advisory committees or credentialing bodies. § Workforce and labor market analysis § Competency framework development § Curriculum and instructional alignment § Stakeholder engagement and facilitation § Strategic planning and program evaluation § Data-informed decision making § Project management § Ability to prioritize and delegate to multiple teams, ensuring responsibilities are completed on time, within budget, and with a high level of quality. § Proficient in Microsoft Office products (especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel). § Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills. § Ability to lead simultaneous projects with accuracy and punctuality. § Ability to interact cooperatively and productively with employees at all levels across an organization and with the public. SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS This position has supervisory requirements. WORK ENVIRONMENT This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and copiers. Periodic lifting, pushing, and pulling of boxes and merchand