Project Director, Center of Excellence (COE) - Council for Community and Economic Research : Job Details

College of the Canyons - Valencia, CA

Date Posted: September 19, 2024

Closing Date: October 19, 2024

Two weeks prior to the deadline to submit applications, the diversity of current applicants will be assessed. Upon review, if the pool does not include sufficient diversity at that time, the application window may be extended.

The Santa Clarita Community College District/College of the Canyons is seeking a full-time, grant-funded, Project Director, Center of Excellence (COE) in the Workforce and Economic Advancement division.

Salary Placement:This twelve (12) month per year position will be on an individual contract. This classified administrator position will be placed on Range 11 of the Administrator Salary Schedule. Step placement is based on experience. Initial salary step placement for new employees is customarily at step 1, 2, or 3 ($9,866.00 / $10,014.00 / $10,164.00 per month) of this 20-step salary range. All administrators are on an employment contract and exempt from overtime and compensatory time accumulation.

Full-time employees are provided with a diversified employee benefits program that includes sick time, vacation time, discretionary time, medical, dental and vision insurance including dependent coverage, disability and life insurance as well as Section 125 options. These benefits commence on the first of the month following date of hire. Professional development and educational incentive opportunities are provided to all classified administrative employees.

Under the general direction of the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Workforce and Economic Advancement, the Director will oversee and provide strategic direction to the implementation of the Regional Center of Excellence (COE) activities. The COE is a statewide initiative to provide labor market research to regional colleges. The Director will be responsible for conducting comprehensive gap analysis studies on emerging and priority sectors and occupations in the region, manage workforce research studies, and provide technical assistance to the regional consortium. Additionally, the COE Director will develop industry partnerships, oversee grant compliance and budgets, manage contracts, and generate reports and proposals. The director will also collaborate closely with stakeholders to ensure the success of COE activities. Performs other duties as assigned.

Overall Responsibilities:

• Coordinates, reviews, and performs the daily functions, projects, and activities of the South-Central Coast Regional Consortium (SCCRC) Center of Excellence, including workforce research, and partnership development. Supervises the SCCRC Regional COE Research/Data Analysts and Accounting Technician.
• Oversees the planning, implementation, and compliance of work plan objectives and activities of the COE grant and related contract-based projects, from scoping of the research to the final product. Identifies and oversees consultants to accomplish grant and contract deliverables.
• Collaborates with Statewide Career Mobility Accelerator Center and other Center of Excellences in statewide research projects, workgroups, and development of Center of Excellence products. Participates in Center of Excellence monthly calls and planning meetings, various committees, and advisory groups.
• Develops strategic business and industry partnerships on regional and statewide levels to support local college responsiveness to emerging industry and workforce needs.
• Conducts comprehensive workforce research on emerging and/or priority sectors and occupations. Collects/analyzes data and manages data with spreadsheets and statistical software.
• Facilitates and serves as regional coach to community colleges in SCCRC region related to COE functions and provides consultation and technical expertise concerning emerging jobs and workforce needs to support career and technical education program assessments, grant proposals, and strategic planning efforts.
• Disseminates research to community colleges throughout the SCCRC region, as well as employers, economic development organizations, and workforce partners through webinars, newsletters, and other communication channels as needed.
• Manages and responds to inquiries and provides detailed and technical information concerning projects, including Labor Market Information (LMI) needed for program recommendation.
• Coordinates communications and information between other Center of Excellence regional centers, community agencies, independent contractors, staff, faculty, administrators, businesses, and economic development and governmental agencies.
• Writes, prepares, and maintains comprehensive reports and makes oral presentations explaining research findings related to labor market information, implications, and applicability. Increases employer awareness of the career and technical education programs and services through research partnerships, employer surveys, and presentations.
• Identifies business development opportunities, securing research related contracts, and participating in partner projects.
• Prepares quarterly and annual narrative reports and renewal documents in and conditions of the grants and/or contracts.
• Presents research findings at local advisory board meetings, regional consortium meetings, community college planning events, conferences and employer-education forums.
• Makes presentations to groups on campus such as College Planning Team (CPT) and Management Advisory Council (MAC).
• Develops and oversees grant and contract budgets.
• Follows District Human Resources and Board of Trustees policies, grant requirements and departmental procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Employment Standards:

• The California Community College System.
• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Labor market information, workforce, and data research practices to produce workforce and data driven research projects and reports.
• Principles and practices involved in the development of programs and resources in support of emerging industry and workforce trends.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping, technical report writing, and preparation of correspondence and presentations.
• Expertise in computer software applications related to data analysis, data visualization, and report generation, including a high-level of proficiency in Excel.

Professional Abilities:

• Success and commitment as a team player, including ability to engage in cooperative problem solving.
• Success at initiation, executing and following up on projects, including the ability to set specific objectives and measure achieved results.
• A commitment to the mission and values of the college.
• A positive attitude, including the ability to foster collegiality.
• Flexibility, including the acceptance of and willingness to change.
• Make effective decisions and take independent action.
• The willingness to accept responsibility for professional and personal growth.
• Open-mindedness, including fairness and the ability to see multiple perspectives.
• The willingness to take risks and be innovative.
• Communicate and work cooperatively with others.
• A willingness to see complex tasks through to completion.
• Maintain effective communication with staff, administrators, and other college personnel both orally and in writing. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with both on campus groups (including students, faculty, administrators, and staff) as well as off-campus community and education partners.