Sr. Manager, Workforce Development and Educational Partnerships

Senior Manager of Workforce Development & Education Partnerships

The Senior Manager of Workforce Development & Education Partnerships is responsible for leading all aspects of community workforce engagement, education partnerships, and apprenticeship development. This role will design scalable programs, strengthen external relationships, and ensure a sustainable pipeline of skilled talent into the organization. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in workforce development, talent strategy, and community engagement, with a strong commitment to building pathways that connect people to meaningful careers. This leader knows that engaging with schools, educators, and community partners is the foundation for building tomorrow's workforce, and will build a clear strategy to connect these efforts to business results. In partnership with peers, they will drive success by deploying The MCG Waythe company's operating system focused on strategy deployment, process discipline, and continuous improvement.

Accountabilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive workforce development strategy aligned to business growth and talent needs.
• Establish a long-term vision for education and community partnerships, including apprenticeships, internships, and training pipelines.
• Serve as the external face of the company in workforce development conversations with schools, government, and workforce boards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with high schools, trade schools, community colleges, workforce boards, and nonprofit organizations.
• Represent the company at job fairs, advisory councils, and community events to strengthen brand reputation as an employer of choice.
• Act as the primary liaison to external stakeholders to align programs and partnerships with business objectives.
• Launch and scale apprenticeship and pipeline programs in skilled trades (e.g., welding, electrical), beginning with external partnerships and building toward internal programs.
• Collaborate with Learning & Development to align training programs with industry standards and company skill requirements.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to ensure smooth handoff of candidates and effective tracking of outcomes.
• Define and track metrics for partnership effectiveness, evolving from relationship-building measures to hiring and retention outcomes.
• Report regularly on progress to senior leadership, highlighting successes and identifying areas for improvement.
• Demonstrate measurable impact on the company's ability to attract, develop, and retain skilled talent.
• Model the company's values and represent the organization with professionalism and credibility in the community.
• Promote career pathways that highlight manufacturing and skilled trades as viable, attractive, and rewarding opportunities.
• Serve as a thought leader and advocate for workforce development, both internally and externally.

Attributes

Required Knowledge / Experience