Dean of Community & Workforce Education

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Job description

Number of Openings: 1

Institution: Cleveland State Community College

Department: Community & Workforce Education

Reports to: Vice President of Academic Affairs

Campus Location: Cleveland, Tennessee

Salary Range: $77,816-$97,270

Position Status: Exempt / Full-Time

Moving Allowance: N/A

Cleveland State Community College is a comprehensive, two-year post-secondary institution, located in Cleveland, Tennessee. Cleveland State is committed to providing open access and quality education to all students. A Tennessee Board of Regents institution, Cleveland State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). At Cleveland State, our mission is to build strong minds, careers and communities through exceptional teaching and learning, workforce development and service. We wish to hire individuals with similar values who can help us accomplish those goals.

Special Instructions to Applicants: To be considered for a position at Cleveland State, you must complete an online application. Your skills, abilities, qualifications, and years of experience will be evaluated solely based on the information provided in your application. Any work experience not included will not be considered for meeting the minimum requirements or determining compensation for the position.

Please note the following:

  • Attaching a resume does not substitute for completion of the application form.
  • Part-time work experience is calculated at 50% of full-time experience.

JOB SUMMARY

The Dean of Community & Workforce Education provides executive leadership and administrative oversight for the college’s community-based workforce, and professional credit operations. Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, this position oversees adult education, workforce education, apprenticeships and internships, the Law Enforcement Training Academy, the Small Business Development Center, and the college’s off-site instructional locations, including the McMinn Higher Education Center and the Vonore Center.

The Dean supports the college’s goals through connections between professional-credit and academic credit programs, making sure prior learning assessments (PLA) are applied effectively, and helping more adult learners transition into academic pathways. The role also focuses on expanding employer and community partnerships and increasing workforce-related revenue. This position plays a key role in bringing workforce and academic efforts together under one Academic Affairs structure to improve access, support student progression, and strengthen regional economic impact.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in higher education or a related field within workforce development, and/or adult education, including any combination of:
    • At least three years of direct supervision of staff, defined as assigning work, evaluating performance, and providing guidance.
    • Grant management (e.g., writing/submitting grants, funding compliance, budgets, reporting, etc.).
    • Project management (e.g., planning/executing projects, coordination, tracking timelines/deliverables, etc.).
    • Employer/industry partnerships (e.g., collaborating, negotiating agreements, co-development of programs, etc.)
    • Revenue-generating programs (e.g., program development/expansion, establishing enrollment/revenue targets, recruitment development, identifying market demand, etc.)

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Leadership and Program Oversight – 30%

  • Provide direction and administrative oversight for Adult Education, Workforce Education, Apprenticeships and Internships, the Law Enforcement Training Academy, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the McMinn Higher Education Center (MHEC), and the Vonore Center.
  • Ensure operations, scheduling, facility use, and site management across all areas of responsibility, including the main campus and all off-site centers.
  • Supervise, evaluate, and support directors and managers responsible for program delivery and operations.

Workforce and Academic Pathway Alignment – 20%

  • Develop and implement strategies that increase transition of adult education and workforce students into academic credit certificates and degree programs.
  • Lead the development of integrated career pathways aligning short-term credentials, apprenticeships, and workforce programs with academic offerings.
  • Ensure effective application of prior learning assessment (PLA) to support student progression.

Financial and Operational Oversight – 20%

  • Establish and monitor workforce revenue targets.
  • Oversee budget development, fiscal management, and financial sustainability of assigned units.
  • Use labor market data and institutional metrics to guide program expansion, delivery models, and site utilization.

External Partnerships and Community Engagement – 15%

  • Expand and manage employer partnerships supporting customized training, apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning.
  • Represent the college in economic development initiatives, workforce boards, law enforcement training partnerships, and community engagement activities.
  • Strengthen collaboration with business and industry to align programs with regional workforce needs.

Compliance and Institutional Coordination – 15%

  • Ensure full compliance and oversight of the Law Enforcement Training Academy, including program delivery, credentialing, and reporting.
  • Collaborate with fellow academic deans to align workforce training with credit curriculum and degree pathways.
  • Ensure consistent operations and service delivery across all instructional locations.

Non-Essential Functions (5%)

  • Serve on committees, strategic planning teams, or task forces assigned by the VPAA.
  • Engage in events or meetings as needed to support the college mission.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
  • The Dean of Community & Workforce Education will be required to meet those standards now required or which may be required by the Tennessee State Board of Regents and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
  • May be required to achieve additional skill, knowledge, or credential levels

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Suite for reporting, tracking, and documentation.
  • Knowledge of community college operations, workforce development systems, adult education programming, apprenticeship structures, and economic development partnerships.
  • Knowledge of credit and non-credit alignment, prior learning assessment (PLA), and career pathway development.
  • Experience in overseeing multi-site operations and community-based instructional delivery.
  • Ability to analyze labor market data and apply findings to program development.
  • Experience in revenue generation, budget management, and financial oversight.
  • Strong supervisory and organizational leadership skills.
  • Ability to build collaborative relationships across academic and workforce divisions. * Strong communication and external partnership development skills.

WORK ACTIVITIES & EQUIPMENT

Work activities routinely involve the use of standard office equipment, including computers, printers, copiers, scanners, telephones, and other related devices. Employees are expected to perform tasks such as data entry, document preparation, email communication, and report generation using these tools.

JOB LOCATION

This on-site position is based on the main campus of Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee. Occasional travel to off-campus instructional sites within the College’s five-county service area, as well as to state and national conference, may be required. Travel across the service region for meetings and other activities is also expected.

The weekly work schedule will vary based on program and course needs, and some evening hours may be necessary. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Applicants may be subject to a background check and credit check. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Cleveland State offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to the following:

  • Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability (long and short term), FSA/HAS
  • Wellness Incentive Program (if enrolled in health)
  • Educational Assistance: Fee Waiver, Spouse/Dependent Discounts, Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Longevity Pay
  • Retirement Options: State of TN Pension (TCRS), 401a, 401k with $50 match, 403b, and 457
  • Fourteen (14) Paid Holidays/Year
  • Sick and Annual Leave
  • Sick Leave Bank
  • State Employee Discount Program with over 900 merchants

How to apply

If you are interested, click here to apply.

Applications can be assured full consideration if submitted by April 15, 2026.

Cleveland State Community College is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Sections 504/ADA employer.

Cleveland State Community College is an accredited public comprehensive community college committed to quality education and open access. The college operates within the governance of the Tennessee Board of Regents.