Western Governors University
Vice President, Work-Based Pathways
Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84193
If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
Job Summary
The Vice President of Work-Based Pathways (VPWP) will lead the vision and execution of new work-based learning pathways across WGU's academic programs. Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer and Provost, the ideal candidate will have an innovative mindset and a demonstrated ability to think creatively to initiate and execute new ideas and programs. The VPWP will establish the strategic direction and key performance indicators for the development, launch, and scaling of work-based pathways within WGU's School of Business, School of Education, School of Technology, and the Leavitt School of Health. The VPWP will hire and lead a team of domain-specific leaders dedicated to each school, setting a foundation for work-based pathways at WGU. A primary responsibility is creating new work-based academic programs and curriculum that take a work-first approach to learning by building partnerships between employers and WGU's four schools. The VPWP will have a crucial role in bridging curriculum and assessment design between academic leaders and workforce partners, shaping the future of work-based education at WGU and in the broader education and workforce landscape in the U.S. This role requires close collaboration with academic leadership, industry stakeholders, and program/product development teams to ensure that WGU's work-based pathways are designed to meet both student and employer needs. In addition, the VPWP will ensure programs are effectively scaled to advance access, affordability, and outcomes for students from underserved and diverse populations. In this inaugural role, the VPWP will create alignment between academic outcomes and critical workforce needs across the United States, helping to address talent gaps in key industries and impacting thousands of lives. Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Development and Scale: Lead the creation and scaling of work-based pathways and learning across WGU's academic programs, ensuring alignment with workforce needs and industry standards. Student Success: Build work-based pathways that meet student needs, advance access, affordability, and completion, and deliver a strong ROI. Strategic Partnerships: Build partnerships with employers and external partners, including state and federal agencies and workforce boards, to design pathways that provide students with meaningful, credit-worthy work experiences, connect them to jobs, and meet critical workforce demands. Program Development: Manage curriculum and assessment development for work-based pathways, ensuring they meet the needs of students and employers, and adhere to the academic integrity of WGU. Management: Build and lead a team of domain experts to support work-based pathway development across WGU's four academic schools. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with school SVPs, academic program directors, strategic partnerships team and external partners to align pathway development with WGU's programs and workforce needs. Thought Leadership: Serve as a thought leader in work-based learning and pathways, representing WGU in national forums and driving forward the conversation on work-based education. Measurement: Develop and track metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the success of work-based pathways, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with WGU's mission and goals. Regulatory and Compliance: Knowledge and understanding of regulatory requirements for RTIs, employers, RAPs and workforce boards, as well as associated funding opportunities. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Extensive Knowledge of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Models: The VPWP must have a deep understanding of work-based learning and pathways, such as apprenticeships, and their role in addressing student success and critical workforce gaps. Strategic Planning and Execution: The ability to develop, implement, and execute a comprehensive strategy for scaling work-based pathways is essential. Leadership and Team Development: Proven leadership experience in building and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams is essential. Curriculum and Assessment Development: Experience working with academic leadership to design, develop, and assess curriculum and work-based learning opportunities is essential. Collaborative Leadership: The VPWP must possess exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills. External Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership: Strong skills in building and maintaining external relationships. Analytical and Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong analytical abilities to assess workforce needs, market trends, and program performance is required. Communication and Presentation Skills: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are required. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: The VPWP must have strong problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly adapt to the evolving needs of both students and employers. Proficiency with EdTech Tools: Familiarity with educational technology platforms and tools is required. Minimum Qualifications
Education: A graduate degree in Higher Education, Education, Business Administration, Workforce Development, or a related field is required. Doctorate degree preferred. A combination of education and relevant work experience in designing and implementing work-based learning or apprenticeship programs may also be considered in lieu of an advanced degree. Experience: At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience, in higher education, work-based learning, workforce development, apprenticeship program management, or a related field. Salary
$200-240K with additional bonus opportunities. Disclaimer: This Job Description has been designed to indicate the general nature, essential duties, and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It does not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that are required of the employee to do this job. How to apply
Apply online. Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40) This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave. The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
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The Vice President of Work-Based Pathways (VPWP) will lead the vision and execution of new work-based learning pathways across WGU's academic programs. Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer and Provost, the ideal candidate will have an innovative mindset and a demonstrated ability to think creatively to initiate and execute new ideas and programs. The VPWP will establish the strategic direction and key performance indicators for the development, launch, and scaling of work-based pathways within WGU's School of Business, School of Education, School of Technology, and the Leavitt School of Health. The VPWP will hire and lead a team of domain-specific leaders dedicated to each school, setting a foundation for work-based pathways at WGU. A primary responsibility is creating new work-based academic programs and curriculum that take a work-first approach to learning by building partnerships between employers and WGU's four schools. The VPWP will have a crucial role in bridging curriculum and assessment design between academic leaders and workforce partners, shaping the future of work-based education at WGU and in the broader education and workforce landscape in the U.S. This role requires close collaboration with academic leadership, industry stakeholders, and program/product development teams to ensure that WGU's work-based pathways are designed to meet both student and employer needs. In addition, the VPWP will ensure programs are effectively scaled to advance access, affordability, and outcomes for students from underserved and diverse populations. In this inaugural role, the VPWP will create alignment between academic outcomes and critical workforce needs across the United States, helping to address talent gaps in key industries and impacting thousands of lives. Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Development and Scale: Lead the creation and scaling of work-based pathways and learning across WGU's academic programs, ensuring alignment with workforce needs and industry standards. Student Success: Build work-based pathways that meet student needs, advance access, affordability, and completion, and deliver a strong ROI. Strategic Partnerships: Build partnerships with employers and external partners, including state and federal agencies and workforce boards, to design pathways that provide students with meaningful, credit-worthy work experiences, connect them to jobs, and meet critical workforce demands. Program Development: Manage curriculum and assessment development for work-based pathways, ensuring they meet the needs of students and employers, and adhere to the academic integrity of WGU. Management: Build and lead a team of domain experts to support work-based pathway development across WGU's four academic schools. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with school SVPs, academic program directors, strategic partnerships team and external partners to align pathway development with WGU's programs and workforce needs. Thought Leadership: Serve as a thought leader in work-based learning and pathways, representing WGU in national forums and driving forward the conversation on work-based education. Measurement: Develop and track metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the success of work-based pathways, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with WGU's mission and goals. Regulatory and Compliance: Knowledge and understanding of regulatory requirements for RTIs, employers, RAPs and workforce boards, as well as associated funding opportunities. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Extensive Knowledge of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Models: The VPWP must have a deep understanding of work-based learning and pathways, such as apprenticeships, and their role in addressing student success and critical workforce gaps. Strategic Planning and Execution: The ability to develop, implement, and execute a comprehensive strategy for scaling work-based pathways is essential. Leadership and Team Development: Proven leadership experience in building and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams is essential. Curriculum and Assessment Development: Experience working with academic leadership to design, develop, and assess curriculum and work-based learning opportunities is essential. Collaborative Leadership: The VPWP must possess exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills. External Stakeholder Engagement and Thought Leadership: Strong skills in building and maintaining external relationships. Analytical and Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong analytical abilities to assess workforce needs, market trends, and program performance is required. Communication and Presentation Skills: Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are required. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: The VPWP must have strong problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly adapt to the evolving needs of both students and employers. Proficiency with EdTech Tools: Familiarity with educational technology platforms and tools is required. Minimum Qualifications
Education: A graduate degree in Higher Education, Education, Business Administration, Workforce Development, or a related field is required. Doctorate degree preferred. A combination of education and relevant work experience in designing and implementing work-based learning or apprenticeship programs may also be considered in lieu of an advanced degree. Experience: At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience, in higher education, work-based learning, workforce development, apprenticeship program management, or a related field. Salary
$200-240K with additional bonus opportunities. Disclaimer: This Job Description has been designed to indicate the general nature, essential duties, and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It does not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that are required of the employee to do this job. How to apply
Apply online. Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40) This is a full-time, regular position that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave. The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
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