Managing Director, Workforce Development

Location: Austin, TX 78753
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Salary: $110,000–$130,000
Industry: Workforce Development / Publicly Funded Programs
Leadership Scope: 70–80+ Employees
Budget Responsibility: Approximately $4 Million

Lead Workforce Operations That Make an Impact

We are seeking an accomplished Managing Director of Workforce Development to provide executive-level operational leadership for an established organization delivering workforce and career services throughout the Austin market.

This is a highly visible leadership position with responsibility for workforce operations, program performance, people leadership, strategic execution, budget oversight, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder relationships.

The Managing Director will oversee an organization of approximately 70–80+ employees, including a leadership team of approximately 10 direct reports, while managing an operating budget of approximately $4 million.

We are particularly interested in an experienced leader who understands the realities of workforce development operations from the ground up, can earn the confidence of an experienced team, and knows how to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational accountability.

What You'll Lead

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for workforce development programs and operations

• Oversee a large organization of approximately 70–80+ employees, including an established management team

• Lead, coach, and develop approximately 10 direct reports

• Establish clear expectations, accountability, performance standards, and operational priorities

• Develop and execute operational strategies, policies, procedures, and performance improvement initiatives

• Partner with executive leadership to establish short- and long-term organizational objectives

• Manage an operating budget of approximately $4 million, ensuring effective allocation of resources

• Monitor program and operational performance against contractual and organizational objectives

• Establish and track KPIs and other performance measures

• Identify underperforming areas and implement effective corrective strategies

• Build leadership capabilities throughout the organization and establish succession plans for critical positions

• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and contractual requirements

• Oversee multiple programs, priorities, stakeholder groups, and operational initiatives simultaneously

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, engagement, customer service, and continuous improvement

Workforce & Community Leadership

This position serves as an important representative of the organization throughout the Austin workforce community.

You will:

• Build and maintain productive relationships with government agencies, community organizations, employers, educational institutions, workforce partners, and other stakeholders

• Develop strategic partnerships that expand services and improve outcomes for employers and job seekers

• Understand local workforce and labor-market needs and translate those insights into operational priorities

• Represent the organization professionally in meetings with community and governmental stakeholders

• Maintain strong relationships with partners whose interests, priorities, and expectations may differ

• Navigate complex stakeholder environments with professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment

Board Partnership

The Managing Director will also work closely with an established Board in the Austin market.

We are looking for a leader who understands how to build an effective partnership with a Board, communicate clearly, maintain credibility, and navigate stakeholder dynamics professionally.

Success will require the ability to balance competing perspectives, build consensus, and maintain productive relationships while still driving accountability and operational results.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred

• 10+ years of progressive professional experience preferred

• 7+ years of leadership or supervisory experience

• Significant experience managing complex operations, programs, teams, and performance objectives

• Demonstrated experience leading a sizable organization or department

• Strong preference for experience within workforce development, workforce operations, economic development, publicly funded programs, or a closely related environment

• Experience managing and developing experienced managers and leaders

• Strong operational and process-management background

• Experience developing and managing significant operating budgets

• Demonstrated ability to establish KPIs and improve organizational performance

• Understanding of regulatory and contractual requirements associated with publicly funded programs

• Knowledge of labor markets, employment trends, community development, and workforce/education partnerships

• Strong strategic planning and problem-solving capabilities

• Excellent executive communication and interpersonal skills

• Proven ability to build relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders

• Ability to delegate effectively while maintaining accountability for results

• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record

• Bilingual English/Spanish capabilities are preferred

Workforce Development Experience Strongly Preferred

Our strongest candidates will have direct experience within the workforce development ecosystem and understand both the mission and operational realities of delivering employment and career services.

Relevant backgrounds may include:

Workforce Development • Workforce Solutions • Workforce Boards • Career Services • Public Workforce Programs • Economic Development • Government-Funded Employment Programs • Community Workforce Initiatives • Education & Workforce Partnerships

We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience leading operations where success is measured through contractual performance, participant outcomes, employer engagement, compliance, service delivery, and operational KPIs.

This Is an Operations Leadership Role

While this position includes significant budget responsibility, we are primarily seeking an operations leader, not a finance or accounting executive.

The successful candidate will know how to lead people, improve processes, manage performance, establish accountability, solve operational problems, and keep a large organization moving toward common objectives.

You should be comfortable being visible and engaged with employees at multiple levels of the organization rather than managing exclusively from the executive level.

Who Will Stand Out?

Our strongest candidate will bring a combination of:

Workforce Development + Large-Team Leadership + Operations Management + Board Relations + Publicly Funded Programs + Budget Ownership + Performance Management + Community Partnerships

You should be able to demonstrate situations where you have:

• Led an organization or significant operation through change

• Managed and developed an experienced leadership team

• Improved underperforming programs or operational processes

• Held teams accountable for measurable performance outcomes

• Managed relationships with Boards, government entities, or community stakeholders

• Overseen significant budgets and publicly funded programs

• Balanced strategic objectives with day-to-day operational execution

We are looking for an experienced leader who can step into an established organization, build trust quickly, understand the operation, engage the team, and provide strong leadership from day one.

Benefits

The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Generous paid time off

• Paid parental leave

• 401(k) with employer matching

• Wellness reimbursement

• Life insurance

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

• Additional voluntary benefit options

Make an Impact in the Austin Workforce Community

This is an opportunity to lead a significant workforce operation and directly influence the services delivered to job seekers, employers, and the greater Austin community.

If you are an experienced workforce or operations executive who combines strong leadership, operational discipline, stakeholder management, and a genuine understanding of workforce development, we want to hear from you.

Apply today to lead an established workforce organization through its next chapter of performance, growth, and community impact.