The Director of Career & Technical Education provides visionary leadership and administrative oversight for all occupational programs within the unit, including the daily operations of the county technical schools, management of federally funded programs, and direction of adult CTE offerings. The Director leads the strategic development of comprehensive career pathways that are innovative, relevant, and aligned to high-demand occupations across Delaware County. This role is responsible for securing and managing funding, including grants and federal allocations, and for ensuring effective budget development and fiscal oversight.
The Director collaborates extensively with school districts, employers, workforce development agencies, higher education institutions, and community partners to enhance career readiness and ensure programs are aligned with workforce needs, labor-market trends, and postsecondary expectations. The position requires strong leadership, an entrepreneurial mindset, and deep knowledge of K-12 education systems, state and federal laws, instructional quality, and the operational demands of both secondary and adult CTE programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Oversees the creation, implementation and effectiveness of CTE programs and career academies and ensure that students complete program sequences and programming meets local, state, and national needs.
- Establishes new, innovative, partnerships with non-profit organizations, colleges, and universities to strengthen CTE programs.
- Builds a high-performing team whose work spans a broad range of CTE programs and services to support schools and workforce development.
- Identify emerging career trends and workforce needs to ensure programs remain relevant and aligned to high-demand occupations. Establish program goals and measurable outcomes using data to assess effectiveness and guide improvement.
- Design, launch, expand, and evaluate school age and adult CTE programs, ensuring high-quality curriculum, aligned certifications, and strong postsecondary pathways in full compliance with PDE and industry requirements.
- Provide leadership, supervision, and evaluation of all CTE programs, services, budget, capital improvements, operations, and personnel. Oversee daily operations, safety systems, instructional technology, and equipment procurement.
- Develop and monitor systems to ensure the CTE administrative team provides strong instructional leadership to promote high-quality teaching that integrates academic, technical, and workplace competencies.
- Conduct research on policies, labor markets, educational technology, industry trends, and funding opportunities to support program innovation with a focus on entrepreneurial opportunities for expansion.
- Develop and implement opportunities for students through articulation and dual-enrollment agreements, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways, internships, and cooperative education agreements.
- Establish and leverage critical partnerships with DCIU and community partners including workforce and economic development boards, district administrator job-alike groups, CTCE administrator forums, Perkins consortium meetings, colleges and universities and future employers.
- Promote career readiness and job placement services, ensuring strong connections to employment and post-secondary education. Lead employer engagement to strengthen work-based learning and employment pipelines.
- Manage and evaluate budgets to ensure fiscal controls and long-term financial planning and resource allocation. Compile, analyze, and report data to evaluate program outcomes and support planning.
- Lead outreach and recruitment efforts for school age and adult learners. Direct development of marketing strategies and materials to promote CTE programs.
- Monitor state reporting systems to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all state and federal regulations governing CTE programs, including Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 339, and Perkins V. Lead data collection and submission for all state and federal funds and other required reports.
Other Functions:
- Performs other duties as requested and/or assigned.
- Participate in, chair and oversee required activities of district meetings, workshops and seminars for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
Certification Required:
Individual with a valid PA Career & Technical Administrative Director certification, Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, or PA K-12 Principal certification may apply. Principals may apply for Director add-on certification who possess three years of professional experience in CTE.
Education Required:
Bachelor’s degree in education or vocational education and master’s degree in education required. Doctorate preferred.
Experience Required:
Job-related experience in CTE or district administration with increasing levels of responsibility is required.
Experience Preferred:
5+ years in central office leadership as superintendent and/or assistant superintendent or CTE administrative experience at a Director level.
