About the Role

Excelon Associates has been retained by a forward-thinking institution dedicated to workforce development and technical education. The Program Manager for Apprenticeship and Technical Training Initiatives will serve as the primary architect and driver of partnerships that connect education with employment. This role is designed for a professional who understands both the operational complexities of post-secondary training and the strategic imperatives of industry collaboration.

The Program Manager leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of apprenticeship and technical training programs that align with regional and national workforce needs. This individual collaborates with employers, faculty, and accrediting bodies to ensure that programs not only meet compliance standards but also deliver measurable outcomes for students and hiring partners. This position sits at the intersection of education strategy, industry partnership development, and workforce policy — and the right candidate will be comfortable operating across all three dimensions simultaneously.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and manage registered apprenticeship and industry-aligned technical training programs across multiple sectors and credential levels.
• Establish and maintain productive partnerships with employers, regional workforce investment boards, labor unions, and community organizations to identify training gaps and expand student placement opportunities.
• Lead curriculum alignment efforts to ensure instructional content meets current industry standards, employer expectations, and applicable accreditation or regulatory requirements.
• Oversee program budgets, enrollment data, outcome tracking, and performance reporting to ensure program accountability, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Support student recruitment, retention, and completion strategies in collaboration with admissions, advising, and student services teams.
• Collaborate with internal academic and administrative teams to secure grant funding, federal and state workforce dollars, and compliance documentation required for program registration.
• Monitor trends in workforce development, automation, AI-driven job displacement, and upskilling to ensure the institution remains at the forefront of technical education and employer relevance.
• Ensure program compliance with Department of Labor registered apprenticeship standards, state workforce agency requirements, and institutional policies throughout the program lifecycle.
• Develop and manage articulation agreements and stackable credential pathways that enable participants to advance from apprenticeship into associate or bachelor’s degree programs.
• Represent the institution at regional workforce convenings, industry advisory meetings, and state and federal workforce planning sessions.

Required Qualifications

What Sets the Best Candidates Apart

Why This Role Matters

As automation, AI, and digital transformation reshape the labor market, the ability to connect education with employability has never been more consequential. Apprenticeship and technical training programs represent one of the most effective tools available to institutions and employers for closing the skills gap, reducing time-to-employment, and creating economic mobility for students who may not pursue traditional four-year pathways.

The Program Manager for Apprenticeship and Technical Training Initiatives is central to that mission. By building scalable, outcomes-driven partnerships between institutions and employers, this leader ensures that students gain not only technical competence but also a direct line to employment in high-demand fields. The most effective people in this role understand that they are not just running programs — they are building economic infrastructure for the communities their institutions serve.

Institutions that build strong apprenticeship programs attract employer investment, secure competitive grant funding, and produce graduates who are employed before they finish training. The person in this role is the reason that happens.

Retained Search by Excelon Associates

Excelon Associates is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Asheville, NC, with additional offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL. Our higher education practice places program managers, directors, and senior leaders at colleges, universities, and training institutions across the United States.

We collaborate with institutions dedicated to expanding workforce development and technical education to identify leaders who can design and scale apprenticeship programs that meet the evolving needs of industry. By connecting institutions with professionals skilled in partnership development, curriculum alignment, grant management, and workforce strategy, Excelon Associates helps bridge the gap between education and employment.

If your institution is seeking a Program Manager for Apprenticeship and Technical Training or a similar workforce development leadership role, reach out to start a confidential conversation.