Associate Dean Workforce and Professional Development

Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development

State Role

Title:

N/A

Position Type:
Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status:
Full-Time

FLSA Status:
Exempt:
Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division:
School of Professional & Continuing Education

Department: 100066 - Professional & Continuing Education

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: $110,000 - $135,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 09/25/2026

About JMU:

Mission:
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision:
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are:

Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff.

The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

JMU's School of Professional & Continuing Education (SPCE) fosters learning across lifespans through transformative education and enrichment. SPCE offers a range of programs, including youth camps, adult degree completion, professional and workforce development, and lifelong learning, as well as partners with academic units across JMU to support a number of online or off-campus degree and certificate programs. The Associate Dean for Workforce and Professional Development serves as a senior member of the School of Professional & Continuing Education (SPCE) leadership team and provides strategic leadership for workforce development, employer engagement, partnership development, and innovative educational initiatives that advance the mission of James Madison University and SPCE.

Reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean works collaboratively across the university and with external partners to identify emerging workforce needs, develop responsive educational solutions, expand strategic partnerships, and enhance JMU's role as a preferred partner for economic vitality and talent development throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. The Associate Dean serves as a key representative of SPCE and JMU with employers, industry associations, government agencies, community partners, and educational institutions.

The position contributes to strategic planning, resource development, program innovation, and operational leadership within SPCE.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:
Serve as a member of the SPCE senior leadership team and Dean's Council and contribute to the strategic direction, growth, and continuous improvement of the school. Collaborate with the Dean and other Associate Dean to implement SPCE's strategic plan and institutional priorities. Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and new revenue generation aligned with workforce and community needs. Represent SPCE on university, regional, and statewide committees and initiatives.

Workforce and Professional Development:
Lead the development and implementation of workforce-focused initiatives that support talent development and economic vitality. Build and maintain relationships with employers, industry leaders, workforce boards, chambers of commerce, and government agencies. Identify emerging workforce trends and translate those needs into educational programs and partnerships. Advance SPCE's and JMU's role as a responsive and publicly accountable partner addressing workforce and community challenges.

Partnership Development:
Develop and sustain strategic partnerships with external organizations to expand educational opportunities and community impact. Negotiate and manage partnership agreements, contracts, and collaborative initiatives. Foster cross-campus collaboration to connect university expertise with external partner needs. Support the development of regional, statewide, and national partnerships that enhance JMU's visibility and impact.

Program Innovation and Growth:
Collaborate with academic and administrative units to develop workforce-aligned credit and non-credit educational offerings, prioritizing JMU faculty engagement while establishing strategic partnerships with external organizations, industry experts, and vendors to address…