Department Director

Department Director

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Indiana Department of Education (DOE):
The Indiana Department of Education provides innovative support to Indiana schools, teachers, students, and parents. We proactively work with educators, policymakers, business leaders, and community-based organizations to build student success.

Role Overview:
The Senior Director of Secondary Pathways & Student Readiness serves as a senior leader responsible for advancing Indiana's vision that every student graduates prepared for enrollment, employment, enlistment, and service. This position leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of statewide strategies that strengthen high school transformation, career-connected learning, work-based learning, graduation pathways, student readiness, and postsecondary success.

The Senior Director will work across K–12 education, higher education, workforce development, economic development, employers, and community partners to ensure students have access to high-quality pathways aligned to their goals and Indiana's workforce needs. The position will oversee major strategic initiatives, drive policy implementation, monitor outcomes, and support local education agencies in delivering meaningful opportunities that prepare students for success beyond high school.

This position reports to the Assistant Secretary of Education and serves as a member of the agency's senior leadership team.

Role responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership
• Graduation Pathways & Diploma Implementation
• Career-Connected Learning & Work-Based Learning
• Postsecondary & Workforce Alignment
• Data, Accountability & Continuous Improvement
• Stakeholder Engagement

Role

Qualifications:

Required Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred. Seven or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in education, workforce development, public policy, economic development, or a related field. Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-sector initiatives. Strong understanding of secondary education systems, college and career readiness, workforce development, and postsecondary pathways. Experience managing projects, teams, budgets, and external partnerships. Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Preferred Experience working with state education agencies, higher education institutions, workforce systems, or large-scale education initiatives. Knowledge of career and technical education (CTE), work-based learning, apprenticeship programs, and student readiness frameworks. Experience in policy development and implementation. Familiarity with data analysis, accountability systems, and performance management.

Success in this role will be measured by:
Increased student participation in high-quality pathways and work-based learning experiences. Successful implementation of Indiana's diploma and readiness initiatives. Growth in credential attainment, dual credit completion, and postsecondary readiness indicators. Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership development. Achievement of statewide student readiness goals aligned to enrollment, employment, enlistment, and service outcomes. Effective execution of strategic initiatives and special projects that advance Indiana's education priorities.

Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $ but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:
The essential functions of this role are as follows:
Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., makes recommendations for improvement. Develop and coordinate plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision and expectations of agency or program. Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules. Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, and delegating assignments, training, monitoring, and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.

Monitor agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections. Communicate with news and other media, responds to media questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner. Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues (i.e. federal and/or state agency directors, etc.). Coordinate, review, and evaluate the use of appropriate controls and standards for the agency. Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are…