State Director
State Director, Oklahoma Career and Technology Education
The Opportunity
The State Director serves as chief executive of Oklahoma Career and Technology Education and with the authority of the Board, the State Director is the face of Oklahoma CareerTech and provides leadership to the Oklahoma CareerTech system, a nationally recognized system of technology education and training that serves more than 500,000 Oklahomans annually through secondary and adult programs including agriculture; family and consumer sciences; health careers; business and information technology; marketing; technology engineering; trade and industrial; science, technology, engineering and math education; skill centers including Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Oklahoma Juvenile Authority; technology centers including full time, short term, and business and industry training. Specifically, these programs are related to career development, work and family studies, career readiness, career preparation, academic advancement, customized training, curriculum and assessment. These programs are operated within technology centers, common schools, businesses, Oklahoma Department of Correction sites and Office of Juvenile Affairs sites.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide exemplary leadership to Oklahoma’s CareerTech education system and serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
• Guide internal Senior Staff leadership in strategic planning to ensure effectiveness of major programs and initiatives and assures major processes critical to system success are performed.
• Work with the State Board to provide strategic leadership to the CareerTech education system and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education by ensuring that goals and systems are in place to achieve the mission.
• Establish collaborative relationships between the agency, and the CareerTech system, state and federal legislators, the executive branch and other agencies and stakeholders
• Maintain and foster open communications between the state's CareerTech system, business and industry, higher education, common education, and other stakeholders in the state’s economic development efforts.
• Create strategic partnerships with common education, community colleges, universities, and the business community.
• Gather and provide statewide input concerning technical education and training necessary to meet the Oklahoma workforce needs.
• Keep the board informed on the condition of the CareerTech system and on all the important factors influencing the system. In particular, provide reports on strategic purpose performance and process quality performance.
• Work with the National Association of State CareerTech Directors, Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and numerous boards, commissions and committees for educational leadership, professional development and services for the CareerTech staff and teachers.
Qualifications:
• Exemplary leadership skills with a vision for the future of Oklahoma's CareerTech system.
• Commitment to improving and advancing the mission of the Oklahoma CareerTech system.
• Experience in the educational system with an understanding of career and technology education.
• Ability to establish effective relationships with state and federal legislators, the executive branch and agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Proven experience in developing partnerships and working with education providers and business leaders.
• Exceptional communication skills, written and verbal, as well as professional image and presentation skills necessary to be a spokesperson for the system to media outlets, television reporters and the news media.
• Proven leadership ability to work with state legislature and state agencies.
• The ability to develop long-range plans and evaluate work accomplishments.
Education:
• It is preferred that Applicant hold a Master's Degree or a Doctorate. A Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• It is preferred that an Applicant have significant experience in administration and leadership of relevant educational systems.
• Possession of a valid Oklahoma Superintendent’s Certificate and a Career and Technology Center Administrator's Credential is preferred.
Management Responsibilities:
• Direct reports consisting of Senior Staff.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities as appropriate.
Experience: It is preferred that an Applicant have:
• Significant leadership experience in administration of educational systems.
• Deep understanding of systems design and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability as a CareerTech instructor and/or administrator is preferred.
• Knowledge and experience with the legislative process is preferred.
• Strong experience in team building, budgeting, managing and supervising a major organization.
• Proven ability to provide leadership in coordinating educational and training programs with business and industry needs.
• Strong knowledge of economic development engines that drive Oklahoma's economy and the ability to represent the state's CareerTech system to prospective business and industry.
• Knowledge of the national CareerTech system with proven ability to represent Oklahoma on a national level.
Communication Skills:
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret data and complex documents.
• Ability to listen and respond effectively to confidential and sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.
• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or board of directors.
• Ability to communicate extremely technical and complex concepts to top management and the board of directors. Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply moderately complex mathematical equations and budgetary calculations as applicable. (For example, calculating discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages and volume, and applying concepts of basic algebra and geometry.)
Reasoning Skills:
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and work with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
Licenses, Certificates, Registrations:
Valid driver’s license.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions:
Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. Maintains a flexible work schedule to meet the demands of executive management. Hours may be long and irregular. Normal office conditions will include extensive in-state travel. Travel and participation in national meetings as necessary.
Nomination and Application Process
Salary
Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC. is assisting the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. For a full application package, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of five references. Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Greenwood/Asher and Associates. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.
Equal Opportunity/Non Discrimination Statement
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex/gender, age, disability, or veteran status. Inquiries concerning application of this policy may be referred to the ODCTE Compliance Coordinator, 1500 W. 7th Ave. Stillwater, OK 74074-4364, or call 1- 800 522-5810 or (405) 377-2000.