Program Manager - Education and Workforce Development
North Carolina State University$65K–$95K/yri5h ago
Role Snapshot
Manages day-to-day design, development, and operational execution of NC State's FutureTEX Education and Workforce Development portfolio within the Wilson College of Textiles, translating national workforce strategy into academic, technical, and industry-aligned training programs. Ensures programs meet federal Department of War milestones, performance metrics, and budget parameters.
Key Responsibilities: Leads competency-based curriculum design and hands-on lab module development using Wilson College facilities, oversees cohort scheduling, staffing, and execution across K-12, community college, university, veteran, and incumbent worker pathways, and tracks federal performance metrics such as learner reach, credentials, upskilling, and job placement.
Skills & Tools: Strong curriculum and instructional design expertise, familiarity with textile manufacturing and advanced technologies (automation, AI, digital twins, VR/AR), program and project management, metrics tracking and reporting, and cross-functional coordination with partners and stakeholders.
Qualifications: Typically requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field (textiles, engineering, education, or workforce development) and several years of program management or workforce training experience, with federal grant or milestone-based program experience preferred.
Compensation: $65K–$95K/yr (estimated)
Job Description
Operating within the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University, the EWD Program Design & Implementation Manager manages the day-to-day design, development and operational execution of NC State’s FutureTEX Education and Workforce Development portfolio. Reporting directly to Dr. Jeff Joines (NC State EWD Lead), this individual transforms national workforce strategy into actionable academic, technical and industry-aligned training programs.
Working in close daily coordination with the Sr. Director of Projects and institute project managers across the FutureTex ecosystem, the Manager ensures that all curriculum development, credentialing pathways and training implementations meet strict federal Department of War (DoW) milestone schedules, performance metrics and budget parameters.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Design & Instructional Development
Competency-Based Curriculum Design: Lead the design and modularization of NC State workforce training courses, short-course certifications and stackable credentials aligned with the national Textile Manufacturing Competencies (TMC) framework.
Advanced Textile & Tech Integration: Develop instructional materials across core areas including automated textile manufacturing, smart textiles/wearables, AI-driven production systems, digital twins, advanced fibers, protective materials and quality systems.
Facility Asset Utilization: Design hands-on laboratory modules leveraging Wilson College assets, including the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), The Nonwovens Institute (NWI), the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) and the Kimbrell Flex Factory, Kimbrell Fiber Innovation Center, AATCC, UMASS Lowell, Drexel, The Textiles Institute at GTech, ISAIC and more across the ecosystem as FutureTex expands.
Immersive Training Tools: Integrate mixed-reality (VR/AR), simulation and AI-enabled instructional tools into training modules in collaboration with technology partners (e.g., MxD, ARM Institute, TechAI).
Program Execution & Implementation
Cohort Operational Management: Oversee the scheduling, registration, staffing and execution of EWD programs across multiple learner pathways, including K–12 CTE students, 2-year community college transfer cohorts (2+2 pathways), university students, transitioning military/veterans (Vets RISE) and incumbent industry workers.
Pathway Integration: Implement seamless credit transfer and pre-apprenticeship pathways with key academic partner institutions, including Gaston College and Catawba Valley Community College.
Industry & Extension Workshops: Coordinate specialized upskilling short courses and technical workshops for domestic defense suppliers and commercial textile manufacturers.
Rebranding & Recruitment Support
In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, engage in regional outreach and talent attraction activities in alignment with FutureTEX’s national campaign, "Evolving Our Revolutionary Fibers and Workforce".
Project Management Coordination & Metrics Tracking
Project Manager Alignment: Maintain daily operational synchronization with NC State and FutureTEX Project Managers to align instructional development timelines with innovation sprint project calls and federal milestone reporting.
Performance Metrics Management: Track, verify and report participant data against key federal performance metrics:
Reaching ≥5,000 learners annually through outreach and engagement.
Producing 250–300 credentialed technicians per year.
Upskilling ≥200 incumbent workers annually.
Achieving ≥75% job placement for graduates within 6 months.