Iowa Office of Apprenticeship Project Manager

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is seeking an Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA) Project Manager to join our team in our Registered Apprentice Bureau in Des Moines, IA.

Position Details

• Location: 1000 E Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA
• Schedule: Full-time | Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Work Flexibility: Hybrid telework and alternate schedules available after six months of employment and training have been completed.

IOA Project Manager Job Description The Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA) is seeking a highly organized Project Manager to advance Iowa’s work-based learning (WBL) system while supporting key Registered Apprenticeship (RA) initiatives. This role is central to expanding high-quality, sustainable WBL experiences such as pre-apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and other “earn and learn” pathways that connect students and adults directly to in-demand careers.

The Project Manager works closely with businesses, schools, and community organizations to help them design and implement strong WBL strategies. This includes providing technical assistance, advising on program structure, supporting goal development, and promoting new opportunities that strengthen local talent pipelines. The position also assists the State Apprenticeship Director by coordinating major RA projects, developing clear project plans, and creating the internal processes and data tracking tools needed to support effective implementation.

Collaboration is a key aspect of the role. The Project Manager works in partnership with IOA staff, Iowa Workforce Development teams, and leaders across the agency to ensure WBL and apprenticeship initiatives align with broader workforce priorities. Externally, the Project Manager serves as a primary point of contact for community colleges, high school administrators, school boards, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, employers, and other stakeholders engaged in expanding work-based learning across the state.

The Project Manager also contributes to ongoing IOA and IWD efforts and supports emerging projects as assigned. Candidates should demonstrate strong project management skills, clear communication, and the ability to work effectively with diverse partners to strengthen Iowa’s apprenticeship and WBL ecosystem.

About Iowa Workforce Development Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is a state agency dedicated to providing exceptional employment services and connecting employers with skilled workers. With a strong focus on continuous improvement and aligning services with workforce demands, IWD offers comprehensive support to job seekers and employers through a statewide network of IowaWORKS Centers.

Benefits Joining the IWD team and becoming a State of Iowa employee comes with a range of valuable benefits, including:

• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off, including nine paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave with no cap on the sick leave accrual.
• Prepare for the future with the IPERS retirement package, as well as an additional optional deferred compensation retirement plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Free Life and Long-term Disability Insurance with the option to purchase additional coverage.
• Employee Assistance Programs and Discount Programs for support.

Click here to learn more about all of the amazing benefits the State of Iowa offers.

E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify; a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

No applicant for employment with the Iowa Department of Workforce Development can have a current, ongoing overpayment balance with Iowa Workforce Development without a payment plan in place. Selected positions will be subject to a criminal background check. Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field, and experience equal to four years of full-time professional-level work in program administration, program development, program operations , or management.

2. A total of eight years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3. All of the following (a, b, and c): a. Two years of full-time professional-level work experience in program administration, program development, program operations , or management; and b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, public health, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.

4. Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes twelve months of full-time work as an Executive Officer 1 or comparable specific management-level position.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.