Executive Director of Business Relations (Program Manager II) #2711

Reporting to the Vice President of Economic Development, the Executive Director of Business Relations serves as the lead strategist and relationship manager for the division's engagement with business, industry, workforce development organizations, and community partners. This position cultivates and expands partnerships that support apprenticeships, internships, customized training, workforce development initiatives, and other innovative education and training solutions. The Executive Director provides leadership for business development, external relations, grant-supported initiatives, partnership expansion, and departmental operations while collaborating with college leadership, faculty, staff, employers, and governmental agencies to strengthen the college's role as a workforce and economic development leader throughout the region and state. Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Department of Business Relations, including establishing goals, evaluating performance metrics, identifying emerging trends, and developing initiatives that enhance the college's visibility and impact within the business community.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop departmental staff while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and excellence in customer engagement and external partnership management.

• Develop, cultivate, and maintain relationships with business and industry leaders, chambers of commerce, trade associations, workforce development organizations, community partners, and other key stakeholders throughout the region, state, and nation.

• Lead efforts to expand apprenticeship, internship, contract training, customized workforce training, and other strategic partnerships that support employer needs and workforce development goals.

• Assess program effectiveness through data analysis, return-on-investment evaluations, market assessments, and performance metrics to identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with academic and administrative departments across the college to strengthen engagement with external partners and align workforce training initiatives with industry needs.

• Serve as the college's primary liaison with workforce and economic development partners, including Apprenticeship Carolina, readySC, retrainSC, and other state and regional organizations that support workforce advancement.

• Support grant development, implementation, management, and partnership activities associated with workforce development and economic development initiatives.

• Represent the college through participation in professional organizations, conferences, workgroups, economic development initiatives, and community engagement activities at the local, state, and national levels.

• Assist divisional leadership with advocacy efforts involving business leaders, workforce partners, and elected officials while managing departmental budgets and ensuring compliance with college and state policies and procedures.

This position requires a bachelor's degree and relevant program management experience. Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Experience in workforce development, economic development, business engagement, higher education, corporate training, or community relations.
• Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with business and industry leaders, workforce agencies, governmental organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Experience leading apprenticeship, internship, customized training, or employer partnership programs.
• Experience with grant solicitation, implementation, management, and reporting.
• Experience conducting program assessments, market analyses, performance evaluations, and return-on-investment analysis.
• Experience supervising professional staff and leading organizational change initiatives.
• Knowledge of workforce development programs and resources, including partnerships with organizations such as Apprenticeship Carolina, readySC, retrainSC, chambers of commerce, and related entities.
• Strong public speaking, relationship-building, business development, and strategic leadership skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and customer relationship management, reporting, or workforce data systems

Occasional evening and extended hours may be required during peak operational periods. The position requires travel to all college campuses and other business-related sites, with occasional overnight travel.