OCI Craft Workforce Development Leader

Job Summary

OCI’s Workforce Development Leader is responsible for designing, launching, and scaling workforce development and apprenticeship programs that support current and future construction project needs across the region. This role serves as a strategic connector between operations, Human Resources, executive leadership, and external partners, including education institutions, workforce agencies, and community organizations to build sustainable talent pipelines for skilled trades and craft professionals.

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Key Responsibilities

Workforce Strategy & Program Leadership

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of regional workforce development, apprenticeship, and craft training programs aligned with OCI project and business needs.
• Develop scalable talent pipelines across skilled trades and construction roles, leveraging vocational training, apprenticeships, military transition programs, and career and technical education pathways.
• Partner with executive leadership, HR, and operations to align workforce development initiatives with long term workforce planning and project demand.

Project & Apprenticeship Program Support

• Set up and support execution of apprenticeship and craft development programs for existing and emerging projects across the region.
• Support project labor readiness through coordination of recruitment, onboarding, mobilization, training, upskilling, career development, and engagement activities.
• Collaborate with project teams and Labor Relations partners to ensure workforce initiatives align with site requirements, labor strategies, and applicable regulations.
• Owns oversight and governance for all DOL-approved registered apprenticeship programs across multiple states and occupations. 
• Serve as liaison with US Dept of Labor, NCCER, and state apprenticeship and workforce development agencies. 

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

• Acts as SME on implementation of IRA compliance for OCI apprenticeship program.
• Provides functional oversight and leadership of IRA Coordinators supporting OCI projects enterprise-wide.
• Accountable for coordinator alignment, consistency, prioritization, and escalation.
• Establishes direction for compliance execution, not merely advisory support.
• Owns apprenticeship compliance strategy and standards across all OCI projects. 

Stakeholder & Partnership Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with education institutions, workforce agencies, government entities, community organizations, and industry partners.
• Represent OCI in external workforce ecosystems, supporting partnership agreements, memorandums of understanding (MOUs), and collaborative workforce initiatives.
• Deliver apprenticeship awareness, school district engagement, and pathway marketing efforts to strengthen early career talent pipelines.

Learning Systems & Program Operations

• Evaluate, implement, and continuously improve Learning Management Systems (LMS) and related workforce development tools.
• Apply adult learning principles, trade credentialing requirements, and career ladder frameworks to ensure training programs are effective and outcome driven.
• Manage training budgets and support externally funded or grant supported workforce programs as applicable.

Data, Reporting & Governance

• Define and track key workforce performance indicators (e.g., enrollment growth, apprenticeship placements, time to mobilize, training completions, partner engagement).
• Develop dashboards and narrative reports to communicate workforce outcomes, program effectiveness, and continuous improvement opportunities to leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure all workforce development activities comply with Black & Veatch policies, site procedures, and legal requirements.

Management Responsibilities

Supervises work of others. Responsible for hiring, discipline, and pay administration of their subordinates.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and trades certification and 13-15 years of relevant experience
• 8–10+ years in aligned experience.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement across government, education, and industry.
• Working knowledge of training program design, apprenticeship pathways, and education institutions
• Proficiency with workforce systems and processes
• Strong communication, facilitation, and coalition building skills; ability to operate effectively with senior leaders and external partners.
• Demonstrated experience leading workforce development, training, or large-scale talent programs within skilled trades and construction, industries.
• Working knowledge of vocational training models, apprenticeships, and alternative talent pipelines such as military transition programs and career/technical education.
• Understanding of adult learning methodologies, trade credentialing, and workforce career ladders.
• Experience managing training budgets, external funding, or grant-supported programs.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and program management capabilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, HR partners, and construction operational teams.
• Proven track record of launching programs and using data to measure and improve outcomes.
• Hands-on experience evaluating, implementing, and continuously improving Learning Management Systems.
• Ability to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (background check, drug screen, motor vehicle records search).

Preferred Qualifications

9+ years construction operations experience.

5+ years management experience leading training or instructional teams.

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Education, Business, HR, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Demonstrated experience leading workforce development, training, or large-scale talent programs within skilled trades and construction, industries. 

Working knowledge of vocational training models, apprenticeships, and alternative talent pipelines such as military transition programs and career/technical education. 

Prior work with developing, implementing apprenticeship programs with internal and external stakeholders or similar state level workforce ecosystems; familiarity with non-union craft environments. 

Experience delivering apprenticeship awareness and school district engagement (e.g., counsellor training, pathway marketing). 

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Typical office environment  Including sitting, walking, talking, hearing, reading, writing, keyboarding, driving, filing, reaching, stooping, crouching, bending, standing for extended periods of time, lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds.

Must be able to travel to site projects, partner campuses and communities.
Occasional travel to Black & Veatch WHQ and regional offices (e.g., Houston, Garner) required.