NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas.

As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers.

NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) seeks a visionary and results-driven Senior Vice President of Enterprise Relations to spearhead the College’s engagement with the business and industrial sectors to include serving as an essential liaison with the regional workforce intermediary. Reporting directly to the President and serving as an essential member of the President’s Cabinet, this individual will focus on enhancing existing industry partnerships while establishing new collaborations across Northwest Arkansas and its adjacent areas to broaden and enrich the workforce talent within the region.

This position is critical for ensuring that the College offers work-based learning and training that aligns closely with employers' needs so that students graduate with the essential knowledge, skills, and credentials needed for career readiness and successful employment. The Senior Vice President will oversee the College’s Workforce Division, including its personnel, programs, and community-focused initiatives, and lead the internal strategy and coordination among its academic divisions and departments.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a thorough comprehension of workforce capacities and dynamics, an awareness of the implications of artificial intelligence in the workplace, exemplary skills in relationship-building, proficiency in mathematical and analytical tasks, and a high degree of emotional and social intelligence.

This position is grant-funded and subject to all terms and conditions of the specific grant. This position is renewable annually based on continued need for the position, availability of funding, and satisfactory job performance. This position is part of the college’s broader plan to build a robust enterprise relations team, with support from the Walton Family Foundation.

Cabinet leadership at NorthWest Arkansas Community College is expected to be highly visible, approachable, and effective in building strong connections with colleagues, students, and the broader community. This dedication to being physically present and engaged on campus is integral to enhancing the educational experience, supporting student success, and advancing the college's mission and strategic goals. Remote work is discouraged, as it can impede these crucial interactions and connections.

Essential Duties:

• Establish and maintain robust partnerships with the regional workforce intermediary and leaders in business and industry to enhance student employment and training opportunities

• Lead and manage the College's Workforce Division, encompassing staff oversight, program delivery, and budgetary management

• In collaboration with regional partners and intermediaries, create and implement a comprehensive and measurable strategic plan for regional workforce training

• Act as the primary point of contact for the College regarding external workforce collaborations and enterprise engagement

• Engage in close collaboration with academic leaders to align workforce training and degree programs with the evolving requirements of the labor market

• Represent the College in regional business organizations, economic development groups, and collaborative forums

• Facilitate the advancement of internships, apprenticeships, and tailored training solutions in collaboration with industry partners

• Engage collaboratively with the leadership of Student Affairs to ensure that student needs are addressed promptly and effectively, while concurrently adhering to the policies and procedures of the college

• Utilize labor market data and employer feedback to inform program development and guarantee the relevance of workforce offerings

• Identify opportunities for innovative programs and services that directly address employer talent requirements

• Develop a comprehensive suite of enterprise-specific and customized accelerated workforce training opportunities that enable students to earn industry credentials, micro-badges, or competencies recognized by the industry

• Identify the regional employers who possess a suitably skilled workforce in alignment with the demands of business expediency

• Develop programs that focus on developing skills, enhancing existing competencies, and/or re-establishing skills among students through expedited training opportunities.

• Collaborate with local, regional, and state agencies, as well as community organizations, including workforce intermediaries, to ensure the establishment of effective workforce pipelines

• Core competencies for this position include the following: Collaborative Leadership, Business and Community Engagement, Data-Driven Decision Making, Process and Logic Thinker, Program Oversight and Development, Communication and Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Financial and Operational Management

Rate of Pay: $153,314 annualized *Higher compensation may be considered based on qualifications directly related to position.

Completed applications received by Monday, 10/27/2025, will be assured full consideration. Late applications will be reviewed as necessary to fill the position. Anticipated start date for this position is mid-January 2026.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business administration, workforce development, economics, public administration, education, or a related field

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in workforce development, business engagement, or a related sector

• Demonstrated success in developing and managing partnerships with businesses and industries

• Experience leading teams, managing budgets, and delivering measurable results

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a community college or higher education setting

• Knowledge of the Northwest Arkansas business and economic landscape

• Experience fostering collaboration across education, business, and government sectors

• Doctoral degree in business administration, workforce development, economics, public administration, education, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• High emotional and social intelligence, proven to lead through collaboration and influence

• Knowledge/understanding of workforce funding mechanisms and employer training models

• Strong analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving skills related to workforce trends and big data

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Proven ability to convene and network across diverse groups of people

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.
While performing the functions of this job, the employee is:
Frequently:
• Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding
• Sitting
• Standing
• Walking
Constantly:
• Hearing
• Repetitive motion
• Talking

The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and/or visual inspection at distances close to the eyes.

Environmental Conditions:

The following work environment characteristics are representative of those encountered by employees while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

The work environment typically consists of a professional office setting with a moderate noise level, including sounds from conversations, office equipment, and occasional movement of staff. Lighting is standard for office spaces, and the temperature is controlled to remain within a comfortable range. Employees may occasionally need to visit other areas, such as storage rooms, conference spaces, or outdoor locations, where environmental conditions may vary. Infrequently, exposure to louder noise levels or physical activities, such as moving lightweight materials, might be required.

NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.