Education Division Director - College & Career Readiness

at State of Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to serve as the Division Director of College and Career Readiness. Reporting directly to the Chief Academic Officer, this role is a cornerstone of the Agency’s Academics division. The position will lead the College and Career Readiness "Home Team," overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes Adult Education, Career Technical Education (CTE), Flexible Pathways (Act 77), and Expanded Learning Opportunities.

This is not a standalone administrative role; it is a critical leadership position designed to embed college and career navigation into our broader system improvement efforts. The Division Director will be responsible for ensuring that career-aligned learning is a fundamental component of PreK-12 academic proficiency rather than a secondary "overlay" to the traditional curriculum.

Key responsibilities and strategic priorities

• Strategic Leadership & System Alignment
  
  • Develop and execute a strategic plan for college and career readiness that aligns with the Agency’s vision and core pillars.
  • Lead the systemic redesign of educational pathways to ensure K-12, CTE, higher education, and workforce systems are seamlessly aligned to remove structural barriers for students.
  • Drive initiatives that elevate multiple, equally valued postsecondary pathways, including industry credentials, apprenticeships, and technical careers alongside traditional college enrollment.
• Policy, Legislation, and Advocacy
  
  • Develop and promote policy statements for CTE, Act 77, and Adult Education that uphold state standards while advocating for necessary legislative shifts.
    Implement model career navigation policies that embed grade-level competencies into core instruction, starting as early as elementary school to ensure developmentally appropriate career exposure.
  • Maintain extensive interaction with the State Board of Education, State Legislature, federal officials, and other external stakeholders to support statewide educational transformation.
• Equitable Access & Fiscal Oversight
  
  • Establish budget priorities that address the needs of Local Education Agencies (LEAs), specifically focusing on removing barriers in rural and under-resourced areas.
  • Address "oversubscribed" programs by identifying and securing state and federal funding (including Perkins) to expand program capacity and resolve scheduling and transportation challenges.
  • Ensure absolute fidelity to federal requirements while maximizing resource flexibility to support local innovation.
• Data-Driven Success & Accountability
  
  • Define and measure success broadly by developing tools to track longitudinal outcomes 2–5 years post-graduation, moving beyond simple graduation rates to measure credential attainment and  career persistence.
  • Utilize Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) as a primary mechanism for tracking both academic proficiency and student-defined success.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Thorough knowledge of workforce trends, CTE, and Adult Education programs.
• Proven skill in managing complex change processes related to Act 77 and new statewide graduation requirements.
• Ability to serve as an active member of the Extended Leadership Team and build partnerships with business groups and higher education.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills for representing the Agency to the public and the educational community.
• Environmental Factors

  Normal office working conditions generally prevail. Incumbent must be able to interact, work, and deal with Department staff, educators, state, federal, and local officials, and the general public. Evening and weekend work may be required. Considerable travel is necessary for which private means of transportation must be available.