Director of the Division of College, Career, and Student Success

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job ID: 36506

Agency: Department of Education - Division of College, Career, and Student Success

Location: Pierre, SD

Salary: $85,900 - $96,500/annually, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: M

Closing Date: 07/16/2026

The South Dakota Department of Education seeks an innovative leader to serve as the Director for the Division of College, Career, and Student Success. This critical role leads the vision, strategy, and related efforts to ensure all students have the experiences and supports they need to persist through to high school graduation and find success afterwards. Key responsibilities include overseeing the state's efforts on Career and Technical Education, Jobs for America's Graduates, and efforts to enhance student wellness and supports, career development, and high school equivalency throughout the state. Other key responsibilities include business/industry outreach and collaboration, alignment and engagement with postsecondary education systems, policy development, staffing, budgeting, orchestrating educational programs and workforce education efforts, grant management, integration with departmental initiatives, and collaboration with other state agencies. The position is a member of the Department leadership team and reports to the Deputy Secretary of Education.

This is a full-time position with the Department of Education. For more information on the Department of Education, please visit https://doe.sd.gov/.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Experience: Successful experience in leadership position(s) in education administration, public administration, business, or related fields. Accomplished in facilitating large initiatives, bringing diverse groups and perspectives together for productive action, policy development, staff deployment, strategic planning, grant administration and lobbying.
• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred in education, business, public administration, or related fields.
• Ability to travel: Approximately 20%, in state and out of state.

Knowledge of:

• Opportunities in education and all manner of pathways for students to find academic and workforce success in order to support existing and create new avenues.
• Modern communication styles to create, articulate, and deliver compelling messages and presentations.
• Leadership methods designed around strategic and innovative thinking, service, accountability and follow through.
• How to build coalitions across multiple levels and a variety of systems.

Skill and ability to:

• Provide vision and oversight for educational pathways and services, including realizing the vision of college, career, and life readiness for all students;
• Understand federal regulation and programming, including coordination with the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring compliance with federal law and regulation, and developing visionary methods to advance career and technical education;
• Support Jobs for America's Graduates-South Dakota in its efforts to grow in impact and scope, and serve as the state's primary program for dropout prevention and student engagement;
• Provide leadership for career development and student wellness efforts, including school counseling and suicide prevention;
• Craft and oversee budgets, grants, contracts, and fiscal reporting;
• Build a strong team by hiring and retaining talented staff; coach and mentor staff for expected performance;
• Ensure the highest standard of quality in services and programs;
• Coordinate efforts with other state agencies, including the Department of Labor and Regulation, Governor's Office of Economic Development, Department of Social Services, Board of Technical Education, Board of Regents, and others;
• Build relationships with superintendents, principals, legislators, community leaders, other state agency counterparts, and partners across the public and private sectors.

Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your cover letter and resume.

This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.

NCRC: If you possess a National Career Readiness Certificate, please submit the certificate with your application. For more information on how to acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate contact a South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation Job Service Office. A certificate is not necessary to be considered.

The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.

The State of South Dakota offers $0 premium employee health insurance option plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information here. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.

Must apply online: https://gen-stateofsouthdako-trn.inforcloudsuite.com/hcm/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=4A7

You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration

Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us

http://bhr.sd.gov/workforus

"An Equal Opportunity Employer"

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