Director of Programs, SWFT Prepare

POSITION: Director, SWFT Prepare

DEPARTMENT: SWFT (Space Workforce for Tomorrow)

REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Space Foundation Discovery Center

Position Summary/Objective

The Director of SWFT Prepare is responsible for the strategic leadership, growth, and execution of Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT) Prepare, a national workforce development initiative designed to connect students, universities, employers, and industry leaders through internships, career readiness programming, and talent pipeline development.

A primary responsibility of this role is cultivating and sustaining strong relationships with Space Foundation member companies, employers, and workforce leaders to ensure long-term participation, industry relevance, and measurable value for employer partners. The Director serves as a trusted advisor to industry, helping organizations strengthen their talent pipelines while creating meaningful career pathways for students.

This role serves as the primary leader for a nationwide network of member companies, government partners, higher education institutions, and workforce development stakeholders. The Director works closely with human resources professionals, talent acquisition leaders, university partners, and industry experts to develop and implement scalable programs that prepare students for careers in space, aerospace, defense, STEM, and related industries.

The Director provides strategic vision while actively leading partnership development, program implementation, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement efforts to ensure measurable workforce outcomes and sustainable program growth.

Responsibilities

The following briefly describes the primary responsibilities of this job, but it is not intended to be a complete or all-inclusive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of this position:

SWFT Prepare Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• Lead the vision, strategy, and execution of SWFT Prepare as a national workforce development and internship initiative.
• Develop short-and long-term strategic plans that align with organizational goals and industry workforce needs.
• Establish measurable objectives, KPIs, and success metrics for program outcomes.
• Identify opportunities for program expansion, innovation, and increased national impact.
• Ensure program activities support the development of diverse, highly skilled talent pipelines for industry partners.
  
  

Industry and Employer Engagement

• In partnership with Member Services, serve as the primary relationship manager for participating member companies and employer partners.
• Develop trusted, long-term relationships with executives, HR leaders, talent acquisition professionals, hiring managers, and workforce development leaders across the aerospace, defense, and technology sectors.
• Develop and execute employer engagement strategies that increase company participation, retention, and long-term investment in SWFT Prepare initiatives.
• Regularly meet with employers to understand evolving workforce needs, hiring challenges, emerging skills, and talent pipeline priorities, using those insights to continuously improve programs.
• Convene employer advisory groups and engagement forums to gather industry insights and best practices.
• Expand employer participation and support the development of high-quality internships, apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and experiential learning experiences.
• Monitor employer satisfaction and proactively address concerns to ensure strong partner retention and long-term engagement.
• Champion the value proposition of SWFT Prepare by demonstrating measurable return on investment for participating employers through data, success stories, and workforce outcomes.
  
  

University Partnership Management

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with colleges, universities, technical schools, and academic consortia nationwide.
• Collaborate with university leadership, faculty, career services, and workforce development offices to expand student participation.
• Coordinate institutional engagement strategies that support student recruitment, career readiness, and internship placement.
• Identify and cultivate new partnerships to increase geographic and demographic reach.
  
  

Program Operations and Delivery

• Oversee the implementation and administration of internship, workforce readiness, mentoring, and career development programs.
• Ensure efficient processes for student recruitment, application review, internship matching, onboarding, and program evaluation.
• Monitor participant and member satisfaction to ensure high-quality program delivery.
• Develop policies, procedures, and frameworks to support program consistency and scalability.
• Address challenges related to placements, stakeholder engagement, and program logistics.
  
  

Workforce Development and Career Readiness

• Lead initiatives that prepare students for successful careers in space-related industries.
• Coordinate professional development opportunities, workshops, networking events, and career preparation programming.
• Promote industry-recognized skills, workforce competencies, and emerging workforce trends.
• Collaborate with employers and educational institutions to identify critical workforce gaps and opportunities.
  
  

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the connector between employers, universities, students, and workforce partners to ensure alignment between educational preparation and industry hiring needs.
• Work closely with internal teams to align SWFT Prepare with organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, workforce boards, industry associations, and community partners.
• Represent Space Foundation at conferences, meetings, and industry events related to workforce development and education.
• Serve as a spokesperson and advocate for workforce development initiatives and talent pipeline programs.
  
  

Program Impact, Growth and Sustainability

• Develop strategies to retain existing employer partners while expanding participation from new organizations across the national space ecosystem.
• Build a sustainable employer engagement model that encourages recurring participation, sponsorship, and long-term investment in SWFT workforce initiatives.
• Use employer feedback, workforce trends, and outcome data to continuously improve participant experiences and program effectiveness.
• Measure and communicate program impact through data-driven evaluation, reporting, and stakeholder engagement, using insights to drive continuous improvement and workforce outcomes.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for program growth through strategic partnerships, sponsorships, grants, and other funding sources.
• Collaborate with Membership and external partners to secure resources and ensure long-term program sustainability.
• Champion the value and impact of SWFT Prepare internally and externally while ensuring compliance with organizational policies and funding requirements.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Oversees the work of assigned personnel by setting priorities, coaching for development, and managing performance to achieve individual and team success in alignment with organizational goals.
  
  

Budgetary Responsibilities

• Develops and manages the program or department budget, ensuring adherence to budgetary standards, proactively tracking expenditures, and communicating deviations to Finance in a timely and transparent manner.
  
  

Competencies

• Strong understanding of workforce development trends, internship best practices, and talent acquisition strategies.
• Demonstrated success developing, managing, and growing strategic partnerships with corporate, nonprofit, government, or higher education organizations.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and build consensus across diverse organizations.
• Strong business development, consultative relationship management, and customer success skills.
• Demonstrated ability to retain and expand strategic partnerships over time.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across teams and organizations.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and solutions oriented.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop team .
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Education, Workforce Development, Public Administration, Aerospace, Engineering, Communications, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Master’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Workforce Development, Higher Education Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in workforce development, internship programs, talent pipeline development, higher education partnerships, human resources, or program management.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex multi-stakeholder programs involving educational institutions and industry partners.
• Experience collaborating with HR professionals, recruiters, and workforce development.
• Experience identifying partner needs and developing solutions that create mutual value.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presentation experience.
• Experience analyzing program data and developing performance metrics.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, CRM systems, applicant tracking systems, and related technologies.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience managing partnerships at the national or regional level.
• Experience within the space, aerospace, defense, advanced technology, or STEM industries preferred.
• Experience managing national internship or workforce development programs preferred.
• Knowledge of federal workforce initiatives, grants, or workforce funding mechanisms preferred.
  
  

Physical Demands

This position involves extended periods of sitting or standing at a workstation and frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment. Occasional movement, including walking, lifting, or carrying items up to 15 pounds, may be required. Reasonable accommodation will be made to support individuals with disabilities in performing essential job functions.

Work Environment

This role is primarily based in an office environment, with access to standard equipment and furnishings. The employee may occasionally be required to participate in offsite meetings or events, including potential travel as needed. The work environment is quiet to moderate in noise level. Reasonable accommodation will be made for individuals with disabilities.

Job Status

• FLSA Classification: This position is exempt according to guidelines of the Fair Labor Standards Act and, as such, an individual in this position is not eligible to receive overtime pay.
• Full- or Part-Time: This position is full-time in nature. An individual in this position will work a schedule consisting of 40+ hours per week.
• Work Location: This position’s primary work site is at Space Foundation headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. The nature and responsibilities of this position are such that it is eligible for alternative worksite arrangements, such as working from home or telecommuting, on a consistent or recurring basis. Some national travel may be required.
• Regular Schedule: Usual business days are Monday through Friday, holidays excepted, and usual business hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. in the time zone in which the position is located.
  
  

Eeo Statement

Space Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.