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Ascend Indiana - Senior Director of Workforce Strategies, Data

Indianapolis, United States

Job Overview

Ascend Indiana (Ascend) is a fast-growing nonprofit on a mission to address Indiana’s workforce misalignment. Ascend’s vision is that all Hoosiers and all employers are equipped to thrive in Indiana’s evolving economy. An initiative of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), Ascend collaborates with corporate, education, philanthropic, and community partners, and is well-positioned to play a leadership role in addressing Indiana’s workforce challenges.

The Senior Director of Workforce Strategies, Data works alongside the Vice President of Workforce Strategies to advance Ascend’s mission of enabling a modern workforce ecosystem. The Senior Director will leverage data and insights to anticipate workforce trends, inform decision-making, and support initiatives addressing stakeholder needs. This role requires a strong background in workforce development, with excellent communication and project management skills, and a passion for driving impact through data-informed strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Data Strategy & Insights Leadership

Set and lead Ascend’s research agenda, identifying priority questions, data sources, and analytical approaches to inform statewide strategy
Oversee the design and execution of Ascend’s data strategy, ensuring high-quality data collection, management, and analysis from sources such as Lightcast, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), and other sources
Translate complex data into actionable insights to anticipate workforce trends, skill gaps, and emerging industry needs at the state and regional level
Lead the development and dissemination of thought leadership reports, white papers, and policy briefs that synthesize data trends to inform state and regional decision-makers

Strategic Collaboration & External Partnerships

Serve as the primary data liaison to CICP and its branded initiatives, co-leading shared data projects and ensuring alignment across the ecosystem
Partner with state agencies, industry, education, and/or other stakeholders to inform strategy and program design through data-driven insights
Build and maintain relationships with employers, intermediaries, and regional stakeholders to ensure Ascend’s data work reflects and informs on-the-ground realities

Strategy Integration

Collaborate with the Workforce Strategies team to embed data insights into the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of scalable workforce initiatives
Serve as a strategic advisor on program design, leveraging trends in labor market and education data to shape implementation models and recommendations
Co-develop toolkits, playbooks, and frameworks that translate data into actionable strategies for employers, intermediaries, education partners, and/or other stakeholders

Cross-Functional Leadership & Project Execution

Lead high-impact, data-informed workforce projects from planning to execution, ensuring they advance Ascend’s strategic priorities
Oversee project timelines, milestones, deliverables, and budgets, ensuring successful and timely outcomes
Coordinate cross-functional teams across CICP, CICP branded initiatives, state agencies, and regional partners to drive alignment and collaboration
Anticipate and mitigate risks to project success, and communicate progress, insights, and implications to Ascend leadership and external stakeholders

Requirements

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Data Science, Public Policy, Economics, or a related field (Master’s degree strongly preferred)

Experience

8+ years of experience in workforce development, education, economic development, or data analytics roles
Proven track record leading data strategy, analytics, and cross-sector workforce initiatives
Deep understanding of workforce policy, labor market data sources, and the education-to-employment ecosystem
Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into clear insights that shape strategy and influence decision-making
Experience working with key state and regional stakeholders to align workforce strategies with industry and education priorities

Skills

Ability to lead large-scale, data-driven projects that inform strategic decisions and drive measurable outcomes
Strong project management expertise, including experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple priorities simultaneously
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex data insights into actionable strategies for diverse audiences
Ability to build and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with government agencies, industry leaders, educational institutions, and community partners
Familiarity with state-level workforce development initiatives, policies, and funding

Attributes

Passionate about Ascend Indiana’s mission to create a modern workforce ecosystem
Strong leadership and strategic thinking abilities, with a focus on collaboration and impact
Adaptable and able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Demonstrated ability to drive initiatives that result in measurable outcomes
Committed to continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence

Details

Manager: Vice President of Workforce Strategies, Ascend Indiana
Office location: 16 Tech, downtown Indianapolis, with hybrid work (in office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week)
Work week: 40+ hours/week
Travel: Statewide (25%)

Benefits

100% paid healthcare and dental premiums for both individuals and families.
Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous match. 5% contribution by the employer regardless of employee contribution and up to an additional 5% employee voluntary contribution eligible to be matched by the employer.
Paid Group Life, Short-Term, and Long-Term disability insurance benefits.
New office location and facilities at 16 Tech Innovation District.
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including 17 holidays.

CICP grants equal opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, age, national origin, military service obligations, veteran status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law. CICP provides equal opportunity in wages, promotions, benefits, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to careers@ascendindiana.com or 317.464.5412.

Responsibilities for this role include interacting with student personally identifiable information (PII). As a condition of access, you are responsible for taking steps to protect the confidentiality of student PII in both electronic and physical form. All responsibilities relating to student PII must be conducted within the parameters of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

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