Welding Program Director

POSITION OVERVIEW: Directly responsible and accountable for ensuring the fulfillment of educational goals and objectives and ensuring program compliance with regulating/accrediting standards. These responsibilities require leadership in both academic and workforce areas and include meeting student retention goals; directing and participating in educational planning; program organization; staffing, training of faculty & staff, evaluating program faculty and student performance; motivating and advising students; and developing and maintaining the program budget.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Program Curriculum: Keep the curriculum up to date with industry needs, and see that performance standards, competencies, lesson plans, tests, and textbooks are kept current. Recommends necessary revisions to existing training courses and possible changes to the curriculum.
• Faculty Management: Effectively motivates and provides tools to each faculty member to ensure effectiveness in teaching skills. Conduct classroom/lab observations to monitor theory classes and help instructors improve their presentations and methods of teaching. Develop operational procedures, establish workloads, assign tasks, and review results with all department personnel. Ensure that faculty are being cross-trained. Interview, train, supervise, evaluate, and monitor department personnel. Listen to staff to resolve conflicts promptly.
• Student retention: Identifies all "at risk" students (attendance, academics, and conduct related), and takes a proactive role in assisting "at-risk" students with tutoring, encouragement, and working with the Instructor, Academic Dean, Student Services Coordinator, Registrar, and Student Retention Specialist to keep them in school.
• Provide for the safety of students and co-workers. Conduct monthly department rounds and submit safety checklists.
• Equipment/Materials: Ensure enough, types of equipment, material, and training aids for the department, and the quality and good care of equipment/materials. Ensure that each faculty member implements technology in the classroom regularly.
• Ensure timely issuance of uniforms, books/e-books, personal protective equipment (PPE), and laptops/tablets where needed.
• Student surveys/complaints: Ensure surveys are conducted after each course, and any outstanding issues are followed up in and timely resolved. Results are distributed to faculty and appropriate administration parties.
• Instructor portal: Enforces, ensures, and holds instructors accountable for the documentation of student information, such as attendance, grades, and notes, in an accurate, consistent, and timely.
• Student Competencies: Ensure that all instructors have and use the competencies as appropriate for their courses, recording the results in folders designated for that purpose and passing the folders on to subsequent instructors. Conduct random audits of competency folders to ensure that the instructors comply.
• Continuous education: Keep technically up to date in the subject field by attending training seminars and by personal study. Based upon knowledge gained through these seminars, train instructors in these items. Keep them up to date with in-house training and enroll them in training seminars. Ensure that respective Faculty staff meets the required Continuous Education Units (CEUs) by the end of October of each year.
• Schedule and organize PAC meetings, and ensure minutes are taken and presented.
• Organize industry tours for students.
• Assist in conducting community surveys to gather occupational information, such as standards of training for the industry.
• Internship sites/Graduate’s employment: Ensure that all students are timely placed at a site for the completion of their internship and assist career services in ensuring that a minimum of 75% of graduates acquire employment in their field of study. Will be responsible for signing internship agreements.
• Recruiting events: Work closely with the Admissions department to identify and select appropriate recruiting events to promote the program and support the College’s visibility and general recruitment efforts.
• Conduct observations of technical faculty in the classrooms; provide immediate feedback to faculty and make recommendations. A minimum of six (6) instructor/classroom observations should be conducted monthly.
• Strategic Partnerships (SP) and Customized Training (CT): Assist, support, and provide input and respond in a timely manner to SP and CT requests and work in conjunction with SP/CT Coordinator in identifying, approving, and/or carrying out CT training or other training opportunities.
• Ensure the quality of education students receive online meets the rigor and technical standards of program objectives.
• Communicate weekly with the Distance Education Coordinator to ensure the online delivery platform and faculty are fully utilizing hybrid training functions efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure that the syllabus includes hybrid delivery policies and that the work assigned online is sufficient to meet the requirements of online delivery for each course.
• Monitor the hybrid surveys and conduct training as appropriate.
• Oversee that homework trackers are prepared for every course.
• Submit College Catalog changes in a timely manner.
• As needed, perform all essential functions and other responsibilities of an instructor.
• Develop and submit timely the Annual Plan and Budget for the Department.
• Understand, follow, and enforce school rules, policies, and procedures.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum of an associate’s degree in Welding Technology, Manufacturing, or a related field; a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 Years in a Supervisory or Leadership Role. Experience managing teams, ideally in an educational or training environment preferred.
• Be a current Certified Welding Inspector (CWI).
• Certified Welding Educator (CWE) is preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of practical welding experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Prior experience teaching or training in welding or a related technical field, ideally at a community college or vocational/technical school.
• Experience in program development or curriculum planning is highly desirable.
• Experience managing budgets, including funding allocation for equipment, materials, and facility maintenance.
• Proficiency in various welding techniques (MIG, TIG, Stick) and equipment, with knowledge of current industry standards and safety protocols.
• Knowledgeable about curriculum design, learning outcomes, and assessments to ensure the program meets industry and accreditation standards.
• Knowledge of and experience with innovative teaching methods, including hands-on training, virtual simulators, or other digital resources.
• Understanding of student needs, engagement techniques, and retention strategies for adult learners in technical programs.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and minimum legal insurance coverage on a personal vehicle.
• Must have a personal cell phone to be used with the MFA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Strong leadership abilities to mentor instructors, manage staff, and provide academic guidance to students.
• Commitment to maintaining program compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Ability to engage with industry advisory boards to ensure program alignment with workforce demands.
• Involvement in professional development or additional certifications in welding technology or educational leadership.
• Ability to work with local industry partners to create internship or job placement opportunities for students.

• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, plus analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and the public.
• Must be customer service oriented.
• Ability to evaluate objectively, fairly, and consistently.
• Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Office).
• Presentation and group facilitation skills.
• Ability to demonstrate self-direction and motivation.
• Ability to organize and prioritize duties.
• Ability and willingness to comply with school policies and procedures, and state and federal laws and regulations.
  
  WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the responsibilities of the job, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the job holder will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The passage of employees through the work area is average and normal.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed hereafter are representative of the knowledge, skills and or abilities required to do this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.