Director Workforce Development Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation (UIC) seeks Shareholder and Workforce Development Manager to join our team. This position will coordinate, lead the development, implementation, and management of a dynamic and comprehensive program to develop, train, and mentor UIC employees, as well as UIC shareholders and their descendants to identify, pursue, and achieve their professional goals for employment, rewarding and successful work, and ongoing career development. Will work closely with various Human Resources representatives located throughout the UIC Family of Companies in coordination of the workforce development opportunities.

Essential functions will include:

Shareholder Development:

• Shapes a shared vision of UIC's Shareholder Development Program that embodies UIC's mission and values, and reflects the views of UIC's Board of Directors, management, shareholders, and their descendants.
• Coordination and Development of measures for success in achieving that vision and key milestones along the way.
• Engages stakeholders and experts within UIC, among shareholders and their descendants, and in the business community to develop the scope, specifications, and characteristics of a program that can realize that vision. Then, leads its creation in a collaborative and inclusive process.
• Manages the Shareholder Development Program to achieve measures for success, and adapts to changing shareholder and business needs and environments to build an ever stronger, sustainable, and more effective program. Key responsibilities in doing so will include:
  • Coordination and managing components in support of UIC's Shareholder Development Programs, to include shareholder mentoring, training, and hire at UIC; shareholder placement through other channels; and providing professional support and guidance to UIC shareholders throughout their careers.
  • Connecting short and long-term business opportunities pursued by UIC and other businesses in our communities with the Shareholder Development Program to ensure that we are preparing UIC's shareholders and descendants today for the opportunities of tomorrow.
  • Extending Shareholder Development to schools in coordination with the UIC Foundation, with programs to educate our shareholder's youth about the resources available to them; to mentor them on developing career goals, work ethic, and basic work skills; and to encourage and support them as they pursue their careers.
  • Orchestrating with regular interaction of Shareholder Development Program with UIC's Foundation program, education assistance, training, hiring practices, and other programs relevant to shareholder hire.
  • Capabilities to seeking partnerships with other organizations that can broaden the footprint of UIC's Shareholder Development Program and open up additional channels for UIC's shareholders, to include, but not limited to, opportunities with other Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs); other large, small, national, and local employers; federal and state agencies; and non-profit organizations with complementary missions.
  • Understanding of UIC's Foundation in seeking and securing funding from outside sources to support Shareholder Development, to include grants from federal and private organizations.
  • Serving as a liaison with UIC's shareholders and management to help leadership better understand the needs of UIC's shareholders and for UIC's shareholders to better understand the objectives, limitations, and resources of management and UIC.

Workforce Development:

• Develops and implements workforce development initiatives that align with UIC's strategic business needs, ensuring a pipeline of qualified talent across industries where UIC operates.
• Coordinates training and career development programs for all employees with an emphasis on increasing shareholder and descendant participation in skilled trades, operations, and leadership roles.
• Builds and sustains partnerships with educational institutions (e.g., Ilisagvik College, University of Alaska system), trade organizations, unions, and government agencies to expand vocational and career-readiness opportunities.
• Leads internal and external workforce assessments to identify skill gaps, labor market trends, and employment barriers for shareholders and descendants.
• Designs targeted workforce programs focused on upskilling, reskilling, and career progression, including apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and on-the-job training.
• Collaborates with subsidiary HR teams to ensure workforce development programming is responsive to real-time talent acquisition and retention challenges across the UIC Family of Companies.
• Supports implementation of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for high-potential employees and shareholders, tracking participation and outcomes.
• Promotes cultural alignment in all training initiatives by incorporating Inupiat values and ensuring culturally responsive learning environments.
• Tracks and reports workforce development metrics to assess program effectiveness, drive continuous improvement, and inform leadership decision-making.
• Seeks funding opportunities and manages grants or collaborative programs that support sustainable workforce and economic development in UIC communities.

Knowledge and Critical Skills/Expertise:

• A comprehensive understanding of ANCs and their responsibilities to their shareholders.
• Strong leadership, project management, organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal; oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, to include Word, Excel, Power Point; and internet applications. Proficiency with Shareholder management applications is a plus.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and vision for shareholder development.
• Effective work interaction with a wide range of constituents and audiences.
• Problem analysis and resolution.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Relevant experience may be substituted.
• At least eight years of experience managing people, programs, or both resulting in demonstrable management and leadership expertise.
• Understanding with knowledge of the grant writing processes to support UIC's Foundation.
• Two years of experience involving the creation and administration of programs associated with human development, which may include training, education, professional development, or some combination thereof.
• Experience operating in a corporate environment, preferably within an ANC, resulting in a demonstrable understanding of general business operations and accomplishing change within a business environment.
• Two years of experience working with shareholders, descendants, and spouses of ANCs resulting in a familiarity with their development needs and wants.

Additional Job Requirements:

• Must possess an intimate understanding of UIC shareholders' current and desired education and employment situations.
• Must possess a thorough understanding of the business environment, labor market, and education resources in Barrow and across Alaska, and be able to gain such an understanding for where UIC does business and where UIC shareholders live.
• Must possess an understanding of Inupiat values and their integration into the Inupiat culture and UIC's operations.
• Must have a valid Alaska's Driver's License.
• Must be able to pass mandatory pre-employment drug screening.
• Must be able to travel frequently between Anchorage and Barrow, with occasional travel to Lower 48 locations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• UIC shareholder or descendant preferred.
• Based in Utqiagvik or Anchorage, Alaska with regular travel to either location.
• Experience living, learning, and working in Barrow.

Physical and Mental Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Additionally:

• The employee is frequently required to read text on a computer screen and hard copy, sit for extended periods of time, talk, and hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is exposed to moderate levels of noise in a well-lit, well-ventilated, and moderately paced office environment.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment & Conditions:

This position is based in Utqiagvik or Anchorage, Alaska, with frequent travel within Alaska and infrequent travel in the Lower 48 as needed. Typical office setting in a large office building in an urban environment (Anchorage) or rural environment (Utqiagvik) but may have occasional travel to construction sites. Work is generally sedentary in nature but may require frequent standing and walking. The work environment is moderately quiet.

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