[Hiring] Career and Technical Education SME @Safal Partners

Role Description

Safal is seeking an experienced, recognized Career and Technical Education (CTE) subject matter expert to support business development, corporate strategy implementation, and project delivery. This role will contribute to our Postsecondary Education and Work-Based Learning practice growth by identifying and building approaches for federal and state level work around secondary and postsecondary CTE strategic planning, implementation, and cross-system alignment.

We are looking for someone with significant depth in Perkins V implementation preferably as a state CTE director/leader, a U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) program officer, a technical assistance (TA) provider, or a national CTE organization leader.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the CTE technical lead on business development (BD) capture efforts for federal and state opportunities, including pre-RFP intelligence gathering, opportunity qualification, and win strategy development.
• Translate agency priorities, Perkins V statutory requirements, and current policy signals into differentiated BD approaches and thought leadership content.
• Engage potential teaming partners and identify partner organizations, institutions, and individual experts to inform both BD and overall corporate strategy implementation.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with OCTAE leadership and program staff, state CTE directors, and industry leaders including state boards of education, community college systems, and industry associations.
• Produce publications, webinars, and conference presentations on postsecondary education, CTE, and related work-based learning models.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in education, public policy, workforce development, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in CTE at the state, federal, or national level.
• Deep, working command of Perkins V including statutory and regulatory requirements, state plan structure, community local needs assessments, secondary and postsecondary performance indicators, allowable use of funds, and reserve fund strategy.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or capturing federal contracts, cooperative agreements, or grants; familiarity with federal procurement processes and proposal development.
• A well-established professional network among federal and state CTE leaders, with the ability to convene stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to draft persuasive technical content under proposal deadlines.
• Willingness to travel if/as needed (NTE 20–30%) for conferences, client meetings, and site visits.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service as a state CTE director, deputy, or senior state agency official; or prior federal service at OCTAE or a comparable ED office.
• Working knowledge of adjacent policy: WIOA Title I/II, Workforce Pell, dual and concurrent enrollment policy, career pathway development, and industry-recognized credential frameworks.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and employee assistance programs.
• Paid federal holidays, generous PTO, and dedicated sick leave.
• 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and competitive company matching.
• Flexible pathways that support advancement, mobility, and long-term development, including access to courses and certifications.
• Opportunities to contribute to innovative, mission-driven projects with impact at the federal, state, and national levels.
• A collaborative environment grounded in continuous improvement, and shared purpose.