Project Manager, National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree (NCAD)

The Project Manager is NCAD’s keystone operator, turning vision into coordinated action. This role creates clarity, alignment, and momentum across large, cross-sector initiatives that connect higher education and workforce partners—aligning timelines, teams, and decisions so the Apprenticeship Degree can scale nationally with rigor, speed, and trust. The outcome: measurable results that strengthen the Apprenticeship Degree ecosystem and advance NCAD’s mission.

Team & Reporting
 Team: National Center for the Apprenticeship Degree (NCAD)
 Reports to: Executive Director 
 Location: Remote (U.S.)
 Status: Full-time

Role Composition (Estimated %)

• Leadership: 10%

  • Lead alignment meetings, represent NCAD in project briefings, ensure operational rhythm.

• Strategy & Design: 20%

  • Translate NCAD’s quarterly “Big Rocks,” OKRs, and funder commitments into workstreams and deliverables. 

• Coaching & Coordination: 15%

  • Support NCAD team members, fellows, and contractors in structured project management practices.

• Execution: 55%

  • Own delivery of cross-partner initiatives, milestone tracking, reporting, and documentation. 

Note: This is an estimate of how the role is currently balanced and may evolve as NCAD expands its national partnerships.

Experience & Approach We’re Looking For

• Minimum 3-5 years in project or program management in education, workforce, philanthropy, or consulting sectors.
  

• Proven ability to manage large scale projects, cross-functional teams, and national partners.
  

• Experience supporting executives or senior leadership in a mission-driven organization.
  

• Skilled in developing dashboards, managing funder deliverables, and aligning internal/external communications.
  

• Preferred: Experience with grant or contract compliance (e.g., DOE, philanthropy, workforce boards).
  

• Preferred: PMP or equivalent certification.

Competencies & Attributes We’re Looking for

• Strategic and Professional Agility: Can pivot quickly from high-level strategy to day-to-day problem solving. Calm under pressure, clear in priorities, and unshakably organized.
  

• Execution Excellence: Consistently delivers on deadlines across competing workstreams.Demonstrated ability to manage projects across states, time zones, and partner organizations with precision and warmth.
  

• Relationship Stewardship: Builds trust and influence across internal and external networks.Exceptional communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills.  Demonstrated ability to build alignment among diverse perspectives.
  

• Operational Systems Mindset: Tech-savvy and data-informed-Sees patterns and builds processes that scale. 
  

• Clarity & Communication: Synthesizes complex ideas into simple, actionable plans. Confident using project management and collaboration platforms (Trello and Google Workspace).
  

• Mission Alignment: Believes in the Apprenticeship Degree as a lever for equity, access, and innovation in higher education.Strong background or understanding of higher education, workforce development, or apprenticeship pathways.

Additional Requirements: 

• Applicants will be asked to provide a professional resume or CV, professional project portfolio demonstrating project management  of a complex, multi-stakeholder initiative, and two professional letters of reference (one must be a direct supervisor). Supplemental/Optional: Sample of a dashboard or project management tracking tool that demonstrates individual project management approach.

• NCAD offers a fully remote, collaborative environment with an expectation of travel (up to 15%) to partner sites, convenings, and other integral engagements.