Red Envelope Consulting - Higher Education & Workforce Manager at Red Envelope Consulting

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to work with a dynamic team that is committed to the continued growth and success of the Indy Region?  If so, our client is searching for a Higher Education & Workforce Manager to join their team!  If you are passionate about advancing efforts to attract, retain, and prepare talent through strong partnerships with higher education institutions, employers, and community organizations then this is the position for you!

Enjoy the perks of a Hybrid work opportunity in beautiful downtown Indianapolis. 

The Higher Education and Workforce Manager will play a key role in advancing the Indy Chamber’s efforts to attract, retain, and prepare talent through strong partnerships with higher education institutions, employers, and community organizations. This role will help align post-secondary education with employer needs, and design scalable workforce solutions that support a skills-first talent ecosystem across Central Indiana. The ideal candidate is an effective connector, relationship-builder, and strategic thinker who understands both the education and employment landscapes.

Youth Apprenticeship & Employer Engagement

• Support implementation of a regional Youth Apprenticeship Career Fair and serve as the point contact for employers once they’ve committed to participating in the fair, ensuring they have the tools, guidance and information needed to engage meaningfully in the event.
• Coordinate all employer-facing logistics, including booth setup, interactive elements, staffing guidance, and student engagement preparation.
• Supplement and support clear, user-friendly marketing resources for employers on how to host a youth apprentice, including compliance considerations, mentorship strategies and onboarding best practices. 

Higher Education Partnerships & Alignment

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with higher education institutions, particularly career services offices, academic departments, and workforce-aligned programs.
• Identify nontraditional and INCAP degree and certificate programs that could serve students seeking alternatives to the traditional four-year path.
• Inform and equip higher education institutions with the tools and information needed to engage meaningfully with INCAP, including how their programs, campuses, and advisors can support student awareness. 
• Partner with institutions to ensure alignment between postsecondary programs and workforce needs, particularly for in-demand industries and roles. 
• Co-lead the Chamber’s Higher Education Council in partnership with the Director of Talent and Workforce Development

Workforce System Development & Skills-First   Strategies 

• Co-lead the creation and launch of a regional “skills-first” job board featuring youth apprenticeships, internships, credential-based roles, and full-time employment opportunities.
• Stay up to date on higher education policy, labor market trends, and workforce funding opportunities relevant to Central Indiana.
• Support employer engagement strategies by promoting work-based learning opportunities, sharing upskilling tools, and connecting them to youth apprenticeship initiatives.
• Assist employers in designing internal professional development maps or career ladders aligned to industry demand and employee growth.

Preferred Qualifications   

• 3+ years of experience in higher education, workforce development, career services, economic development, or talent strategy.
• Deep understanding of postsecondary education systems and how they intersect with workforce and employer needs.
• Experience building partnerships with universities, employers, and public/private stakeholders.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with comfort presenting to students, business leaders, and public officials.
• Familiarity with talent retention strategies and skills-first hiring approaches is preferred.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills, creativity, and a collaborative mindset. 

 Red Envelope Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.