Industry Training Operations Apprentice

WSU Tech's National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) is seeking an exceptional, highly motivated individual to join our Aviation Workforce & Development team as an Industry Training Operations Apprentice. This is not a traditional entry-level position — it is a deliberate, structured leadership development program built around one purpose: preparing the right person to lead.Successful candidates who complete this apprenticeship will be positioned for advancement into director-level leadership within the Industry Training division. From day one, you will work directly alongside the Industry Training Director — learning the full scope of operations, building real employer relationships, managing financial workflows, and taking on progressively greater responsibility as you prove your readiness.If you are ambitious, accountable, and ready to invest 18-24 months into accelerated professional growth, this opportunity was built for you. Wage increases are tied to defined performance milestones — the faster you grow, the faster you advance.Department: Aviation Workforce & DevelopmentSalary: $50,000Duration: 18-24 monthsWhat You Will DoOperations & AdministrationManage daily operations of the Industry Training division, ensuring training programs, schedules, and employer commitments are executed on time and without disruption to contracted servicesMaintain primary responsibility for office administration, scheduling coordination, and operational workflow within the divisionAdapt rapidly to shifting priorities, reassigned tasks, and evolving program needs — this role moves at the speed of business and requires composure under pressureTrack, manage, and meet hard deadlines tied to employer training contracts and delivery schedules; missed deadlines directly impact employer relationships and program credibilityComplete assigned projects and progressively assume increased operational responsibility throughout the apprenticeship periodParticipate in a minimum of 20 hours of structured professional development activitiesEmployer Relations & Business DevelopmentBuild and sustain professional relationships with employers across all scales — from local and regional Wichita-area companies to national OEM partners such as Boeing, Textron, and other aviation industry leadersRepresent WSU Tech NCAT in employer meetings, site visits, and industry partnership discussions with professionalism and institutional knowledgeIdentify workforce training needs and opportunities through active engagement with employer partners and workforce organizationsSupport contract development, training proposals, and partnership negotiations under the direction of the Industry Training DirectorBilling, Finance & Cross-Functional CoordinationProcess and manage employer invoicing for training services, ensuring accuracy and timely submission in coordination with the WSU Tech Business OfficeSupport budget reconciliation for training contracts, tracking expenditures against contracted amounts and flagging variancesServe as a consistent point of coordination between the Industry Training division and internal stakeholders including Finance, the Business Office, and other college departmentsInterface regularly with external organizations — employer partners, funding agencies, and industry associations — on financial and contractual mattersMaintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and institutional financial policiesRequirementsAssociate Degree (required at time of hire)Currently pursuing or will complete a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Workforce Development, Education, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, or a related field during the apprenticeship periodDemonstrated ability to manage competing deadlines and shifting priorities without loss of quality or accountabilityStrong professional communication skills — written, verbal, and interpersonal — across diverse audiences including employers, college administration, and finance personnelComfort working with financial data, invoicing processes, or budget-related workflowsProfessional demeanor with the ability to represent the institution credibly in employer-facing environments at all levelsPreferredExperience in workforce development, training coordination, higher education, operations, business development, or industry partnershipsFamiliarity with contract development, grant documentation, or employer billing processesExperience working across organizational boundaries with finance, operations, or external partnersProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and OutlookWho We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone who is not waiting for permission to lead. The right candidate brings urgency, accountability, and genuine curiosity to everything they do. You build trust with people quickly — whether that's a shop-floor training coordinator, a VP of Human Resources at a major OEM, or a colleague in the Business Office. You do not need to arrive with all the answers. You need the drive to learn fast, the discipline to follow through when it counts, and the professional presence to represent WSU Tech in high-stakes employer environments.Successful candidates who complete this apprenticeship will be positioned for advancement into director-level leadership within the Industry Training division. This is a rare opportunity to earn your way into a leadership role while building the exact skills that role requires.What You Will LearnThis apprenticeship is a fully immersive leadership development experience. By the time you complete the program, you will have working mastery of the operational, financial, and relational competencies required to lead a high-performing industry training division.Workforce & Industry Training OperationsHow to design, schedule, and deliver customized employer training programs from initial needs assessment through contract execution and post-training evaluationThe operational mechanics of running a high-volume, deadline-driven training division — including how to triage competing priorities without losing quality or relationshipsCompliance requirements and documentation standards for workforce training programs at the federal, state, and institutional levelBusiness Development & Employer RelationsHow to build and sustain employer partnerships at every scale — from initial outreach and needs discovery through long-term relationship stewardship with major industry partnersContract negotiation fundamentals, proposal development, and how to structure training agreements that serve both the employer and the institutionHow workforce development fits into broader economic development strategy and why aviation training is a national priority — giving you context that elevates every employer conversation you haveFinancial Management & Cross-Functional LeadershipEmployer invoicing processes, billing cycle management, and how to coordinate with the WSU Tech Business Office to ensure accurate and timely financial transactionsBudget development and reconciliation for training contracts — including how to track program expenditures, identify variances, and communicate financial status to internal stakeholdersHow to navigate and build credibility across organizational boundaries — working effectively with finance, operations, academic leadership, and external partners simultaneouslyLeadership & Strategic ThinkingHow to lead through ambiguity — making sound decisions quickly when priorities shift, timelines compress, or employer needs evolve unexpectedlyGrant documentation strategy, reporting requirements, and the funding landscape that supports workforce training programsThe leadership competencies, institutional knowledge, and professional presence required to step into a director-level role with confidenceBenefitshttps://wsutech.edu/whyhere/WSU Tech is committed to inclusive and equitable practices to create an environment and culture where students and employees thrive. We acknowledge that through valuing diverse identities, experiences, talents, and gifts, we excel by fulfilling our mission to create a talent pipeline, establish workforce equity, and improve economic prosperity for our community. WSU Tech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.