Deputy Director, California Education Interagency Council (CEIC) (C. E. A.)

Job Description and Duties Under the direction of the Executive Officer of the California Education Interagency Council (CEIC), the Deputy Director (CEA, A) serves as the Council’s senior policy architect, responsible for developing statewide policy options, preparing evidence-based recommendations, and implementing Executive Officer–approved strategies that improve alignment between California’s education and workforce systems. CEIC, established January 1, 2026, is tasked with identifying and resolving longstanding misalignments between TK–12, higher education, workforce development, and industry so learners are better prepared for the evolving economy. The Deputy Director leads statewide policy development, cross-sector analytical work, multi-agency collaboration, and implementation of Executive Officer–approved policy frameworks. CEIC’s governance includes top education and workforce executives—including the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the UC President, the CSU Chancellor, and the CCC Chancellor—requiring the Deputy Director to prepare strategic materials, statewide policy options, and analytical frameworks that support engagement at the highest levels of leadership. The Deputy Director does not supervise staff but provides statewide policy leadership that advances CEIC’s role as the coordinating body envisioned in the Master Plan for Career Education and Executive Order N-11-23. This position may be located in either Oakland or Sacramento. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Special Requirements Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) requirement: To be considered for the position, candidates must submit an SOQ as part of their application package. The SOQ is a narrative discussion of how your education, training, experience, and skills qualify you for the position. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. SOQs must be no more than three (3) pages in length and typed using no less than 12-point Arial font. The SOQ must address the following questions in the order listed below: Respond to each Desirable Qualification factor in the same order they are listed and provide specific examples. Responses should be complete, specific, and clear. Include the name of the organization where you gained the experience, the time frame you gained the experience, your title and level of responsibility, and relevant outcomes and measures of success. 1. Describe your experience leading, developing, and implementing large-scale state government programs. In your response, include how you identified systemic challenges, drove policy or process improvements, and achieved outcomes that improved efficiency, accountability, or statewide consistency. 2. Provide your experience navigating the legislative and budget process and implementing federal and state funding programs for education and/or workforce. In your response, include examples of representing an organization before external oversight bodies, private organizations, or public entities. 3. Discuss your experience with implementing intersegmental or cross-sector initiatives. In your response, include how you identified barriers, proposed solutions, and ensured and built and maintained collaborative working relationships with stakeholders, including executive management, control agencies, program partners, and government entities. When completing your SOQ, do not provide a single, narrative response. Each question above must be addressed one at a time (i.e.: first provide a complete and independent response to Question #1, then a complete and independent response to Question #2, etc.) for consideration. Additionally, each response must be numbered and include the full text of the question being answered prior to each individual response to clearly indicate which question you are responding to. Write your responses carefully. Initial evaluation of each candidate will be based on the content of the answers and written communication skills demonstrated on their submitted SOQ. Resumes do not take the place of the SOQ. Candidates who fail to follow these requirements or who do not provide responses to the specific questions in the order listed will be disqualified from the selection process. The SOQ, application serves as the examination for this CEA recruitment. The SOQ identifies the critical factors required in job success for this CEA position. Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: 1. Knowledge of state government rules and processes, the legislative and budget processes, federal and state funding programs, and statewide frameworks used by departments and/or agencies to assess need and impact 2. Experience developing and implementing policies, strategic initiatives, or corrective action plans designed to ensure compliance with state and federal education and/or workforce standards 3. Experience representing an organization before external oversight bodies, state agencies, private organizations, or public entities on education and/or workforce matters 4. Experience building and maintaining collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including executive management, control agencies, program leadership, vendors, and governmental partners 5. Experience leading intersegmental work to identify barriers, propose solutions, and ensure adoption of selected strategies