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How to hire a director of workforce development

Director of workforce development hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring directors of workforce development in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a director of workforce development is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new director of workforce development to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a director of workforce development, step by step

To hire a director of workforce development, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a director of workforce development:

Here's a step-by-step director of workforce development hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a director of workforce development job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of workforce development
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a director of workforce development, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a director of workforce development to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a director of workforce development that fits the bill.

    The following list breaks down different types of directors of workforce development and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Director Of Workforce DevelopmentDescriptionHourly rate
    Director Of Workforce DevelopmentTraining and development managers plan, direct, and coordinate programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of an organization’s employees. They also oversee a staff of training and development specialists.$32-83
    HSE ManagerA health, safety, and environmental (HSE) manager is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing a company's health and safety programs. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather data, assessing existing programs and policies to identify areas needing improvement, implementing solutions on issues and concerns, developing strategies to execute programs, and creating new safety policies as necessary... Show more$28-58
    Educational ManagerAn educational manager is responsible for organizing educational strategies and managing learning resources, following the standard curriculum and guidelines. They coordinate with instructors and other educational institutions to develop teaching practices and adjust curriculum objectives as needed... Show more$21-62
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Workforce Development
    • Employee Development
    • Human Resources
    • Performance Management
    • Leadership Development
    • Training Programs
    • Program Development
    • External Stakeholders
    • Employment Services
    • Economic Development
    • Strategic Plan
    • Service Delivery
    • Staff Supervision
    • Community Agencies
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Direct all aspects of online training and eLearning creation including conceptualizing and developing content and managing relationships with vendors.
    • Maintain CARF accreditation standards and assure all programs comply with CARF standards of accreditation at all times.
    • Direct all aspects of online training and eLearning creation including conceptualizing and developing content and managing relationships with vendors.
    • Maintain organization s website ensuring up-to-date health plan information and/or Medicaid changes for members and providers.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your director of workforce development job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A director of workforce development salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, directors of workforce development' average salary in florida is 43% less than in new hampshire.
    • Seniority. Entry-level directors of workforce development earn 61% less than senior-level directors of workforce development.
    • Certifications. A director of workforce development with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a director of workforce development's salary.

    Average director of workforce development salary

    $107,974yearly

    $51.91 hourly rate

    Entry-level director of workforce development salary
    $67,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing a director of workforce development job description

    A good director of workforce development job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a director of workforce development job description:

    Director of workforce development job description example

    • Bachelor’s Degree required (or equivalent experience) with minimum of 5 years of experience. 7-10 years or more of work experience preferred

    • At least 5 years of experience working in a non-profit setting focused on homelessness, supporting individuals with housing insecurity and/or working with vulnerable populations

    • Minimum 5 years of experience developing and implementing workforce development solutions

    • Established relationships among workforce development community

    • Experience facilitating collaboration across multiple stakeholders including internally and externally

    • Demonstrated public speaking, and facilitation skills

    • Excellent organizational and leadership skills

    • Experience developing and administering training

    • Experience analyzing data and producing reports

    • Experience in project management

    • Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills

    • Proficient in MS Office suite


    Working Conditions and Necessary Capabilities

    • I n compliance with the CMS IFR, all NSO employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or qualify for a medical or religious exemption that NSO can reasonably accommodate.
    • This position may be required to travel between NSO locations as needed.
    • Works in an office environment as needed and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed, to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office with frequent contact with clients.
    • Seeing/vision, talking/speaking and listening/hearing are continuously required.
    • Frequently required to stand during working hours.
      Required to sit, walk or drive as needed.


    DISCLAIMER MESSAGE: The above elements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of personnel so classified, or a contractual commitment, and NSO retains the right to amend or revise this job description at any time.

    NSO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to excellence through diversity and considers candidates without regard to sex (including pregnancy related conditions) genetic information, race, color, weight, height, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, martial or veteran status, misdemeanor arrest record, sexual orientation, transgender status or gender identity or any other legally protected status.

  5. Post your job

    To find directors of workforce development for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of workforce development they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of workforce development with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your director of workforce development job on Zippia to find and recruit director of workforce development candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit directors of workforce development, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of workforce development

    Once you've found the director of workforce development candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a director of workforce development?

Hiring a director of workforce development comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting directors of workforce development involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of director of workforce development recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Directors of workforce development earn a median yearly salary is $107,974 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find directors of workforce development for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $32 and $83.

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