Associate Vice President, Building, Construction and Mechanical Trades

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Associate Vice President (AVP), Building and Construction Trades, is a senior leadership role responsible for positioning BTVI as the national leader in construction trades education and workforce development.

The AVP will provide strategic, academic, and industry leadership to expand programme relevance, increase enrollment, strengthen employer partnerships, and ensure graduates meet current and future workforce demands.

This role, while responsible for managing Construction Trades, is also responsible for building a high-impact, industry-aligned training ecosystem that reflects BTVI’s founding mandate.

The AVP operates at a strategic and external-facing level, while the Dean retains primary responsibility for academic operations, curriculum delivery, and day-to-day programme management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Programme Growth

• Develop and execute a 3–5-year growth strategy for construction and mechanical trades, including enrollment targets, programme expansion and industry alignment.
• Identify and remove institutional barriers limiting programme growth, responsiveness and industry relevance
• Position construction trades as a flagship division within BTVI through visibility, partnerships and outcomes

Academic and Workforce Alignment

• Ensure all programmes are aligned with current industry standards, certifications and employer needs
• Provide strategic direction for programme development and modernisation, working through the Dean and academic teams who retain responsibility for curriculum design, delivery and academic quality.
• Integrate work-based learning, apprenticeships and industry certifications into all programmes

Industry and Employer Engagement

• Establish and maintain formal partnerships with construction firms, developers and industry associations
• Secure training contracts, sponsorships and equipment support from industry partners
• Create advisory groups of active industry professionals to guide programme relevance

Strategic Collaboration with Director of Fundraising and Alumni Affairs

• The AVP is expected to play a direct role in revenue generation by leveraging industry relationships to support fundraising and capital development goals.
• Work in structured partnership with the Director of Fundraising and Alumni Affairs, including joint planning, coordinated engagement strategies and shared accountability for construction-related fundraising targets.
• Identify and prioritise fundable opportunities within the construction trades division, including:
  • Facilities upgrades
  • Equipment modernisation
  • Student scholarships and apprenticeships
  • Workforce development initiatives 
  • Serve as the technical and industry expert in donor meetings, providing credibility and demonstrating the real-world impact of investments
  • Support the development of corporate partnership packages, including naming opportunities, sponsorships and training collaborations
  • Contribute to achieving fundraising targets by:
  • Identifying new corporate prospects
  • Leveraging industry relationships to open doors
  • Supporting proposal development and closing strategies
  • Ensure alignment between industry needs, programme development and fundraising priorities, so that all funding requests are relevant, credible and high-impact
  • Participate in joint donor strategy sessions and priority prospect planning with the Director of Fundraising and the President.

Performance & Accountability

• Set and deliver on measurable targets, including:
• Enrollment growth in construction programs
• Student completion and certification rates
• Graduate employment outcomes
• Number of active industry partnerships
• Ensure alignment between strategic targets and academic delivery through coordinated performance management with the Dean.
• Report quarterly to the President and Board on progress against defined targets

Leadership and Coordination

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Dean and programme heads within construction trades, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, industry needs and performance targets.
• Ensure alignment across:
• Academic delivery
• Industry engagement
• Student outcomes
• Drive a culture of accountability, responsiveness and excellence

Resource Development and Infrastructure Advocacy

• Identify and advocate for equipment, facilities and resource upgrades required to meet industry standards
• Work with fundraising leadership to support capital investment in construction training facilities

Public Positioning and Reputation

• Serve as the public face of construction trades at BTVI
• Represent the institution in industry forums, government discussions and national workforce initiatives
• Elevate the perception of skilled trades as high-value, professional career pathways

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Technical Education or related field Preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in construction, technical education or workforce development

Demonstrated experience in:

• Industry engagement and partnerships
• Programme development or training systems
• Leadership in complex organisations
• Experience bridging industry and education is strongly preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to translate industry workforce needs into training programmes
• Strong industry credibility within construction sector
• Proven ability to build partnerships that produce measurable outcomes
• Results-oriented leadership with clear accountability for performance targets
• Strong public presence and advocacy for skilled trades

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants should submit:

• A cover letter outlining relevant experience and leadership philosophy.
• A detailed curriculum vitae along with relevant credentials.
• Contact information for three professional references.

BTVI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals across The Bahamas and the wider Diaspora.