Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President of Administration

Title: Chief Operating Officer & Vice President, Administration Apex Technical School

Location: Hybrid; travel to multiples sites across NY Metro region as required

Salary: $200,000-$250,000

Position Summary

Apex Technical School, part of Fedcap, is seeking a dynamic, energetic, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Administration. Reporting directly to the President, this executive will oversee the day-to-day operations of the institution while helping lead the next phase of growth, modernization, and expansion.

This position requires a seasoned post-secondary vocational and technical education leader with substantial experience managing an accredited trade, technical, career, or vocational school. The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of accreditation and regulatory compliance, enrollment management, workforce development, instructional operations, student services, human resources, finance, technology systems, and organizational growth.

The COO & Vice President of Administration will play a critical role in modernizing institutional systems and processes, improving operational performance, expanding enrollment and student success, developing new educational offerings, strengthening industry partnerships, and building the organizational capacity necessary for sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Operations

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and principal advisor to the President on operational and administrative matters.
• Lead the day-to-day management of school operations (including all branch and satellite campuses), ensuring alignment between institutional goals, regulatory requirements, and student outcomes.
• Drive operational excellence across all administrative and instructional functions.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that support growth, innovation, and institutional sustainability.
• Establish performance metrics and accountability systems across departments.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, accountability, innovation, and student success.

School Expansion & Growth

• Partner with Fedcap and Apex senior leadership to identify and implement opportunities for institutional growth, including new campuses, programs, partnerships, and delivery models.
• Evaluate market opportunities and workforce trends to support program expansion and modernization.
• Lead operational planning for new initiatives and expansion efforts.
• Develop scalable systems and organizational structures capable of supporting future growth.
• Build strategic relationships with employers, workforce development agencies, industry associations, labor organizations, and government partners.

Program Expansion & Industry Alignment

• Lead the strategic expansion of existing and new academic and workforce training programs to meet evolving employer, industry, and labor market demands.
• Develop and implement processes for identifying emerging workforce needs and translating those needs into scalable training programs and credentials.
• Ensure programs align with industry-recognized certifications, employer hiring requirements, and high-demand occupations.
• Oversee market assessments and competitive analyses to identify opportunities for growth and diversification.
• Strengthen employer advisory relationships and industry engagement to ensure program relevance and placement success.

Online Learning & Digital Program Development

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive online and hybrid learning strategy.
• Oversee the design, launch, and continuous improvement of online, hybrid, and technology-enabled educational programs.
• Ensure online offerings meet accreditation, regulatory, instructional quality, and student success standards.
• Develop scalable digital learning infrastructure and instructional technology systems.
• Expand access to Apex programs through innovative delivery models while maintaining educational excellence.

Accreditation, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs

• Maintain institutional compliance with all accreditations, state, federal, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee preparation for accreditation reviews, audits, site visits, and regulatory reporting.
• Ensure policies, procedures, and operational practices meet the standards of accrediting bodies and government agencies.
• Monitor changes in the regulatory environment and proactively position the institution for compliance and success.

Enrollment Management & Student Success

• Oversee enrollment management strategy, admissions operations, student retention initiatives, and related performance outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with academic leadership to improve student persistence, completion, certification attainment, and employment outcomes.
• Utilize data and analytics to drive enrollment growth and operational decision-making.
• Enhance the student experience through continuous improvement of student services and support functions.

Organizational Modernization & Technology

• Lead modernization efforts across institutional systems and processes.
• Oversee evaluation, implementation, and optimization of student information systems, customer relationship management platforms, enrollment management tools, learning management systems, and operational technologies.
• Improve data quality, reporting capabilities, workflow efficiency, and institutional decision-making.
• Drive continuous process improvement throughout the organization.

Human Resources & Workforce Management

• Lead workforce planning and leadership development efforts to support institutional goals, growth, and operational effectiveness, partnering closely with Human Resources on recruitment, onboarding, retention, employee engagement, and succession planning.
• Modernize staffing models to support institutional growth and operational flexibility, including developing and implementing effective workforce strategies that leverage a mix of full-time faculty, adjunct instructors, and industry practitioners.
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, collaboration, and student-centered service.

Finance & Administration

• Partner closely with finance leadership to oversee budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, and financial performance.
• Ensure operational decisions support institutional sustainability and long-term growth.
• Identify efficiencies and opportunities to improve financial performance without compromising educational quality.
• Oversee facilities, procurement, administrative services, and operational infrastructure.

Instructional Operations

• Work closely with academic leadership to ensure instructional quality, program effectiveness, and workforce relevance.
• Support development of industry-aligned curricula and employer partnerships.
• Ensure instructional staffing models meet student, regulatory, and operational needs.
• Promote innovation in program delivery and workforce training.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience within an accredited post-secondary vocational, technical, trade, career, or workforce-focused educational institution.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex school operations, including enrollment, student services, compliance, finance, human resources, and instructional support functions.
• Extensive knowledge of accreditation standards, regulatory compliance, and post-secondary education administration.
• Proven success leading organizational growth, operational transformation, modernization initiatives, or institutional expansion efforts.
• Experience implementing or modernizing student information systems, enrollment management platforms, CRM systems, learning management systems, or other enterprise technologies.
• Strong financial and operational management experience.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams and drive accountability.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience in both vocational/technical education and traditional higher education administration.
• Experience launching new programs, campuses, online learning initiatives, or educational delivery models.
• Familiarity with workforce development systems, employer partnerships, and industry credentialing frameworks.

Leadership Characteristics

The ideal candidate will be:

• Energetic, entrepreneurial, and action oriented.
• A builder who thrives in growth environments.
• Comfortable balancing strategic vision with operational execution.
• Highly collaborative while maintaining strong accountability standards.
• Data-driven and focused on measurable outcomes.
• Student-centered and mission driven.
• Capable of leading organizational change while maintaining regulatory excellence.
• Willing to roll up their sleeves and solve problems directly.
• Passionate about workforce development and expanding opportunities for students.

About Apex Technical School

Founded in 1961, Apex Technical School is one of New York City’s leading career and technical education institutions, providing hands-on training that prepares students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades. For more than six decades, Apex has helped thousands of individuals gain the technical skills, industry knowledge, and professional confidence needed to enter the workforce and achieve economic mobility.

Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the New York State Education Department, Apex offers employer-aligned training programs in electrical technology, welding, plumbing and pipefitting, construction and building skills, automotive service and repair, air conditioning and refrigeration, as well as emerging programs in culinary arts and custodial services. Students learn in real-world shop environments where classroom instruction is paired with extensive hands-on training designed to prepare graduates for entry-level employment.

Recognized nationally as a 2024–2025 ACCSC School of Excellence, Apex is among a select group of technical schools distinguished for outstanding student achievement, graduation outcomes, and workforce readiness. The school maintains strong partnerships with employers, industry organizations, government agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure programs remain responsive to labor market demand and evolving workforce needs.

As part of Fedcap's education portfolio, Apex is committed to expanding opportunity, strengthening industries, and creating pathways to meaningful careers through high-quality technical education, workforce development, and innovation.

The Fedcap Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, provincial, or local law.