Workforce Systems Design Coordinator

City College at Montana State University Billings Workforce Development & Community Education provides flexible, non-credit training programs designed to meet Montana’s evolving workforce needs while creating accessible pathways to lifelong learning. Serving learners across industries such as healthcare, education, business, skilled trades, STEM, IT, and legal services, the program helps connect Montanans to the skills, credentials, and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s economy.

This AmeriCorps VISTA project will strengthen both institutional and community capacity to design, implement, and evaluate employer-informed workforce “micro-pathways” — beginning with a healthcare pilot focused on addressing critical regional workforce shortages. By expanding access to short-term, affordable credentials, the project creates meaningful entry points into high-demand, living-wage careers for low-income and underserved populations across Montana.

During this year’s focus on Partnership Development and Strategic Systems Design, the team member will play a central role in building the foundation for long-term program success. Working closely with regional healthcare providers, the member will conduct employer outreach and workforce needs assessments, co-design industry-aligned micro-credentials, and help create a prototype tracking and evaluation framework. The role will also support financial modeling and systems alignment efforts that position programs for future Workforce Pell eligibility, increasing affordability and access for learners who need it most.

To build sustainable workforce pipelines, this position will conduct a comprehensive healthcare workforce analysis that combines labor market data, stakeholder interviews, and research into barriers such as childcare and transportation that often prevent individuals from accessing training and employment opportunities. The role will also support the creation of an employer advisory group, development of internship and apprenticeship partnerships, modernization of data dashboards, and improvement of systems tracking enrollment, credential attainment, completion, and employment outcomes.

This work will culminate in an Impact and Sustainability Report that helps guide future workforce alignment, expands access to economic opportunity, and strengthens poverty reduction efforts throughout the region. By co-creating responsive workforce pathways with healthcare employers, the project builds direct connections between education and employment while ensuring that life-changing career opportunities remain accessible to underserved communities.

Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement (MCNCE) serves as the intermediary organization for this project. MCNCE is a statewide coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing civic engagement, service-learning, and volunteerism throughout Montana. Led by CEOs from participating institutions, MCNCE works to strengthen communities while preparing students to become thoughtful, compassionate, and civically engaged leaders.