Workforce, Transfer and Trades
Walla Walla Community College
Recruiting for a Dean of Workforce, Transfer and Trades
Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) sought a Dean of Workforce, Transfer and Trades to lead a diverse and high-impact portfolio of programs—including Enology and Viticulture, John Deere Technology, Agriculture Systems, Business, Manufacturing Trades, Culinary, and more. The role required a dynamic leader with higher education experience, industry partnership acumen, and the ability to champion innovative programming across a rural, multi-industry service area.
The Challenge
Geography posed a significant challenge. Recruiting to Walla Walla, despite its beauty and strong sense of community, can limit candidate mobility, especially for seasoned higher education leaders considering relocation. In addition, the breadth of programs under this dean’s oversight demanded a uniquely well-rounded candidate with strong administrative experience, grant management capability, and a commitment to equity in workforce education.
WWCC needed to surface a strong and varied candidate pool quickly within Another Source’s 30-day recruitment model.
The Solution
Another Source partnered closely with WWCC to design a targeted outreach strategy that balanced industry reach, higher education experience, and geographic considerations. Our approach included:
- Direct outreach to 213 passive prospects via LinkedIn—spanning academic leadership, workforce development, trades education, and applied baccalaureate programs.
- Outreach to 36 additional prospects via Google, expanding the search beyond traditional higher education pathways.
- A compelling job message highlighting WWCC’s award-winning programs, including the Enology and Viticulture Center, John Deere Technology program, and new interdisciplinary initiatives such as Audio Engineering, Farm-to-Fork, and Cybersecurity.
- Storytelling that positioned Walla Walla’s unique combination of community, landscape, and industry partnerships as a meaningful professional and personal opportunity.
Continuous market feedback and candidate insights guided weekly calibration conversations, ensuring alignment on qualifications and experience as the candidate pool developed.
The Result
Within the 30-day engagement, Another Source delivered a robust slate of candidates that exceeded expectations:
- 27 total candidates interviewed as part of the full candidate pool.
- A diverse mix of professionals with experience in workforce development, applied learning, industry collaboration, and academic leadership.
- Candidates who not only met the technical qualifications, but who also aligned with WWCC’s community-focused mission and its commitment to innovation in a rural college setting.
By overcoming geographic challenges through personalized outreach and strategic positioning of the role, Another Source enabled WWCC to engage candidates who recognized the impact and opportunity embedded in leading Workforce, Transfer and Trades programs at one of Washington’s top community colleges.
This collaboration positioned WWCC to select a leader ready to champion emerging programs, foster community and industry partnerships, and advance workforce and academic pathways across the region.