Amanda Wagner serves as San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center’s first Vice President of Workforce Development, developing and implementing strategies to transform the region’s workforce system and drive economic prosperity for all San Diegans.

Wagner’s impressive career trajectory includes over a decade of work in the public workforce sector, holding leadership roles at nationally recognized workforce organizations and serving as a national consultant. She specializes in program design and is deeply committed to supporting systems that advance the competitiveness and accessibility of career pathways that lead to economic prosperity.  

Prior to joining PIC, she served as the chief operating officer of Employ Prince George’s in Maryland, where she worked system wide to align the efforts of education, economic development and workforce development that allowed thousands of people to secure better jobs. Wagner’s experience is well balanced between strategy and execution, and she worked tirelessly to transform the organization’s approach to operations, program performance, policy and fund development to increase outcomes and impact across the organization.

Previously, as senior operations director for Eckerd Connects in South Carolina, Wagner developed an annual operating plan totaling $7.6 million dollars and oversaw 23 community-based workforce development contracts across three states, which prepared over 2,200 jobseekers for employment annually.

Actively involved in advancing workforce development on a national scale, Wagner serves on the Workforce Development Council for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Advisory Council of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. She holds a master’s degree in Youth Development Leadership from Clemson University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Southern New Hampshire University.