Educational Talent Search Program Director (SSM I) #2692

Job Responsibilities

The Division of Student Engagement and Success is seeking an Educational Talent Search (ETS) Director to provide leadership and oversight for a federally funded TRIO program.

• Provide strategic leadership and management of the Educational Talent Search Program, including program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with federal TRIO regulations, grant assurances, reporting requirements, and institutional policies.
• Supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate program staff while fostering a collaborative and student-centered work environment.
• Manage program budgets, monitor expenditures, and oversee grant-funded resources to ensure achievement of program goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement participant recruitment, retention, and college readiness initiatives designed to support student success and postsecondary enrollment.
• Deliver college and career readiness services through workshops, group sessions, individual advising, college visits, and other educational enrichment activities.
• Aid participants with academic planning, college admissions processes, financial aid and scholarship applications, career exploration, and postsecondary transition planning.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with K–12 schools, colleges, universities, community agencies, businesses, and other stakeholders to support program initiatives and participant success.
• Monitor progress toward annual performance objectives and utilize data to assess program effectiveness, improve outcomes, and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
• Maintain accurate records; collect, analyze, and report program data; and prepare required federal, institutional, and grant reports.
• Serve as a liaison between the Educational Talent Search Program, partner schools, community agencies, institutions of higher education, and the college.
• Collaborate with other TRIO program directors and Student Engagement and Success leadership to advance student success initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

• State Qualification: Bachelor's degree and experience in student services programs.
• Preferred Program Requirements: Master's degree in counseling, education, educational administration, or a closely related field and related work experience.
• Experience working with first-generation, low-income, or underserved youth.
• Experience working with federally funded TRIO or other grant-funded college access and student support programs.
• Experience working with K–12 students, particularly first-generation college-bound or underserved populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of TRIO programs, college access initiatives, student development practices, and postsecondary success strategies.
• Experience with program administration, strategic planning, budget development, fiscal management, and grant compliance.
• Strong leadership, organizational, project management, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent customer service, written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, families, school personnel, community partners, college stakeholders, and funding agencies.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data to support program effectiveness, continuous improvement, and compliance objectives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, database management systems, and technology used to support student services programs.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.