GEAR UP Regional Coordinator (Midlands, Pee Dee, & Lowcountry Regions)

Department: College of Education (CED) • Full-time, field-based position requiring regular travel throughout the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina.

About the role

Join the University of South Carolina's GEAR UP South Carolina team and make a lasting impact on the educational futures of students across the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina. The GEAR UP Regional Coordinator serves as a key liaison between schools, families, communities, and higher education institutions, providing college access and success support to students from underserved communities. This position coordinates college readiness programming, FAFSA and financial aid initiatives, scholarship and postsecondary planning activities, and GEAR UP Freshman (13th Year) services designed to help students successfully transition to and persist in college. The ideal candidate is passionate about educational opportunity, skilled at building partnerships, and committed to empowering students and families to achieve their postsecondary goals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as key liaison between schools, families, communities, and higher education institutions
• Provide college access and success support to students from underserved communities
• Coordinate college readiness programming
• Coordinate FAFSA and financial aid initiatives
• Coordinate scholarship and postsecondary planning activities
• Coordinate GEAR UP Freshman (13th Year) services to help students transition to and persist in college
• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, families, and community organizations
• Travel regularly throughout assigned service region (Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry)

Requirements

• Experience working in public schools and with educational organizations
• Knowledge of college admissions requirements, post-secondary education pathways, and financial aid processes
• Knowledge of FAFSA completion requirements, scholarship opportunities, and student persistence strategies
• Experience assisting students and families with college and financial aid planning
• Strong public relations and outstanding organizational skills
• Ability to establish rapport with both adults and adolescents
• Capable of working well and communicating effectively with students, staff, community partners, and students' family members in various large and small settings
• Demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds of students and community

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree in education or related discipline
• At least three years of teaching, counseling, college access, student affairs, educational outreach, or related experience working with middle school, high school, or first-year college students
• Experience with FAFSA completion initiatives, financial aid advising, college access programs, GEAR UP, TRIO, or related federally funded programs