Upward Bound Program Director

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management & Student Success (SEMSS) advances student enrollment, persistence, and completion goals across the full student lifecycle—from recruitment and admission through financial aid, advising, retention, career readiness, and degree completion.

About the role

The Director of TRIO Upward Bound provides strategic leadership and oversight for the federally funded Upward Bound program, ensuring alignment with U.S. Department of Education TRIO grant guidelines, institutional goals, and student success priorities. The program serves eligible high school students by providing academic enrichment, college readiness programming, advising, and support services designed to promote postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the Upward Bound program in alignment with institutional and federal priorities.
• Develop and implement short- and long-range program plans consistent with U.S. Department of Education TRIO guidelines.
• Ensure full compliance with the Higher Education Act and all applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Communicate with the U.S. Department of Education regarding grant performance and compliance matters.
• Monitor program performance objectives and implement continuous improvement strategies.
• Prepare and submit required internal and external reports, including the Annual Performance Report (APR), budgets, and other federal documentation.
• Lead the development and submission of the competitive five-year federal grant renewal.
• Maintain data systems to track participant eligibility, services, outcomes, and performance measures through secondary completion and postsecondary enrollment/persistence.
• Ensure accurate documentation of services, expenditures, and participant records in compliance with federal regulations.
• Use data to inform strategic planning, curriculum development, and program enhancements.
• Oversee the design and implementation of academic year and summer programming, including academic instruction, tutoring, mentoring, college readiness workshops, and enrichment activities.
• Develop and execute curriculum aligned with college access and academic skill-building objectives.
• Ensure delivery of comprehensive advising and support services for participants and families.
• Monitor and verify participant eligibility, academic progress, and engagement in program services.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate professional staff, student employees, and instructional personnel.
• Manage and monitor program budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with federal funding regulations.
• Oversee payroll, contracts, and resource allocation to support program implementation.
• Ensure implementation of risk management, student safety protocols, and institutional youth protection policies for all program activities, including residential programming.
• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to identify and enroll eligible low-income, first-generation, and academically at-risk high school students.
• Build and maintain partnerships with target schools, school districts, and community organizations.
• Collaborate with campus units to support participant access and transition to postsecondary education.
• Represent Upward Bound and the Center for Pre-College Programs at meetings, events, and conferences.
• Develop, facilitate, and evaluate educational pre-college program content and materials.
• Advise institutional or divisional leadership on pre-college program services and student needs.
• Oversee design, drafting, and scheduling of program-specific materials and resources.
• Promote and maintain internal and external partnerships.
• Manage operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and pre-college program unit objectives.
• Monitor pre-college program budget.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in education, counseling, liberal arts, or a related field (conferred at time of application).
• At least three (3) years of professional experience with program coordination or management in education, counseling/advising, pre-college programming, and/or student support services.
• Experience working with low-income, first-generation, underrepresented, and/or academically disadvantaged students.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with federal grant writing, including development and submission of competitive proposals (e.g., TRIO or similar programs).
• Experience with budget development, fiscal oversight, and financial reporting.
• Experience with program administration and supervision of professional and/or student staff.
• Experience with program evaluation, data collection, curriculum development, and reporting systems.
• Experience with K–12 school districts and community-based organizations, outreach, recruitment, and partnership development.

Pay

$55,000 - $65,000