Assistant Director of Adult Education

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Lawrence, MA

27d•$80,000 - $86,000

About The Position

The Center for Adult Education (CAE) at Northern Essex Community College is seeking an experienced, collaborative Assistant Director to help lead our program. CAE serves an immigrant-rich, multilingual community through a range of programs including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), High School Equivalency (HiSET/GED) preparation, college and career readiness, and transitions to "next step" programs. The Assistant Director of Adult Education provides leadership and oversight for program operations, student services, and special initiatives. This role ensures effective coordination across outreach, intake, orientation, testing, enrollment, advising, data, and 'next step' programs. They supervise both professional and administrative staff, manage compliance, and aligns daily operations with strategic and equity-driven goals. They work closely with the Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning to ensure operational alignment with instructional goals and student success outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Education or a closely related field or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Three (3) years of experience in program management.
Strong working knowledge adult education policies.
Strong track record of supervising teams, with responsibility for recruitment, evaluation, and ongoing staff development.
Proficiency using LACES or other student databases to manage and analyze data.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and supporting underserved community members and immigrant, multilingual and underserved learners.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (Spanish/English)
Experience working in DESE-funded adult education program.
Experience applying culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices in educational settings.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Executive Director to set strategic priorities and lead continuous program improvement.
Oversee all stages of the enrollment pipeline: intake, orientation, testing, enrollment, registration, class transfers, withdrawals, and post-exit follow-up.
Support staff to develop and deliver student orientations and presentations.
Supervise and support staff across key program areas, including outreach, enrollment, advising, data, Transitions to College, SNAP Employment and Training, and Integrated Education and Training.
Provide coaching, facilitate professional development, and foster collaboration across teams.
Partner with the Administrative Assistant to develop class schedules, coordinate classroom and resource assignments, and manage instructional and office supply needs.
Work with the Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning to ensure instructional schedules, student services, and resources are aligned and integrated.
Promote an inclusive, student-centered environment that supports persistence, retention, and success for diverse learners.
Collaborate with advisors to identify student barriers to persistence and support coordination of support services to help students manage them.
Monitor and respond to student feedback to guide ongoing improvements in programming and services.
Collaborate with advising staff and instructional leadership to support career planning, transitions, and student retention.
Support the development of new academic and career pathways tailored to adult learners.
Provide strategic direction for CAE events, including Graduation and Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
Ensure operational compliance with college, state, and federal guidelines.
Ensure accountability for data integrity across LACES, Destiny One, and related systems through coordination with the Testing, Enrollment, and Data Specialist.
Use student data to inform decisions, drive program improvements, and meet performance benchmarks.
Lead efforts to improve enrollment, registration, and communication processes through digital platforms.
Represent CAE at college, local, and statewide meetings.
Support grant development, reporting, and preparation for site visits, audits, and compliance reviews.
Provide leadership for student engagement initiatives, including advisory groups, peer mentoring, and student ambassador programs.
Guide and convene the Area Planning Committee to ensure programming aligns with workforce and community needs
Other duties as assigned