Assistant Director of Adult Education

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Lawrence, MA

1d•$80,000 - $86,000•Onsite

About The Position

Northern Essex Community College’s Center for Adult Education (CAE) seeks an experienced, collaborative Assistant Director to help lead programs serving an immigrant-rich, multilingual community. Programs include 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 provides leadership and oversight for program operations, student services, and special initiatives, coordinating outreach, intake, orientation, testing, enrollment, advising, data, and next-step programs. The role supervises professional and administrative staff, manages compliance, and aligns daily operations with strategic and equity-driven goals. The Assistant Director works closely with the Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning to align operations with instructional goals and student-success outcomes. This is a full-time, non-unit professional position at the Lawrence Campus, 420 Common Street, scheduled for 37.5 hours per week. The anticipated starting salary is $80,000–$86,000 annually, with a complete fringe benefits package. The anticipated start date is ASAP.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Three years of experience in program management.
Strong working knowledge of adult education policies.
Track record of supervising teams, including 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.
Legal authorization to work in the United States; the college does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.
Successful completion and review of a background check, including CORI and SORI.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish/English.
Experience working in a 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 the enrollment pipeline, including intake, orientation, testing, enrollment, registration, class transfers, withdrawals, and post-exit follow-up.
Support staff in developing and delivering student orientations and presentations.
Supervise and support staff across outreach, enrollment, advising, data, Transitions to College, SNAP Employment and Training, and Integrated Education and Training.
Coach staff, 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 align and integrate instructional schedules, student services, and resources.
Promote an inclusive, student-centered environment that supports persistence, retention, and success for diverse learners.
Collaborate with advisors to identify barriers to persistence and coordinate support services for students.
Monitor and respond to student feedback to guide improvements in programming and services.
Collaborate with advising staff and instructional leadership on career planning, transitions, and student retention.
Support development of 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 data integrity across LACES, Destiny One, and related systems in coordination with the Testing, Enrollment, and Data Specialist.
Use student data to inform decisions, improve programs, and meet performance benchmarks.
Lead improvements to enrollment, registration, and communication processes through digital platforms.
Represent CAE at college, local, and statewide meetings.
Support grant development and reporting, and prepare for site visits, audits, and compliance reviews.
Lead student engagement initiatives, including advisory groups, peer mentoring, and student ambassador programs.
Guide and convene the Area Planning Committee to align programming with workforce and community needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.