Director of Title III Programs

Texas A&M University System • Commerce, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Senior Vice Provost, the Director of Title III Programs provides strategic leadership for the Lions Success Teams initiative, a federally funded Title III Strengthening Institutions Program designed to improve student retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes. The Director leads the implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of grant-funded activities while ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations. The Lions Success Teams initiative advances a holistic, student-centered approach to success through collaboration among key student support units, including Academic Advising, the Office of Student Career Preparedness, and the Blue to Gold Money Management Center. The Director serves as the primary liaison between the university and the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) for Title III, providing leadership in project administration, fiscal stewardship, assessment, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will be a collaborative and data-informed leader who can guide institutional change, foster cross-divisional partnerships, and leverage evidence-based practices to achieve project objectives and strengthen student success outcomes. This position is currently funded through the remaining two years of the Title III grant. Continued employment may be available through future grant-funded initiatives and institutional opportunities, contingent upon funding availability and institutional needs. As a proud member of the third-largest institution in The Texas A&M University System, ETAMU fosters a strong professional environment that supports career growth and academic excellence. ETAMU is a fast-growing public university with a strong reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and student success. With over 140+ degree programs, a 20:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and nationally ranked online and graduate programs, ETAMU is committed to transforming lives through quality education. Our employees benefit from a collaborative community, cutting-edge research opportunities, and outstanding resources.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in grant development, grant administration, project management, program leadership, institutional effectiveness, student success, or a related field
• Experience managing complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and departments
• Experience developing reports, conducting assessments, or using data to support organizational decision-making.
• Understand the principles and practices of grant management, project management, and partnership development
• Understand principles and practices of financial management
• Understand principles and practices of research and evaluation
• Understand pertinent federal, state, and institutional regulations relating to grant administration and management
• Understand principles and practices of student success in higher education
• Understand applicable uses of modern technology
• Ability to perform exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulations and policies
• Demonstrated collaborative leadership and relationship-building skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to prepare and present comprehensive reports and recommendations
• Commitment to student success, continuous improvement, and evidence-informed practice.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in human services, business, education, or related area
• Experience managing federally funded grants, particularly Title III, Title V, TRIO, GEAR UP, NSF, or similar programs.
• Experience leading student success, retention, persistence, or institutional transformation initiatives.
• Experience using student success technologies and analytics platforms such as Navigate360/EAB or similar systems.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience working with external evaluators and assessment consultants.
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direct oversight for the compliance and administration of the grant project ensuring sustained adherence to federal, state, local, and institutional regulations as related to the implementation of project strategies, day-to-day project activities, and planned project expenditures.
• Provide strategic leadership and direct oversight for sustaining fiscal accountability by managing public funds lawfully, efficiently, and transparently; take responsibility for approving the use of project funds to make allocable, allowable, and reasonable purchases; regularly track project expenditures, present budget resolutions, draft project budget revisions with justification narratives, seek official approval for spending by the USDOE when necessary, and account for all project expenditures in all official project reports.
• Use collaborative leadership approaches to direct, guide, and support associated unit directors and Title III staff regarding active implementation of the grant project in a student-centered, student-focused manner; encouraging operational practices that promote continual execution of project activities leading to achievement of project objectives in accordance with the established project timetable; anticipating challenges and responding to the need to troubleshoot challenges when they arise.
• Facilitate and nurture an information-rich environment by compiling relevant student and unit operational data, tracking project outcomes, tracking project expenditures, and measuring overall project effectiveness in collaboration with staff and the external evaluator for the grant project; communicating pertinent insights regularly.
• Prepare and submit accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual performance evaluation reports to include progress summaries, financial statements, needs assessments, process monitoring assessments, and impact analyses in collaboration with staff and the external evaluator for the grant project.
• Establish and lead a Title III research agenda to disseminate student-centered products that contribute to evidence-based research, knowledge, practice and/or policy; encourage and coordinate the participation of Title III staff as well as members of the university community.
• Attend monthly meetings with the USDOE as well as facilitate regular meetings with Title III staff, university partners, and the external evaluator to communicate, collaborate, and garner support for continual progress of the grant project.
• Maintain official records and documents according to institutional and USDOE regulations.
• Maintain open communication with key institutional stakeholders including the President, Provost, Senior Vice Provost, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success, Grant Project Administration Manager, and others.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employee tuition assistance for master’s and doctoral programs.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• ETAMU contributes to employee health and basic life insurance premiums.
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays, plus up to eight hours of paid sick leave and vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), with optional additional retirement plans (ORP).
• Physical wellness program and wellness release time for eligible employees.
• Access to cutting-edge research opportunities at a designated R2 Research Institution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director