Project Director, TRIO & CSTEP- Grant Funded

Trocaire College•Buffalo, NY

About The Position

The Project Director oversees the everyday operations of Student Support Services provided through the TRIO grant and the CSTEP program. The role makes administrative and procedural decisions, interprets policies, establishes procedures, and collaborates with college leadership on strategic planning, marketing, and process improvements. The position manages program objectives, budgets, reporting, compliance, evaluation, student advising, workshops, campus coordination, and student-success initiatives. It also supervises departmental support staff, serves on the Academic Support Services Division management team, and reports to the Dean of Academic Support Services. The position is funded by U.S. Department of Education TRIO SSS and a New York State Education Department grant, and continued employment is contingent on continued grant funding. The director is expected to support a positive learning environment and student success, including engagement, retention, and completion. The role requires sound judgment, discretion with confidential information, effective leadership and communication, and the ability to build productive relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, governing boards, and the public.

Requirements

Master's degree in student personnel, higher education administration, educational administration, education, or a related field.
One to three years of experience in staff supervision, budget management, program development and evaluation, and reporting and compliance with federal regulations.
Two to three years of experience with federal TRIO programs, academic support programs, or similar programs serving diverse, low-income, first-generation college students.
Experience working with a Student Information System.
Cultural competence.
Ability to establish and maintain collaborative, effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, administration, and governing boards.
Student-centered philosophy and approach to work.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to perform assessment, analyze data, and provide reports.
Ability to communicate ideas and information effectively in writing and orally to students, staff, professional colleagues, governing boards, and the general public.
Ability to interpret policies, rules, and regulations and establish methods and procedures.
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, delegate, and follow through on work and meet deadlines.
Ability to manage budgets and handle confidential material judiciously.
Ability to lead others and manage interpersonal conflicts with tact, diplomacy, and discretion.
Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse workforce and student population.
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work the required hours, including evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Professional or personal experience overcoming barriers similar to those faced by project participants.
Grant writing experience.

Responsibilities

Plan, implement, and track major program objectives.
Monitor project information, budgets, and systems, and provide reports to ensure compliance.
Complete reporting to the U.S. Department of Education and the New York State Education Department.
Advise SSS and CSTEP participants and deliver presentations and workshops.
Coordinate activities with other campus units and develop relationships with other TRIO and CSTEP programs.
Coordinate project evaluation.
Keep current on philosophy, trends, and best practices in higher education academic advisement, student services, and student engagement.
Ensure local, state, and federal compliance as it pertains to the functional area.
Maintain accurate data for reports and informed decision-making.
Assist with analysis of student enrollment, persistence, retention, and completion patterns and other relevant data collection and analysis.
Maintain the institutional vision for a strong student engagement, retention, and completion program.
Collaborate with other college departments to support student success.
Develop and maintain a department communication plan for students, faculty, and staff using written and electronic formats.
Use technology to provide effective and efficient student services.
Serve on the Academic Support Services Division management team.
Supervise departmental support staff, including training, evaluating, and developing staff members.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean of Academic Support Services.