Project Director, Educational Opportunity Center

University of Louisiana, Lafayette•Lafayette, LA

About The Position

The Project Director oversees administrative and support services for the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), recruiting and serving 850 EOC- and TRIO-eligible participants in Acadia, Evangeline, Lafayette (primarily Northern Lafayette), and St. Landry Parishes. The program operates in accordance with U.S. Department of Education regulations and in partnership with the Department of Labor and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The Director ensures project funds are spent according to approved guidelines and carries out activities described in the EOC’s 2026–2031 approved project proposal and annual budgets. The Director supports the TRIO Department Head and Off-Campus Assistant TRIO Director in selecting, supervising, training, and evaluating staff. The role establishes community-agency partnerships to identify and recruit eligible adults, conducts orientations and staff-development workshops, and attends campus and off-campus meetings related to EOC operations. The Director oversees timely annual federal performance reporting, EOC proposals, process and summative evaluations, and service changes within federal guidelines. The role also ensures compliance with Federal and University regulations, guidelines, and policies, and supports smooth program operations and timely achievement of enrollment and budget benchmarks. The position serves adult participants, including people involved in the justice system, victims served through state and parish justice departments, and others from vulnerable backgrounds. Participants are supported in earning a high school equivalency credential and/or entering postsecondary or workforce training programs intended to help them become financially self-sufficient. The Director analyzes program-performance data, including college-entry, retention, and graduation outcomes, and applies knowledge of collegiate, academic, and financial procedures, particularly assistance with completing the FAFSA.

Requirements

Master’s degree or higher in counseling, educational administration, psychology, communications, social work, or a related field.
At least five years of directly related experience serving first-generation and low-income pre-college or college-aged adults.
Experience managing multiple work teams within a large organization, coordinating team activities, and working with participants from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to relate well to adult participants, including people involved in the justice system, victims served through state and parish justice departments, and others from vulnerable backgrounds.
Ability to analyze and understand data related to program performance, college entry, retention, and graduation outcomes.
Knowledge of collegiate, academic, and financial procedures, especially FAFSA completion.

Nice To Haves

Five years of experience counseling low-income, first-generation, or disabled students.
Five years of experience managing staff and a budget comparable to the proposed project.

Responsibilities

Oversee administrative and support services to recruit and serve 850 EOC- and TRIO-eligible participants across the designated parishes.
Ensure project expenditures comply with Department of Education guidelines and approved project budgets.
Conduct participant orientation activities and staff-development workshops.
Assist the TRIO Department Head and Off-Campus Assistant TRIO Director with staff selection, supervision, training, and evaluation.
Develop partnerships with community agencies to identify and recruit eligible adults.
Attend campus and off-campus meetings related to EOC operations.
Oversee timely annual federal performance reporting using established project-performance criteria.
Prepare EOC proposals and oversee process and summative evaluations.
Make service-delivery changes as needed and within federal guidelines.
Complete reports in accordance with Federal and University regulations, guidelines, and policies.
Ensure smooth program implementation and operation, including achievement of participant-enrollment and budget benchmarks.
Support participants pursuing high school equivalency credentials and/or postsecondary or workforce training, including participants from vulnerable backgrounds.
Analyze program data on performance, college entry, retention, and graduation outcomes.
Apply knowledge of collegiate, academic, and financial procedures, including helping participants complete the FAFSA.