rootEd Missouri Regional Director - Jefferson College

OTC • Springfield, MO

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

rootEd Missouri is a statewide initiative designed to improve postsecondary outcomes for students from rural Missouri communities. The program supports dedicated college and career advisors in up to 60 rural Missouri high schools, partnering with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). These advisors work with school counselors and district leadership to ensure every student graduates with a postsecondary plan and to increase the number of students enrolling in postsecondary options. Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC), sponsored by rootEd, collaborates with DESE to guide the program, provide training and support to advisors, collect data for evaluation, and execute a growth strategy. The Regional Director (RD) will coach and serve as the primary point of contact for school-based rootEd advisors within a designated geography, aiming to increase the number of students choosing education beyond high school. The RD will ensure advisor success through training, planning support, problem-solving, and data-driven coaching. They will also support the broader rootEd initiative by collecting quantitative and qualitative data and sharing best practices. Additionally, the RD will maintain strong relationships with partner district and school leadership, building investment and providing progress updates. This is a full-time, grant-funded position with a limited term appointment, reporting to the Executive Director and based in one of four geographies across Missouri.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
• Demonstrated commitment and passion for increasing opportunities for rural high school students
• Exceptional relationship building across a diverse group of stakeholders
• Strong customer service skills
• Experience coaching adults to achieve goals
• Three years of experience in program/project development and management
• Ability to travel regularly
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to use information technology for professional productivity (such as Microsoft Office Suite).

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working with a college access or career advising program.
• Prior experience working in a rural school district or college.
• Five years experience in program/project development and management.
• Prior experience in case management and/or career counseling.
• Demonstrated experience conducting and analyzing research to inform project implementation and delivery.
• Experience working within a collegiate setting.

Responsibilities

• Coaches school-based advisors to achieve goals around student post-secondary achievement
• Ensures the school leaders, counselors, and advisors have shared goals and a plan to increase post-secondary achievement at the school
• Supports school leaders, counselors, and advisors to integrate the rootEd model into the existing plans around post-secondary achievement
• Provides training and ongoing support to advisors on the rootEd model
• Ensures that the advisor is collecting both quantitative and qualitative student-level data on critical student milestones, inclusive of FAFSA completion, application completion, and final decision making on the student’s post-secondary plans
• Engages with the advisor on a review of the milestone data to problem solve and adjust plans as appropriate
• Maintains relationships at the district level ensuring district leaders are aware of successes and challenges with the program and are invested in partnering with rootEd in the long term
• Regularly communicates with advisors and district leadership through regular site visits and other established communication systems.
• Establishes and strengthens relationships with key stakeholders in partner school districts and communities.
• Collaborates with partner school districts to facilitate purchasing and procurement or program delivery materials.
• Participates in regular meetings with the central rootED team and training to support program delivery and execution.
• Travels regularly throughout the geographic area of responsibility, and state-wide as needed.
• Exhibit exemplary attendance and punctuality.
• Comply with college policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including attending college functions, serving on committees and attending community events.

Benefits

• Medical insurance coverage for employees through the CoxHealth network at no cost to employees.
• Dental, LTD and group life insurance coverage for employees at no cost to employees.
• Access to the on-site OTC Health and Wellness Clinic at no cost for employees and their dependents.
• Use of the OTC fitness center at no cost to employees.
• Twelve (12) tuition free college credit hours per fall and/or spring semester and six (6) college credit hours per summer term for employees and/or their dependents.

What This Job Offers

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