Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Director of College Success Programs

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: M

Under the direction of management, the Director of College Success Programs serves as the College’s leader for supporting students’ successful education transitions, persistence, and success. The position will be responsible for positively impacting the College’s retention and graduation rates by liaising across Student Affairs and Academic Affairs on student success initiatives. The role will develop, coordinate and assist in the planning and execution of strategies and programs aimed at helping students navigate through the challenges they may face during their college life cycle and improving the student’s potential to reach their educational goals. This role works closely with Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to ensure program alignment and integration with institutional effectiveness, planning efforts, and holistic student support.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides strategic and operational leadership and accountability for administrative procedures, systems and practices related to sustainability and growth of college student success & retention programs aimed to mitigate and/or eliminate barriers to educational access and outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
2. Develops, plans and implants goals, objectives, strategies, policies and procedures for multiple complex educational programs which includes: implementing program revisions, preparing accreditation information and documentation, resolving faculty and student issues.
3. Ensures that proper documentation of eligibility is maintained and reported to funding agencies as required. Monitor the timely data collection and reporting for all grant funded programs. Ensures that programs meet and adhere to required annual and interim reporting.
4. Manages grant programs in assigned areas of responsibility, which includes: applying for grants, monitoring compliance with grant conditions and terms, setting and executing strategy for sustained grant-funded college access programming and creating or pursuing opportunities for growth.
5. Ensures culturally responsive and inclusive operations that center on historically underserved and marginalized communities; accountable for flexible service delivery modalities that support access, persistence, retention, and equitable student outcomes.
6. Builds and maintains collaborative and productive partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, administrative/systems services, and shared governance bodies in order to integrate institutional effectiveness, planning efforts, and holistic student support.
7. Conducts ongoing needs assessment and gap analysis related to student retention and persistence to identify and forecast student needs for continuous process and outcome improvement.
8. Supervises managers, professional staff, classified staff, technical/support, and/or student staff. Reinforces staff’s development of PCC’s leadership competencies. Evaluates and oversees the development of professional development plans and goals for assigned areas of responsibility in accordance with good management practices, District policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Hires, evaluates, trains, disciplines and recommends dismissal of staff as necessary.
9. Develops, oversees, analyzes, and makes budget decisions in alignment with College strategy, values and priorities. Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies. Assumes institutional authority for applicable grants and contracts.
10. Implements and promotes advancement of the district’s equity goals and assists in the hiring of staff that reflects the diversity of the district. Enhances equity-minded talent management, including recruiting, hiring, and employee retention practices.
11. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and some evening or weekend work is required. Frequent travel to other locations is required. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Education, Public Administration, Communications, Business, Non-Profit Management or other related fields. Three (3) years of progressively responsible, professional experience related to obtaining and managing multiple federal grants and contracts, possessing an understanding of college and career readiness programming, and experience working with youth in urban education settings. Three (3) years of higher education and management/supervisory experience supervising employees. Experience obtaining, managing, and leading federal and other grant programs.

OR Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Public Administration, Communications, Business, Non-Profit Management or related area AND five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional experience related to obtaining and managing multiple federal grants and contracts, possessing an understanding of college and career readiness programming, and experience working with youth in urban education settings. Three (3) years of higher education and management/supervisory experience supervising employees. Experience obtaining, managing, and leading federal and other grant programs.

OR Bachelor’s Degree in any field AND seven (7) years of progressively responsible, professional experience related to obtaining and managing multiple federal grants and contracts, possessing an understanding of college and career readiness programming, and experience working with youth in urban education settings. Three (3) years of higher education and management/supervisory experience supervising employees. Experience obtaining, managing, and leading federal and other grant programs.

OR nine (9) years of progressively responsible, professional experience related to obtaining and managing multiple federal grants and contracts, possessing an understanding of college and career readiness programming, and experience working with youth in urban education settings. Three (3) years of higher education and management/supervisory experience supervising employees. Experience obtaining, managing, and leading federal and other grant programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Program development, budgeting, and management;
• Policy and procedure development and administration;
• Grant writing, management and contract administration principles and practices;
• Public administration and higher education principles and practices;
• Health, safety and emergency preparation, business and operational continuity, and response;
• Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations.

Skills in:

• Strategic leadership and management;
• Planning, implementing, improving, and evaluating operations, programs, policies, procedures, financials;
• Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
• Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and making continuous improvements for programs and services;
• Ensuring compliance with applicable internal and external program requirements;
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with other states, federal agencies, national organization, related professional associations and community members;
• Preparing, managing, and administering grants and/or contracts;
• Creating a variety of reports related to operational activities, including statistical analysis;
• Working with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and partners.

Ability to:

• Communicate and execute a vision for student-centered (flexible, multimodal) delivery of instruction and services through oral and written mediums;
• Drive systemic change for racial and social equity and justice;
• Manage and mediate conflict and sensitive topics;
• Counsel, direct and facilitate professional development of employees while motivating them toward goal achievement;
• Apply independent judgment to interpretation and application of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Revised: 1/2022
New: 8/2021

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.