Director, South Merced Center and Community Partnerships

Merced College is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and community-centered leader to serve as the Director of South Merced Center and Community Partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to lead a transformative community hub dedicated to expanding educational access, workforce opportunity, student success, and economic mobility for South Merced residents. The Director serves as the principal administrator of the South Merced Center, guiding operations, strategic partnerships, community engagement efforts, and the delivery of college programs and support services that meet the evolving needs of the community.

The successful candidate will be a visionary relationship-builder who can connect students, families, employers, schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and community stakeholders with meaningful educational and career pathways. Working across College departments and with external partners, the Director will help create innovative opportunities that support college access, workforce development, youth and family engagement, basic needs support, and lifelong learning.

If you are passionate about fostering partnerships, driving community impact, advancing equity, and creating opportunities that transform lives, we invite you to join Merced College in shaping the future of the South Merced community and strengthening connections between the College and the people it serves.

As you consider this opportunity, know that Merced College is more than a community college - we are a catalyst for transformation, redefining higher education and setting new standards for excellence. Serving nearly 20,000 students each year, we are proud to be a leading center of learning and opportunity in California's Central Valley. Founded in 1962, Merced College blends a strong tradition of academic excellence with forward-thinking innovation to create an inclusive and engaging environment for students and employees alike. Committed to the well-being, growth, and professional success of our team, we foster collaboration and a supportive culture where every employee is empowered to make a difference. Located in the heart of California's Central Valley, the City of Merced offers a welcoming community of more than 90,000 residents, with easy access to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Yosemite National Park. If you are passionate about innovation, equity, and student success, we invite you to join the Merced College team.

Merced College Mission

At Merced College, students are our focus, and we are known by their success. We transform lives through education and workforce development.

Merced College Vision

Enriching our community through educational experiences and support services:

• Degree/Certificate Programs
• Transfer
• Career Technical Education
• Workforce Training
• Lifelong Learning
• Basic Skills
• Community Engagement

Merced College promotes student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, and institutional effectiveness, all with a focus on student achievement.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

This is an exempt classified administrator position. Under the direction of the Associate Vice President of Student Services, the Director of South Merced Center and Community Partnerships provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and operational management for the Merced College South Merced Center and assigned community partnership initiatives. The Director is responsible for daily Center operations, assigned personnel and budgets, facilities coordination, community engagement, and the coordination of College-approved programs and student support services delivered at the Center.

The Director serves as the principal on-site administrator of the South Merced Center and ensures the Center operates as a welcoming, accessible, and community-centered education and opportunity hub. In collaboration with responsible College departments and community partners, the Center provides a welcoming, accessible location that connects residents with college access, College-approved instruction and services, workforce preparation, youth and family engagement, academic support, basic needs resources, and career advancement opportunities.

The Director collaborates with instructional and student services leaders to assess community needs, identify site and service-delivery needs, coordinate facility readiness and logistics for approved offerings, and evaluate Center access and utilization outcomes using workforce demands, student success data, enrollment trends, labor market information, and community needs assessments. The Director serves as the primary liaison for South Merced Center initiatives with governmental agencies, educational institutions, employers, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and philanthropic partners and develops partnerships consistent with District policies and approval processes.

The Director leads efforts to establish and maintain a strong community presence for Merced College in South Merced and supports the District's Educational Master Plan goal of expanding educational access through community-based locations and innovative service delivery models.

REPORTS TO

Associate Vice President of Student Services

SALARY RANGE

Management Range 12
Salary will be commensurate with education and experience
Additional compensation for doctorate

Examples of Duties

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

1. Provide administrative leadership and operational oversight for South Merced Center facilities, services, partnerships, community activities, and the site support necessary for approved College programs.
2. Develop, implement, and evaluate site operational plans, facility-use procedures, service standards, performance measures, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with District priorities and community needs.
3. Establish and oversee procedures and ensure compliance with District policies, collective bargaining agreements, legal requirements, grants, contracts, and partnership agreements.
4. Manage and coordinate daily Center operations, including scheduling, facilities use, technology resources, safety preparedness, and coordination with District support departments.
5. Assess community and workforce needs and collaborate with College stakeholders to identify and coordinate access, facility, scheduling, site-readiness, and operational-support needs for approved educational, workforce development, adult education, and community education offerings, including technology, registration access, marketing coordination, and student communications.
6. Support outreach and access activities that connect community members with educational and career pathways.
7. Develop and maintain partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, and regional organizations to support community access to workforce opportunities and inform site-based service needs.
8. Coordinate facility access, scheduling, referrals, site logistics, and community resource networks that support the delivery of enrollment, financial aid, counseling, tutoring, career services, disability support, basic needs, and related student services and address barriers to student success.
9. Promote equitable, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and student-centered practices that support access, retention, and achievement.
10. Lead outreach, recruitment, and community engagement strategies that increase awareness, participation, and enrollment, particularly among underserved populations; coordinate facility use, logistics, scheduling, and community communications for related events, workshops, orientations, and enrollment campaigns.
11. Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, government agencies, employers, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic entities, and community groups; serve as the primary site liaison for South Merced Center initiatives by facilitating stakeholder engagement, gathering community input, and supporting partnership development.
12. Coordinate site access, operational support, and community engagement for youth- and family-focused educational, enrichment, college-access, college-awareness, career-exploration, and postsecondary-planning activities in collaboration with College departments and community partners, including family-centered workshops and community learning opportunities.
13. Collect, analyze, and report data related to Center utilization, facility access, service utilization, community participation, workforce outcomes, and community impact; use labor market information, community needs assessments, stakeholder feedback, and performance metrics to inform planning, service coordination, facility use, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.
14. Prepare reports, strategic plans, grant applications, recommendations, and related documents while administering grants, contracts, budgets, and other assigned resources.
15. Coordinate, support, and provide operational direction to assigned staff, student workers, volunteers, consultants, and temporary employees; perform supervisory responsibilities as assigned.
16. Establish work priorities, schedules, performance expectations, and professional development opportunities while ensuring compliance with District procedures and safe work practices.
17. Represent the Center in College and District planning efforts and foster an inclusive, equitable environment that supports student success, employee engagement, and community collaboration.
18. Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• The mission, organization, governance, and funding structure of California Community Colleges.
• Community-based educational center operations, site administration, facilities coordination, and service delivery models.
• The operational coordination and site-based support of instructional programs, student services, and student success initiatives in a community college.
• Adult education, noncredit education, workforce development systems, career education pathways, and labor market trends.
• Enrollment management, outreach, recruitment, retention, and student success practices.
• Community engagement, partnership development, interagency collaboration, and public communication strategies.
• Student Equity and Achievement, Guided Pathways, Basic Needs, accessibility, and equity-minded service practices.
• Site operations planning, service coordination, utilization assessment, data analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Budget development and control, grant and contract administration, and fiscal management.
• Applicable state and federal laws, District policies, and compliance requirements, including Title 5 and FERPA.
• Principles of supervision, collective bargaining agreements, performance management, and employee development.

Ability to:

• Provide leadership for assigned operations of a comprehensive community-based educational center, including facilities, access, scheduling, safety, and service coordination.
• Coordinate the cross-departmental site access, facilities, logistics, and operational support for educational, workforce, and student-support initiatives.
• Build and sustain productive community partnerships, maintain effective working relationships with diverse constituencies, and represent the College effectively.
• Analyze data, identify service-delivery gaps, and use findings to improve Center operations and resource decisions.
• Develop and implement procedures, manage site operations, and resolve complex operational issues.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing, including preparing reports, proposals, and presentations.
• Manage multiple priorities, budgets, grants, projects, and deadlines while meeting institutional objectives.
• Supervise, motivate, develop, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Demonstrate cultural humility, equity-minded leadership, and community-centered engagement practices.
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, collective bargaining agreements, contracts, and approved partnership agreements.

Typical Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education/Training/Experience
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
AND
Three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in higher education, student services, workforce development, community engagement, educational administration, outreach, enrollment management, adult education, noncredit education, or a related field, including at least one (1) year of supervisory, management, or administrative leadership responsibility.

License or Certificate
Possession of a valid driver's license and ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance policy.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Training/Experience
Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Student Affairs, Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Work, Community Development, or a related field.

California Community College experience, preferably in a community education center, satellite campus, outreach center, workforce development center, or educational access site.

Demonstrated success developing community partnerships, managing collaborative initiatives and externally funded programs, and supporting underserved, first-generation, and historically underrepresented populations.

Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment
Work is performed in office, educational, and community-based environments. Incumbents may be required to work evenings, weekends, and off-site community events. Travel between District locations and community partner sites may be required.

Physical Ability to:

• Stand or sit for prolonged periods and walk or move between offices, classrooms, and community event locations.
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels.
• Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation.
• Read printed matter and computer screens.
• Bend, twist, stoop, push, pull, and reach in all directions.
• Work at a desk, conference table, or in meetings of various configurations.
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination, including use of a computer keyboard.

Vision
See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing
Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply:

1. Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mccd

Required Documentation:

1. Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
2. Resume
3. List of three professional references (no reference letters permitted)
4. Legible, unofficial college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate); transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
5. Diversity Statement: The Merced College District has a diverse staff and student population. As such, applicants must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and the community at large. Please describe your leadership efforts and professional experience promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in a work setting. Please do not include any personally identifying information. Limit your response to one (1) page.
6. If applicable, foreign transcripts must include a U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an approved organization.
7. If applicable, Equivalency Review Form (Required for applicants who do not possess the stated minimum educational qualifications and are seeking consideration on the basis of equivalency) https://www.mccd.edu/about-merced-college/divisions/human-resources/equivalency/

Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile.

Interview Information: Applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to participate in onsite oral interviews conducted by a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be selected to move forward to the interview stage.

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for October 20, 2026 with in-person final interviews scheduled for October 21, 2026.

Employee Benefits: Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee's only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our Merced College Benefits website for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided.

Condition of Employment: The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodation to participate in the application process. Please submit your request with your application to the Human Resources Office.

Merced Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer