Director, TRiO Student Support Services

Campus: Skyline College

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Schedule: 35

Category: Academic Supervisor

Bargaining Unit: Non-Represented

Months Per Year: 12

Hours Per Week: 37.5

Mandated Reporter: Yes

Campus Security Authority: No

This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Under the general direction of the assigned administrator, the Director provides leadership and oversees the daily operations and management of Skyline College's TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program and assigned institutional student programs, including Project Change, Next Up/Guardian Scholars, and Jump Start. This is a full-time, grant-funded position with primary responsibilities for planning, developing, supervising, and evaluating all assigned programs and staff, including budget management, recruitment of program participants, and compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and requirements.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general direction from an appropriate supervisor; checks with supervisor regarding non-routine assignments. Incumbent supervises faculty, staff, and student assistants, as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Duties and Responsibilities are representative and not intended to cover all duties the incumbent performs. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the scope of work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.

Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) and assigned institutional student programs; develop and implement program goals, objectives, and action plans consistent with U.S. Department of Education grant requirements, California Community College system guidelines, and Skyline College's Educational Master Plan and equity agenda.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and District policies governing TRiO SSS and assigned institutional programs, including applicable provisions of AB 12/167 for foster youth program participants served through Next Up/Guardian Scholars.
• Develop collaborative efforts, strategic alliances, and working relationships with external constituents and internal departments; serve as a liaison to campus administration, community agencies, and program partners to maximize services and promote program visibility.
• Serve as the college's primary contact with the U.S. Department of Education for TRiO SSS; attend required Director meetings, seminars, and conferences as required by the U.S. Department of Education or Skyline College.
• Foster an institutional climate supportive of the success of students who are low-income, first-generation, limited English proficient, from groups traditionally underrepresented and underserved, and/or have disabilities; promote belonging, equity, and access across all assigned programs.
• Participate in college shared governance processes and committees to support overall program objectives and the college's mission, philosophy, and equity goals.
• Contribute to Skyline College's Educational Master Plan, program review processes, and Equal Opportunity objectives.

Management of Personnel and Budgets

• Hire, supervise, direct, and regularly evaluate the performance of TRiO SSS and assigned program faculty and staff in accordance with District policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements; serve as a mentor to develop staff career goals and hold staff accountable to performance expectations.
• Develop, implement, and administer policies and procedures for program operations, consistent with District policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Coordinate orientation and in-service training for program faculty and staff; assign and review subordinate work for compliance with established guidelines, requirements, and procedures.
• Ensure staff understanding and compliance with mandated reporting requirements, applicable District policies and procedures, and grant operating guidelines.
• Oversee staff in planning and coordinating on- and off-site program events and activities.
• Control and authorize expenditures in accordance with established budget limitations; institute and maintain record-keeping systems in compliance with the District's Internal Controls Framework and standard District practices.
• Provide fiscal oversight for all grant and institutional program budgets, including educating the campus community on grant sponsor rules and regulations (e.g., U.S. Department of Education, CCCCO); manage selection, purchase, and evaluation of supplies and equipment.

Program Operations

• Create and maintain effective processes to identify and recruit eligible student participants; oversee the intake, enrollment, and ongoing monitoring of participant progress and success across all assigned programs.
• Maintain up-to-date data and manage MIS reporting for all students and services related to assigned programs; develop evaluation tools for needs assessment in areas of student satisfaction, program effectiveness, and service delivery.
• Prepare and submit required federal reports, including U.S. Department of Education Annual Performance Reports; coordinate Annual and Comprehensive Program Reviews as required.
• Develop and implement meaningful student programming and activities related to grant objectives and institutional program goals, including workshops, events, and learning opportunities in areas such as academic skills, cultural belonging, career preparation, transfer readiness, and financial literacy.
• Assess program participants' needs; recommend, develop, and oversee implementation of program projects and activities designed to meet program needs in accordance with grant objectives and applicable operating guidelines.
• Collaborate with campus partners, including the Learning Center, STEM Center, Financial Aid Office, and other student services units to enhance program participant learning, support services, and success outcomes.
• Administer Grant Aid awards to qualifying students in accordance with federal guidelines and in collaboration with the Financial Aid Office.
• Develop, update, and maintain program policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures for all assigned programs.

Compliance and Safety

• Serve as a Responsible Employee under federal Title IX and state Equity in Education mandated reporting requirements.
• Serve as a Campus Security Authority under the Clery Act and VAWA.
• Serve as a Mandated Reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and the District's Workplace Violence Prevention Plan.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards (acquired through education, training, and/or experience)

Knowledge of:

1. Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. Department of Education TRiO program regulations, grant compliance requirements, and performance reporting standards.
2. Knowledge of applicable state categorical program requirements and reporting for student equity and support programs (e.g., EOPS, CalWORKs, NextUp/Guardian Scholars), including CCCCO MIS data requirements.
3. Knowledge of risk factors impacting low-income, first-generation, and underserved students, including evidence-based strategies to address barriers to persistence and completion.
4. Knowledge of advising and counseling frameworks, financial aid policies and processes, and transfer pathways applicable to community college students.
5. Knowledge of grant writing, federal grant program compliance, and project management principles and practices.
6. Comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of effective supervision, training, performance management, motivation, and providing constructive feedback to subordinates.

Skills and Abilities:

1. Provide leadership for a department and the institution at large; set a clear vision and build a collaborative, accountable, and equity-centered team culture.
2. Effectively train, direct, supervise, motivate, and evaluate the performance of assigned faculty and staff in compliance with District policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
3. Coordinate complex, multi-program operations with college services, community partners, and student constituencies in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
4. Create and maintain internal controls and standard operating procedures to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, financial integrity, and regulatory compliance across all assigned programs.
5. Design and implement strategies to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for faculty, staff, and students served by assigned programs.
6. Communicate promptly, clearly, and effectively with diverse constituencies within and outside the College, both in writing and orally.
7. Use data to assess program outcomes, identify equity gaps, and drive continuous program improvement.
8. Encourage professional excellence among employees and promote an organizational culture of accountability, customer service, teamwork, and innovation.

Job Requirements:

• Master's degree or higher from an accredited institution OR the equivalent
• Five (5) years of experience in designing, managing, or implementing federal student support services or similar programs.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience supervising staff, managing budgets, developing and evaluating programs, and submitting reports in compliance with federal regulations. Experience may be concurrent with the five-year requirement above.
• Experience developing and implementing student programming for a diverse constituency, including topics such as cultural belonging, academic skills, career preparation, financial aid literacy, and transfer readiness.
• Evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender identity and expression, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with physical and learning disabilities.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in higher education administration, educational leadership, counseling, social work, or a related field.
• Experience managing, implementing, and evaluating a federally grant-funded program, ensuring compliance with regulatory, fiscal, and reporting requirements.
• Experience writing and/or renewing TRiO or comparable federal grants.
• Experience working with and supporting foster youth students (e.g., NextUp, Guardian Scholars, or AB 12/167 programs) or other institutionally funded categorical student support programs.
• Experience managing in a unionized work environment, including demonstrated ability to apply collective bargaining agreement provisions in a supervisory context.
• Experience working with high school students or college access pipeline programs (e.g., Upward Bound, GEAR UP, dual enrollment).

Additional Requirements:

• Provide own transportation and travel countywide.