Director, Adult Programs and Services

An established leader in the Northeast Ohio civic landscape, College Now has been changing the lives of students in our region since 1967. We do this by providing college and career access advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services to students from middle school through adulthood with a special focus on supporting those from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students. An individual filling this position can expect to have a direct impact on Northeast Ohio students and families.

When you work for College Now, you are part of an innovative and visionary team, committed to College Now's mission, vision and values as we are committed to creating a collaborative, inclusive workplace for team members. Offering superior benefits, ample opportunities for professional growth and development, and the chance to make an impact on the community, College Now is where careers are made and grown.

POSITION TITLE: Director of Adult Programs

STATUS: Full Time, 12 months, Exempt

REPORTS TO: Senior Director, Advising Programs and Services

ASSIGNED TO: Adult Programs & Services

LOCATION: Hybrid - Approximately 40% remote/60% downtown office

STANDARD HOURS: 40 hours / week

STARTING SALARY: $70,000 and may increase with relevant experience

Position Summary

College Now’s Adult Programs (AP) team helps students of all ages and backgrounds navigate the college enrollment process. This is accomplished via group sessions, presentations, and individual student meetings in community settings, schools, businesses, online, and the two College Now Resource Centers (Cleveland and Akron). We assist students research careers, identify educational pathways to those careers, complete college, and financial aid applications, as well as help students eliminate other barriers keeping them from reaching their educational goals.

The Director of Adult Programs is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Adult Programs and leading the department to ensure that the department maintains fiscal viability and growth while it achieves its objectives.

Essential Functions

• Hires, trains and supervises the Adult Programs’ team located in Cleveland, Akron, other auxiliary offices (if applicable), and remote to ensure excellence in program delivery. Oversees professional development opportunities for the team according to the needs of the department and aligning to each member’s talents and interests.
• Directs and oversees two Federal TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) Grants.
• Builds strategic partnerships with business, industry, higher education institutions and community-based organizations to implement and/or increase direct services to adult learner populations as well as collaborate on programming to increase college attainment for adults.
• Identifies areas for growth and innovation within the department and creates programming to fill the voids.
• Communicates with the appropriate resources and referral network systems.
• Works with Data Services to analyzes and report on data related to the Adult Learner Program.
• Identifies trends and implications in adult higher education at the local, state, and national levels and shares this information with the Development Division of College Now for proposal development.
• Works closely with College Now Departments—with particular focus on the Scholarship and Mentoring Departments—to develop a student referral and scholarship process that matches College Now mission and goals.
• Refer students to other services, e.g. college departments and other agencies for assistance in areas outside of College Now’s responsibilities, if deemed necessary.
• Directs the solicitation of grant funding to expand and grow the strategy; assists with grant reporting, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

The Director of Adult Programs must have a bachelor’s degree in adult education, counseling, student personnel or related field, 3-5 years experience with adult higher education services, demonstrated supervisory experience, and demonstrated experience with program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Ability to partner with agencies and institutions of higher learning external to College Now is necessary. Experience in marketing educational services to targeted populations and demonstrated energy, creativity and initiative. Knowledge of financial aid process, regulations, and compliance a must. Experience with academic, career planning and educational/career opportunities and assessment tools, and experience in non-profit management, marketing, and program and resource development is paramount in this position. Must be comfortable using a laptop computer, able to conduct searches on the Internet, use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), and must be able to enter data in a student database. Evening and weekend hours are required. Must be able to provide own transportation to multiple locations and carry up to 25 pounds of equipment (i.e., laptop computer, printer) and advising materials.

Disclaimer: "Nothing in this position description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time."