Director of TRIO

Title: Director of TRIO

Agency: Mountain Gateway Community College

Location: Alleghany - 005

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: $57,733 to $75,000 (depending upon incumbent's education and experience)

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Additional Detail

Job Description:

Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) is a two-year public institution of higher education and one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. The college is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia; the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt (northern portion) and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington; and the town of Clifton Forge. MGCC provides opportunities for the extension of knowledge, skills and personal enrichment in an environment that maintains high academic standards and respect for each individual. The college strives to keep programs and services financially and geographically accessible for all students. Credit and non-credit courses are offered to meet life-long learning needs. On-site and distance learning options incorporate up-to-date technologies.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as the Program Director for our TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program. This position provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring program activities align with federal guidelines and grant objectives. The ideal candidate will be passionate about supporting underserved students and committed to fostering a positive, collaborative team environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the TRIO SSS program, ensuring compliance with federal guidelines and alignment with institutional goals.
• Develop, implement, and assess program services aimed at enhancing student retention, academic achievement, graduation, and transfer.
• Supervise and support TRIO SSS staff, cultivating a positive and productive team environment.
• Manage the program budget responsibly, ensuring all expenditures adhere to federal regulations and institutional policies.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting to evaluate program effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
• Prepare and submit required annual performance reports and documentation to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Build and maintain partnerships with internal departments, community organizations, and educational institutions to support program objectives.
• Lead outreach and recruitment efforts to identify and enroll eligible students.
• Coordinate professional development, workshops, financial literacy training, mentoring, and career readiness activities.
• Stay informed of federal TRIO regulations, best practices, and trends in student support services.
• Advocate for TRIO-eligible students, addressing the unique challenges faced by underserved populations.
• Participate in college programs and activities to include required college professional development, college task forces, college committees, and other projects dedicated to the advancement of the college.

Why Join Mountain Gateway?

• Competitive fringe benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Engaging and supportive work environment.
• The chance to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.

• Master’s Degree in higher education, counseling, social work, or a related field from an accredited institution. (PhD preferred)
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with TRIO programs or similar academic support programs for disadvantaged college students.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in staff supervision; budget management; program development and evaluation; grant management; reporting and compliance with federal regulations.

• Demonstrated experience leading and completing projects, and performing other necessary duties, under pressure and tight timelines.
• Demonstrated experience identifying academic support needs of students in an educational setting, with referrals to relevant community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly, with willingness to assume additional responsibilities as needed, to fulfill the SSS grant requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in the application of general counseling techniques as they relate to students with disabilities.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work and problem solve with a variety of people, e.g. students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community agencies.
• Knowledge of physical and learning disabilities, and their impact on learning, as well as appropriate accommodations.
• Experience supervising and/or coordinating part-time employees.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit train and supervise student academic coaches.
• Demonstrated experience in the use of computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software, such as the programs in the Microsoft Office.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and aptitude for detailed work.
• Must pass a background check, which may include fingerprinting. Must continue to meet the established standards.

• Demonstrated experience leading educational support programs, preferably TRIO SSS or similar federally funded initiatives.
• Knowledge of federal TRIO program regulations and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to plan and execute strategic initiatives aimed at improving student success.
• Experience preparing grant proposals and managing program budgets.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to assess and improve services.
• Commitment to the academic success of low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build and sustain effective collaborations with stakeholders and partners.
• Personal experience overcoming academic barriers similar to those faced by TRIO students.
• Experience designing and delivering student development and support workshops.
• Familiarity with evaluation methodologies for measuring program effectiveness.
• Demonstrated competence and sensitivity to work effectively with the targeted student population, understanding and addressing the unique needs of first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities.