Program Director – Pathways Advising & Student Support

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Job Description

The A&M System strives to maintain a competitive, high-quality benefit package to support the health and wellness needs of our workforce. This includes comprehensive health and welfare insurance plans, additional health and lifestyle programs, and optional retirement savings opportunities. Eligible employees will have access to paid leave programs in addition to 13-15 paid holidays each year. For more information regarding the benefit package go to: West Texas A&M University: Human Resources Benefits

NOTICE - All posted positions are subject to budget approval.

General Summary:

This is a new, grant-supported initiative launching with one full-time pathways advisor and part-time auxiliary staff focused on student and family navigation, readiness, and transition support. The program is designed to expand in its second year with additional full-time advisors serving new collaborative districts, and continued regional scaling is anticipated as additional funding is secured. As the initiative grows, the Program Director's scope and responsibilities are expected to grow with it.

The Program Director - Pathways Advising & Student Success, under general direction, leads the launch and growth of a new pathways advising and student success initiative designed to strengthen postsecondary access, persistence, workforce alignment, and career-connected learning opportunities across rural and under-resourced communities. In its initial year, the initiative launches with a focused scope, supported by a small advising and student support team providing student and family navigation, readiness, and transition services, and is designed to expand into additional collaborative districts as the program matures. The Program Director shapes program goals, operational strategies, and partnerships from the ground up, supervises advising and support personnel, and builds relationships with educational institutions, workforce partners, employers, and community organizations. The position is responsible for program planning, implementation, evaluation, reporting, budget oversight, and sustainability efforts aligned with institutional and funding priorities.

Salary Range: $4,000 - $4,585 monthly

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership, Planning & Strategic Implementation:

• Develops, implements, and evaluates program strategic plans, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and operational activities associated with the pathways advising and student success initiative.
• Ensures program objectives, grant deliverables, performance measures, and organizational priorities are achieved.
• Assists with long-range planning, continuous improvement, and sustainability efforts.
• Coordinates implementation activities across participating school districts, postsecondary institutions, workforce partners, and community stakeholders.
• Represents the department and University on committees, workgroups, advisory bodies, and community engagement activities.

Personnel Supervision & Team Development:

• Provides leadership, supervision, guidance, training, and evaluation of pathways advising personnel and related student success staff.
• Supports recruitment, onboarding, professional development, performance management, and retention efforts.
• Establishes performance expectations and promotes effective communication, collaboration, and team effectiveness.

Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with school districts, education service centers, higher education institutions, employers, workforce partners, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinates partnership activities supporting pathway development, student success, workforce alignment, work-based learning, and postsecondary transition objectives.

Student Success Systems & Program Operations:

• Directs implementation and coordination of pathway advising, transition support, workforce pathway development, student engagement, career readiness, and related student success activities.
• Oversees delivery of services and operational processes supporting achievement of program objectives and participant outcomes.
• Data Analysis, Evaluation & Reporting: Analyzes program statistics, participation data, performance measures (KPIs), and student outcomes.
• Maintains program records and reporting systems and prepares reports related to program implementation, organizational effectiveness, grant compliance, and continuous improvement activities.

Budget Management, Resource Development & Sustainability:

• Develops, monitors, and oversees program budgets and operational expenditures.
• Assists with identifying, developing, and securing resources, partnerships, and funding opportunities that support program sustainability and expansion. Ensures responsible stewardship of program resources and compliance with funding requirements.

• Maintains 100% compliance with timely completion of required System, University and job-specific online training courses.
• This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties as assigned.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten (10) years of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in program implementation and management, education, workforce development, student success, community engagement, or related fields.
• Position requires superior interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational, leadership, supervisory, and implementation coordination skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments, set priorities, track projects, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail with an ability to exercise discretion and sound judgement, utilize problem-solving and critical thinking, and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a professional, fast-paced environment with individuals and groups from a variety of backgrounds and levels of experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to organize information for effective presentation and present to virtual and in-person groups.
• Must be a disciplined and goal-oriented self-starter.
• Exceptional relationship building and management skills.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently within complex organizational and community-based environments.
• Ability to synthesize data and compile reports.
• Able to travel.
• Some evening and weekend work required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, communications, or behavioral health field.
• Master’s degree.
• Experience working with K-12 and/or postsecondary education systems preferred.
• Experience supporting rural, under-resourced, or regional workforce and education initiatives.
• Experience with pathway development, student support systems, workforce alignment, persistence
• initiatives, or transition supports preferred.
• Experience navigating cross-sector partnerships and complex organizational structures.
• Experience with grant-funded initiatives, reporting, implementation, and performance tracking preferred.
• Experience working within collaborative environments involving multiple stakeholders and
• partner organizations.
• Knowledge of Salesforce CRM or similar systems.
• Bilingual skills preferred.

Applicant Instructions:

Please include the following with your application:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Three references

Please attach all documents in the attachment box at the bottom of the “My Experience” page before continuing through the application. Please use the “Upload” button to add each document individually. All revisions must be made prior to application submission. If you need assistance with uploading documents, please contact WTAMU Human Resources at [email protected].

Due to budgetary reasons, West Texas A&M University will not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term.

Texas law requires all males age 18 through 25 to be properly registered with the Selective Service System.

Equal Opportunity /Veterans/Disability Employer.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.