Director of TRIO High School Upward Bound

DepartmentTRIO Programs

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students/Director of TRIO Student Support Services, the Director of TRIO High School Upward Bound will direct and oversee operations and programs to promote school to college pathways for under-resourced urban elementary and secondary education students. The CUE and TRIO Upward Bound programs support out-of-school academic intervention and enrichment, college readiness activities, and other MSU Denver-urban school district partnership initiatives and is funded in large part by external grants and contracts. Specifically, the CUE and TRIO Upward Bound currently operates the following grant and contract-funded programs: TRIO High School Upward Bound (HSUB), Denver Mayor’s Office 2A contract, and two contracts supporting credit recovery programs during the academic year and summer in partnership with Denver Public Schools.
Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer.

IND208

Duties/Responsibilities

35% – Leadership and Management:

• Ensures the implementation of grant- and contract-funded school-college programs, including program budget management, grant compliance, and data reporting
• Develop strategies to meet district, school, and university goals for school-college alignment
• Provides guidance and support to CUE staff, including MSU Denver students, administrative staff, and professors to effectively complete defined out-of-school program tasks
• Outlines timelines and resources needed to achieve and sustain the CUE
• Creates opportunities to leverage grant-funded resources within MSU Denver and across urban districts
• Promotes CUE as a resource across the university and urban districts
• Develop and direct the operational, financial, and personnel activities of the TRIO Upward Bound and the CUE Programs in accordance with the contractual guidelines of the Department of Education and Denver Public Schools and in compliance with the policies and procedures of the University. Responsible for the financial management of the programs and providing supervision and performance management for all program staff.
• Develop and direct the operational, financial, and personnel activities associated with the fee-for-service contracts with Denver Public Schools, including the George Washington High School partnership and the DPS Summer Credit Recovery program.

20% – Program Facilitation:

• For K-12 program participants, the Director will oversee the design and implementation to provide basic skills and motivation for students to increase their academic achievement, increase their engagement in enriching activities, support high school completion and to gain admission and financial aid for their post-secondary education.
• Monitors, counsels, and motivates students regarding their academic progress
• Oversee the planning of a series of academic and non-academic events for program participants and their families to attend during the academic year and summer.
• Guide students and parents in the completion of the necessary documentation and paperwork for matriculation into institutions of higher learning. Provides for recruitment of potential program participants/students from target middle and high schools in the core city.

20% – Fundraising and Communications:

• Collaborate with institutional leadership to identify potential fundraising opportunities and secure internal and external funding to support school-college partnerships and school-to-college pathways
• Conduct research for prospects and analyze potential Requests for Proposals (RFP) to determine appropriateness to mission and purpose
• Coordinate conceptual design meetings for proposal development
• Lead the development of proposal submission, including narrative writing and budget preparation
• Work in partnership with the Office of Sponsored Research programs on proposal submission
• Lead the development of CUE marketing and communications, including building a web presence, and developing internal and external partnerships
• Use internal and external relationships to garner new opportunities to develop or enhance school-college partnerships and school-to-college pathways for urban school students.

10% – Planning and Relationship Development:

• Internal to the university: actively engage with MSU Denver administrative leadership, faculty, staff and students to identify opportunities for collaborations and alliances focused on achieving and sustaining partnerships with urban school districts and schools
• External to the university: actively engage with urban elementary and secondary education leaders and community-based organizations, and others to identify opportunities for collaborations and alliances focused on achieving and sustaining school-college partnerships and out-of-school programs.

10% – Grant Compliance:

• Develop annual reports reporting on progress towards meeting the objectives of the grant. Implement program services and support efforts in compliance with grant regulations. Collect, and analyze data, conduct annual program evaluation for submission of Annual Reports, and be able to create and submit CUE and Trio Grant proposals or grant revision requests as needed.

5% – Other Duties:

• Serves on various University and external committees, relative to promoting the mission of Metropolitan State University and the CUE programs
• Other duties as assigned as they relate to the goals, initiatives, and functioning of the programs.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counseling, Management, Social Work, Education, or a related field
• A minimum of five years of leadership experience working in higher education with progressively responsible administrative experience
• A minimum of three years of experience in program development, curriculum design, and advising urban disadvantaged, low-income, and first-generation students
• Experience providing supervision and performance management
• Experience making data-informed budget decisions

Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of TRIO Grant regulations, policies, and procedures
• Has knowledge of current persistence best practices and the ability to apply theory to program and student development
• Experience creating collaborative working relationships with multiple constituents
• Demonstrated experience with data-informed decision-making 
• Experience with program design and evaluation 
• Experience and building collaborative partnerships
• Effective written, presentation, and training skills
• Grant writing experience and local, state, or federal reporting on performance outcomes
• A background and have succeeded in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting SSS-eligible students  

Work Hours

• Full-time, 40 hours per week, Exempt
• Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm, Occasional evenings or weekend as needed
• Hybrid work options available for this position
• Travel: N/A

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire. 

If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay Menu

​​Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting RepresentativeCarlos Alcala

Posting Representative Email[email protected]Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.