Managing Director, Support Programs

Weekly Work Hours

Compensation Range

Salary Minimum

FLSA

Position Type

Work Location:

The primary work location for this role may be any Dallas College campus. The position requires frequent travel to all Dallas College locations as part of assigned responsibilities.

Position / Job Summary

The Connection Center Managing Director provides leadership and daily operational oversight for the assigned campus Connection Center. This role is pivotal in fostering a strong sense of community and cultivating a connection-driven culture that reflects the unique character and needs of the campus. The Managing Director ensures responsive, localized student support, delivering services and programs tailored to the campus population while aligning with Dallas College’s mission and strategic priorities. The Managing Director provides leadership to program leads, supervises the implementation of the Seven Pillars of Experience, and holds decision-making authority for center operations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership:

  • Direct daily operations of the Connection Center to ensure efficient service delivery.

  • Implement and monitor processes that support student engagement and success.

• Community Building & Student Support:

  • Champion initiatives that promote belonging, engagement, and holistic student development.

  • Provide personalized, campus-specific support aligned with the Seven Pillars of Experience:
    Confidence and Connection | Leadership and Identity | Authenticity and Belonging | Purpose and Growth | Heritage and Voice | Hand-in-Hand Foster Care | Transition and Transformation.

• Program Oversight:

  • Supervise program leads and ensure effective delivery of services and programs.

  • Oversee implementation of programming guided by the Seven Pillars of Experience.

  • The Director manages and executes tasks within assigned budgets and reports to the Director.

• Collaboration & Communication:

  • Partner with campus leadership and college-wide teams to maintain alignment with institutional goals.

  • Report to the Director and contribute to strategic planning for student success initiatives.

• Decision-Making Authority:

  • Make operational decisions impacting student experience and center performance.

• Required Dallas College Professional Development Hours per Academic Year. 

  • All employees are required to complete a minimum of 19 hours.

  • People leaders are required an additional 16 hours of leadership development.

• Perform other duties not listed as assigned.

The following duties are required for People Leader roles specifically:

• Exercises full discretion and decision-making authority in the recruitment, selection, hiring, mentoring,  coaching, development & termination of staff, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, budgetary constraints, and workforce planning strategies.

• Drive high performance by administering the performance management process timely, setting clear expectations, conducting performance evaluations, and implementing initiatives that enhance employee engagement, motivation, and retention.

Minimum and Preferred – Education, Experience, and/or Certifications:

Required Qualifications for Role (necessary or mandatory)

• Bachelor's degree is in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or a closely related discipline.

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in student services, student engagement, or comparable leadership roles within higher education environments.

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience supervising staff, including hiring, development, training, evaluation, coaching, and progressive discipline in a complex, multi-campus environment.

• Demonstrated experience developing high functioning teams.

• Experience in strategic planning, goal setting, resource management, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation and organizational skills.

• Must be willing to travel as needed.

• Current and valid Texas driver’s license required.

• Official transcripts required.

Other Preferred Qualifications for Role (not mandatory, but advantageous)

• Master's degree

• Experience working within and/or managing campus-based "One Stop" programs at a large, urban, multi-campus institution is preferred.

• Leadership experience in student services, engagement, or affairs at a higher education institution, ideally a community college.

• Knowledge of the purpose of community colleges and the vision of Dallas College, along with a demonstrated commitment to serving students and employees reflecting our community.

• Bilingual or multilingual preferred

*** Will be subject to a criminal background check.  Some positions may be subject to a fingerprint check. ***

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Management: Ability to lead teams, manage operations, and drive results in a student-centered environment.

• Staff Supervision & Development: Skilled in supervising and evaluating assigned staff, including performance appraisals, coaching, and professional development planning. Competent in interviewing, hiring, training, and managing employee relations, including counseling and disciplinary actions.

• Student Engagement Acumen: Knowledge of student development theory and best practices for fostering belonging and connection.

• Strategic Thinking: Capacity to align campus initiatives with college-wide priorities and adapt to evolving student needs.

• Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across diverse stakeholders and foster a collaborative environment.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to analyze challenges and implement effective solutions to enhance student success and operational efficiency.

Competencies

Dallas College seeks to identify core and professional competencies for each role and level which helps define the level of expertise needed and desired to demonstrate success in the role. 

Work Condition Environment / Physical Requirements

Normal physical job functions performed within a standard office environment. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to individuals with physical challenges to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Incumbents may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Position requires regular and predictable attendance.

Since 1965, Dallas College, formerly Dallas County Community College District, has served more than three (3) million students. Comprising seven campuses located around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we are one of the largest community college systems in the state of Texas.  We strive to be a leader in the community college space, placing students at the center of everything we do.

Dallas College is committed to cultivating an environment of opportunity and belonging for all students and employees. We recognize that the Dallas College workforce, and the diverse talent that stems from it, is directly linked to our success. We are part of an equal opportunity system that provides education and employment opportunities without discrimination on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,

veteran status, pregnancy or any other basis protected under applicable law.  In accordance with applicable law, Dallas College will make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.