ENLACES, Project Director

Position Summary

The ENLACES Project Director provides leadership for all administrative functions under the US Department of Education funded project as well as leadership support for the Dean who serves as Principal Investigator on the project. This position will lead a multi-agency project in strategic program administration and oversight, budget administration, project management, and is the primary liaison between National University, Chula Vista Elementary School District, and National school districts, and community-based partner organizations in San Diego County. In areas that support the implementation of the grant, the Project Director also serves as liaison to college deans, department chairs, faculty, Marketing, Finance, Student Services, Human Resources (HR), Office of Strategy and Sustainability, the Cause Research Institute, and Campus Operations. The scope of this role may include working across organizations to develop and implement the following activities as assigned by the Principal Investigator: early childhood education programs; school and out-of-school-time, expanded and enrichment programs; supports for children transitioning into kindergarten, and from kindergarten to elementary school, from middle-school to high-school, and from high-school to post-secondary education and into the workforce; family and community engagement; and coordinating social, emotional, health, nutrition, violence, trauma, and other mental health services and supports. Finally, the Project Director will engage school faculty in their development of professional development; create and manage the grant’s Pipeline Teams.

Essential Functions:

• Lead all project management for the grant and serve as primary liaison and point of contact with participating district leaders, schools-based personnel, project partners and service providers, and other stakeholders regarding all grant related activities.
• Provide support to the Principal Investigator (PI) and leads the development and implementation of the ENLACES Project goals and objectives.
• Communicates frequently with the PI regarding ENLACES Project operation and progress.
• Directs administrative functions for grant in accordance with US Department of Education regulations, University policies, and in close coordination with the PI.
• Supports the development and tracking of the grant budget/expenses.
• Develops and manages Pipeline Teams, including selection of Pipeline Team Chairs.
• Suggest areas in need of improvement to Project Leadership Team, Management Team and/or Pipeline Teams and include possible intervention strategies.
• Assist the PI in MOU development with partner agencies, and contract management and approval when applicable.
• Develops and supports positive engagement with National School District and Chula Vista Elementary School District and community partners, in coordination with key internal stakeholders, including management and oversight of grant funded activities.
• Liaises with Grants Accounting to manage the development of annual grant budget, budget tracking, and reconciliation.
• Liaises and coordinates with Marketing and Enrollment on SCOE web site content and program level marketing initiatives.
• Liaises and coordinates with other functional areas (e.g., IT, Facilities, Campus Operations) to ensure smooth and efficient grant project operations.
• Completes needed special projects, data verification reports, and other duties as assigned by the Dean.

Leadership:

• Direct supervisor for full-time School Site Coordinator (5) staff roles, Lead District Coordinators, Pipeline Team Chairs, and may serve as second level supervisor to full-time and/or part-time faculty supporting the grant project.
• Supervises staff, ensuring they are successfully following appropriate program operations, protocol, policies, and procedures. Consults with HR as needed on employee relations issues.
• Leads in the recruitment and selection of faculty/staff to support grant project goals/objectives.
• Supports teacher professional development strategy for the grant.
• Participates in the annual performance review, working with grant’s External Evaluators and Office of Sponsored Programs and Research.
• Responsible for the retention of faculty and staff.
• Develop when/where appropriate and work in concert with the Principal Investigator on a targeted research agenda to support the grant’s outcomes and dissemination of outcomes.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  

Supervisor duties to include:

• Screens applications, interviews candidates, and recommends individuals for hiring.
• Trains and assigns work to new and continuing employees.
• Delegates tasks and provides effective direction to team members to produce substantial business results.
• Independently conducts frequent performance feedback weekly, quarterly, and annually, to include annual performance evaluations.
• In conjunction with HR, determines corrective action as needed for direct reports.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Masters degree from a regionally accredited institution aligned with early childhood education, teacher education, bilingual education, educational administration, social work, school counseling, school psychology, or related field required.
• Doctorate degree from a regionally accredited institution aligned with early childhood education, teacher education, bilingual education, educational administration, social work, school counseling, school psychology, or related fields preferred.
• 5+ years of experience working in a K-12 setting or supporting school-age children (e.g., teacher, principal, after school program director) required.
• 5+ years of management experience with organizing, directing, evaluating, and planning in a social service agency, community-based organization, or academic environment, required.
• Experience developing and implementing a community schools' model, preferred. 
• Bilingual, Spanish strongly preferred.

Competencies/Technical/Functional Skills:

• Ability to participate as an active team member of the team and organization and work toward a common goal. Contributes fully to the team effort and plays an integral part in the smooth running of teams without necessarily taking the lead. Demonstrates an ability to participate as an active team member working toward common goals.
• Actively seeks opportunities to influence, build effective relationships and gain alignment with peers, functional partners and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.
• Accepts personal accountability, proactively seeks resolution for personal limitations head-on; and supports honesty and respect towards others, the company and oneself.
• Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes. Ability to generate and/or recognize imaginative or creative solutions that generate successful outcomes.
• Working knowledge, principles, and practices of office management/systems within a higher education environment, preferred. Demonstrates an understanding of underlying organizational issues.
• Work independently and foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures, while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects, deadlines, and frequently changing priorities.
• Ability to drive towards achieving measurable and challenging goals to support organizational success. Demonstrates the ability to focus on achieving results consistent with the organization’s objectives. As a leader, develops goals based on the organization’s vision, mission, strategic goals, and objectives.
• Demonstrates an understanding of underlying organizational issues.
• Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
• Intermediate use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook.

Location: Hybrid

Travel: Frequent travel to National City and Chula Vista, CA will be required.

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Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies.  Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. The minimum salary will be offered based on the minimum exemption threshold based on state of residency. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family.  For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For Part-time benefits, please click here.

Compensation Range:

National University is committed to maintaining a high-quality, diverse workforce representative of the populations we serve. National University employs more than 5,000 faculty and staff and serves over 41,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community and a commitment to diversity. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our diverse student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University offers an opportunity to work in an innovative environment that supports diversity.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a diverse mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. We are focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, color, ancestry, age, family care status, veteran status, marital status, creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and other legally protected group status.