Program Director, Greater Hartford
Summary
Trio is seeking a Program Director (PD) to support the launch and implementation of a Greater Hartford-based location, one of the two founding sites in Trio’s new entry into Connecticut (Trio CT). The ideal candidate will be excited to be a part of a founding team responsible for recruiting, enrolling, and coaching the site’s first students and fostering strong community relationships, all with a vision towards serving hundreds of students by year 5.
About the Role
The PD for Greater Hartford will be the local leader of Trio CT’s Greater Hartford-based location, reporting to and executing strategy set with the statewide ED. This is an opportunity to support the launch and early implementation of a community-driven site that aims to deliver outstanding support to hundreds of working adults seeking the skills, degrees and credentials they need to immediately increase their earning potential while exponentially increasing their lifetime earning capability.
The primary functions of this role include recruiting, enrolling, and coaching students, in addition to fostering local community partnerships and serving as the face of the Greater Hartford-based organization in partnership with the CT statewide ED.
The PD will be responsible for working with a wide range of students providing them with the personalized, 1:1 support they need to complete their college degree as quickly and affordably as possible. This often includes sharing details of the program; offering application submission support and FAFSA completion guidance; and providing academic support, motivation, problem-solving, and referrals to other resources. Trio CT anticipates enrolling ~80 students in its first year of operation (across both sites in Greater Bridgeport and Greater Hartford).
Under the broader strategic guidance of the statewide ED, the PD will also be responsible for promoting the local brand of the Greater Hartford location through managing important community partnerships, cultivating local champions, playing an active role in the education community, and generating positive publicity.
The ideal candidate for this role has strong relationship building skills, expertise in understanding people and their unique needs and motivations, exceptional problem solving skills and judgment, and experience working in an entrepreneurial environment. The PD should be an equity-focused leader passionate about dismantling barriers and innovating to expand college and life outcomes for students that traditional higher education has failed to serve. The PD will need to understand the needs of a high-expectations, results-oriented nonprofit while remaining highly community-focused and connected to the students we serve.
Given the early stage nature of Trio CT, the PD should view themselves as a part of a learning organization in startup mode where collaboration, within and outside the organization, and adaptability will be essential to success. The other PD (to be hired for Greater Bridgeport) and a statewide CT Enrollment Specialist (to be hired in early 2023) will be important colleagues who, with the statewide ED, will form the team that is jointly responsible for delivering high quality college and career supports to working adults in CT. Trio also brings a national team with the experience of successfully launching the first three sites and a network that includes the ED's of those three sites, the leadership of the most established program in this field (Boston-based Duet - https://www.duet.org/), and others.
The PD will report directly to the statewide ED on outcomes and growth to ensure excellence and community fit.
Program Director Responsibilities
Recruit and Enroll Students (40%)
- Recruit and build a continuous pipeline of prospective students
- Manage administrative tasks related to student enrollment including, but not limited to: checking daily financial aid report to update student status, outreach to students about necessary next steps in the financial aid and application process, helping students obtain necessary documents for FAFSA, tracking application status/updates, updating/auditing student records in our database
- Outreach to prospective and current students to schedule next steps including information sessions, financial aid and enrollment meetings, and orientation meetings and tracking these contacts until a student is successful in attending
- Liaise with the necessary departments at Southern New Hampshire University to request information about students’ financial aid or enrollment processes
Coach Students (40%)
- Implement a targeted and effective coaching program to support students from their very first interaction all the way to graduation; in the future, partner with and manage other coaches added as student volumes grow
- Build strong relationships with each student to support them in their academic progress and goals (often involves reviewing an academic project to ensure clarity before the start and reviewing work that needs to be revised and resubmitted to offer suggestions and guidance)
- Collaborate with the statewide ED to ensure all students are making adequate daily and weekly progress towards Associate or Bachelor’s degree completion by reviewing aggregate daily/weekly data on student progress
- Review students’ financial aid status ahead of each new term and help students complete the FAFSA to finalize their financial aid as necessary
- Ensure students have the proper wrap-around supports to successfully complete their degree such as: access to technology, childcare, transportation and other needs as they arise
Build Community Partnerships and the Trio presence in HARTFORD (20%)
- Grow continuously your understanding of the Greater Hartford landscape, communities, and stakeholders
- Under the guidance of the statewide ED, help build and maintain local community partnerships to support the success of the site, particularly to ensure growing stream of participating students
- Play active and positive role in education community; create strong brand recognition and positive publicity for site
- Act as leader, spokesperson, and the face of the site to students and community; express a clear and compelling vision of the site’s strategic goals and objectives to all stakeholders; build and steward the brand within the community
- Cultivate champions of the Greater Hartford network and sites
- Collaborate with statewide ED to identify and open a physical office space if desired
Desired Skills, Experience, and Qualifications
- At least 4-6+ years of relevant work experience which may have included:
- Assisting students with college admissions processes
- Working with adult learners
- Partnering with social service organizations
- Serving as a social worker
- Coaching students or adults in goal completion
- Managing a caseload of students or clients
- Community organizing
- Sales/marketing and/or recruitment
- Deep knowledge of and respect for the Greater Hartford community
- Deep commitment to the mission and values of Trio, including equity, entrepreneurship, humility, and excellence
- Commitment to ensuring increased college access and success (strongly preferred)
- High levels of cultural competency, empathy, and humility
- Demonstrated operational expertise in a services-oriented role
- Strong results orientation and sense of ownership; eagerness to embrace feedback, improve quickly, and do whatever it takes to get the job done
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and an ability and desire to develop and maintain deep relationships with a variety of diverse stakeholders
- Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to instill confidence in and build buy-in from students, partners, and community
- High levels of adaptability and excellent strategic thinking skills to understand and lead in a shifting, complex environment
Compensation
The initial compensation for this position is $80,000. Trio also offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and 401(k).
How to Apply
Please submit your application here.
Note: the priority application deadline is November 11th, 2022. After this date we do not guarantee review of submissions.
