TRIO Director

TRIO Program Administration & Leadership

• →Develop and lead the vision, goals, and operational strategies for TRIO in alignment with federal grant expectations and campus student success priorities.
• →Ensure all TRIO services are delivered in accordance with grant requirements, federal regulations, and CSU Bakersfield’s institutional priorities.
• →Prepare and submit the TRIO program grant proposal every five years by analyzing the RFP, determining strategic priorities, drafting narrative sections (e.g., Need, Objectives, Plan of Operation, Evaluation), and coordinating campus and community approvals.
• →Collaborate with the Office of Grants, Research, and Sponsored Programs (GRaSP) throughout the grant cycle to ensure alignment with institutional and federal requirements.
• →Attend annual COE grant-writing workshops and national meetings to stay current on federal guidelines and best practices.
• →Secure necessary support letters to strengthen proposal competitiveness.
• →Analyze student engagement, retention, persistence, and graduation data to inform ongoing program improvements and interventions.
• →Serve as the official liaison with the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring timely submission of Annual Performance Reports (APRs), budget justifications, and reapplications.
• →Manage TRIO program budgets in accordance with federal grant regulations and CSU financial policies; ensure fiscal integrity through procurement, tracking, and reconciliation processes.
• →Lead the development of program evaluation plans, coordinate internal assessments, and oversee external evaluations as required by the grant.
• →Maintain audit-ready documentation, including participant eligibility records, service tracking, outcomes data, and financial reports.
• →Research and recommend changes to policies and practices based on evolving federal guidance, campus needs, and student feedback.
• →Lead and oversee the coordination of curriculum development and administration for program participants including attending collaborative meetings with school sites and community partners as well as outreach presentations.
• →Lead and coordinate program events, ceremonies, workshops, and field trips.
• →Provide orientation of TRIO program to students and/or parents allowing eligible students to fully utilize the TRIO Talent Search Program.

Student Advisement & Case Management

• →Provide direct advisement and high-touch case management to first-generation and low-income students, addressing academic, financial, personal, and social barriers to persistence.
• →Develop individualized success plans in collaboration with students, integrating academic support, career planning, financial literacy, and wellness strategies.
• →Coordinate academic support services including tutoring, mentoring, study skills workshops, and college success seminars for TRIO participants.
• →Interpret and apply financial aid policies; assist students in resolving FAFSA issues, SAP appeals, and scholarship access.
• →Monitor student progress using early alert systems, coordinate interventions, and collaborate with faculty and academic advisors on student success strategies.
• →Maintain confidential student records in compliance with FERPA; use sound judgment in managing sensitive or high-risk cases.
• →Facilitate group workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions to build student self-efficacy, goal-setting, and problem-solving skills. 

Collaboration & Advocacy

• →Cultivate partnerships with Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, Counseling, Disability Services, and other departments to provide wraparound support for TRIO participants.
• →Represent TRIO programs at campus, regional, statewide, and national meetings; disseminate best practices and advocate for student needs at professional forums.
• →Collaborate with local high schools, community colleges, community-based organizations, and alumni to build referral pipelines and outreach networks.
• →Contribute to campus-wide student equity and success initiatives and serve on committees and task forces as needed to elevate the visibility and needs of TRIO students.
• →Address complex student concerns related to academic probation, financial crisis, immigration issues, and family challenges using trauma-informed, culturally competent approaches.       

Staff Supervision & Leadership

• →Provide daily direction, training, and evaluation for a diverse team of professional and student staff, ensuring clarity of role expectations, high performance, and collaborative engagement.
• →Establish performance goals and professional development plans for staff in alignment with institutional objectives and grant deliverables.
• →Ensure a supportive and inclusive working environment that is responsive to all.
• →Oversee day-to-day workflows, project timelines, and staffing models to meet grant benchmarks and deliverables efficiently and effectively.

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Education, Higher Ed Leadership, Social Work, or a related field.
• Experience writing or renewing federal grant proposals (e.g., TRIO, HSI, Title V).
• Bilingual (English/Spanish). 
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

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• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Thorough knowledge of federal TRIO regulations, grant administration, and educational equity models.
• Ability to effectively lead and coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
• Ability to advise students individually or in groups on varied and complex matters.
• Ability to reason logically and analyze and solve organizational and operating problems of one or several program areas.
• Ability to analyze and define complex organizational, policy, and procedural problems, evaluate relevant data, and make well-reasoned decisions that lead to effective solutions.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.
• Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
• Must be able to work occasional holidays and adjust working hours to meet special jobs.  May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.