Assistant Director – Student Engagement, ESL Programs and Extension Centers

Essex County College; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Paid vacation, sick leave, and public/

Pension and retirement plans

Tuition waiver programs

Opportunities for professional growth

Job summary

Essex County College is seeking an Assistant Director to lead student engagement initiatives across ESL programs and extension centers in Newark, NJ. The role emphasizes enrollment management, community outreach, and program development to support student success.

Supervision is exercised over adjunct instructors and staff, with collaboration across academic and student affairs. A Bachelor’s degree is required; bilingual abilities are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or higher.
• Experience developing community partnerships and coordinating student recruitment, engagement, and retention initiatives.
• Knowledge of funding sources such as financial aid.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Strong communication skills, oral and written, bilingual preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational oversight of assigned ESL and extension center programs, focusing on enrollment, engagement, retention, and program development.
• Support educational access and strengthen community partnerships; participate in recruitment activities county-wide.
• Oversee daily operations of extension centers and ESL programs ensuring service delivery aligns with policies and standards.
• Manage ESL and college credit registration, including placement based on test scores and language level.
• Supervise intake, admissions, registration, orientation, and other enrollment-related activities; coordinate with college departments for staffing and events.
• Develop and implement student engagement initiatives to improve participation, persistence, and academic success.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Bi-lingual

Community partnerships

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Essex County College Human Resources Department

Assistant Director – Student Engagement, ESL Programs and Extension Centers

Position Title Assistant Director – Student Engagement, ESL Programs and Extension Centers

Reports To

Reports To DIRECTOR

Faculty Discipline

Faculty Discipline N/A - Not Applicable

Functions and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of Director of Pre-College Readiness, Dual Enrollment and Extension Center and or designee, Assistant Director – Student Engagement, ESL Programs and Extension Centers is responsible for assisting with on campus and extension center offerings particularly serving the ESL student population and the administrative aspects of the programs.Please Note: This position offers a competitive starting salary of $55,000 – $65,000, along with a comprehensive college benefits package.

Benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pension and retirement plans
• Tuition waiver programs
• Opportunities for professional growth

Be part of a collaborative and mission-driven college community.

Supervisory Role

Oral and written supervision is received from Director of Pre-College Readiness, Dual, Enrollment and Extension Centers or designee. The Assistant Director of Student Engagement, ESL Programs and Extension Centers supervises adjunct instructors, support staff and student workers.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Provide administrative and operational oversight of assigned programs, with an emphasis on student enrollment, engagement, retention, community outreach, and program development.
2. Support and promote educational access, strengthening community partnerships, and implementing initiatives that enhance student success. Participate in recruitment activities in the community and throughout the County.
3. Oversee the daily operations of assigned extension centers and ESL programs, ensuring efficient delivery of educational services and adherence to institutional policies and procedures as well as academic standards.
4. Manage credit registration of ESL students and other students attending classes on campus or at extension centers. Making sure students are correctly placed based on their test scores and language level.
5. Supervise and coordinate student intake, admissions, registration, placement testing, orientation, and other enrollment-related activities for assigned programs. Collaborate with academic and student affairs departments within the college to coordinate or assist with the administration of intake, registration testing, orientation of students, special events, student forums and other informational sessions.
6. Develop and implement student engagement and retention initiatives to improve student participation, persistence, and academic success. Also, facilitate student services and program activities to support the programs.
7. Advise students on how to transition to college academic offerings or workforce programs within the Community, Continuing Education and Workforce Development area. Monitor student enrollment, attendance, retention, and overall progress to assist with engagement and success for academic or career advancement.
8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with community-based organizations, public agencies, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to promote program participation and community engagement.
9. Prepare demographic reports for tracking of students and capture their success stories for promotional materials. Assist with reports as needed for the various agencies or state funding requirements and to make sure they comply with guidelines.
10. Identify, recommend and supervise instructional staff to offer courses on main campus, branch campus in West Caldwell, and FOCUS . Provide support to credit adjuncts teaching at the various locations in collaboration with the chairpersons of the various divisions.
11. Assist in the preparation of demographic reports containing student retention data, connection from non-credit to credit findings. Assist in the development and distribution of promotional materials, flyers, program information, and communication strategies to support recruitment and student engagement.
12. Supervise the accurate preparation of requisitions, payforms, class lists and attendance rosters. Also, make sure the data is collected as appropriate.
13. Maintain strict confidentiality of program records.
14. Prepare routine, special and ancillary reports as required.
15. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job. Unless reasonable accommodations can be made, while performing this job the staff member shall:

• Use strength to lift items needed to perform the functions of the job.
• Sit, stand and walk/move from place to place for required periods of time.
• Move between buildings.
• Speak and hear, communicate using telephone and/or walkie talkie.
• Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
• Communicate effectively in English, using proper grammar and vocabulary.
• Reach with hands and arms and use hands and fingers to handle objects and operate tools, including but not limited to, computers, keyboards, telephones, calculators, and controls.
• Bend, twist, climb, push, pull, and lift.

Additional Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Social Work, or a related field.
2. Experience developing community partnerships and coordinating student recruitment, engagement, and retention initiatives.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of funding sources such as financial aid.
4. Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
5. Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, preferably bi-lingual.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree

Licenses and Certifications

(including e.g., CPR, first aid, driver’s license, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education Administration, Business Administration, Social Work, or a related field.
2. Five or more years of experience working in the community college sector.
3. Experience in working with community residents of Essex County especially the non English speaking population. Bi-lingual skills helpful to communicate with ESL Spanish/English.
4. Experience instructing and supervising activities for clients who may be either economically and educationally disadvantaged, in receipt of public assistance, financial aid or grant eligible.

Education Requirements

Master’s Degree

Licenses and Certifications

(including e.g., CPR, first aid, driver’s license, etc.)

Posting Information

Open Date

11/06/2026

Open Until Filled

No

Close Date

11/20/2026

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Essex County College is an Equal Opportunity Employer – All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, military status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).