Coordinator - Wichita GEAR UP

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is seeking a regional coordinator for Wichita GEAR UP to supervise staff, coordinate services for students, and ensure accurate documentation across multiple sites in Wichita, KS.

Responsibilities include staff leadership, program reporting, and collaboration with schools and community partners to support college readiness for middle and high school students. Travel within the region may be required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent must be held.
• Six (6) years of experience in educational program management with diverse populations; college coursework can substitute for experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise staff and monitor services provided to students in each region.
• Coordinate with partners to set up services, collect documentation, and record activities.
• Prepare monthly and annual reports and provide leadership to regional staff and volunteers.
• Plan and coordinate resource center development for students, parents, teachers and staff.
• Track and document every service and contact with precision and professionalism.

Skills

Program management

Educational program implementation

Communication skills

Supervision / coaching

Organizational skills

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Department: Wichita GEAR UP South/West

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - Other Wichita Location

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Salary is set at $42,000/yr

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8a-5p (regular evenings & wkndsbased on scheduled events but flexible)

Export Compliance Requirement: No export controlrequirement.

Job Story

Do you believe every young person deserves a shot at the futurethey dream of? Are you the kind of leader who can turn “what if”into “what’s next”? If so, this is your moment. Wichita GEAR UP is a program serving students grades 6-12 and firstyear in college. Multiple positions available at multiple schoollocations within Wichita.

Students today are navigating a world of rapid change: shiftinggraduation requirements, AI-altered career paths, mental-healthchallenges, and families stretched thin. This isn’t a desk-onlyjob. It’s relational, dynamic, and rooted in showing up,consistently and compassionately, for middle schoolers, highschoolers, and first-year college students. Your role is to helpthem cut through the noise and build a future built on confidence,readiness, and opportunity. You’ll serve as the bridge betweenWichita State University, the school's they attend, and familieswho want the very best for their kids.

The Type of Person Who Thrives Here

• You’re not just organized, you’re strategic. You think severalsteps ahead, and a large caseload doesn’t scare you becausesystems, structure, and charts are your love language.
• Balances warmth with boundaries; students trust you, but theyalso respect your expectations.
• Understands the realities many students face, including otherexternal agency's policies and barriers that shape their long-termoutcomes.
• Communicates just as comfortably with a 13-year-old as you dowith a principal or district leader.
• Pivot gracefully when the school day shifts (because itwill).
• Manages multiple deadlines without losing sight of the biggerpicture.
• Documentation is meticulous because accuracy is critical whenfederal funding and student progress intersect.
• Shows up for kids, not because it’s the job, but becausestudents notice when adults stick around.

You won’t be sitting on the sidelines. You’ll be in hallways,classrooms, gym bleachers, evening workshops, and campus tours…helping students imagine and build futures they didn’t even know todream about yet.

If that energizes you, we’d love to meet you.

Job Summary

Responsible for supervising the staff and monitoring the servicesprovided to students in each region. Collaborates with partners toset up services for students, collect in-kind documentation anddocument all activities in the region.

Essential Functions

Manages regional office by coordinating all activities which mayinclude, but is not limited to, foster care facilities, schools,and community organizations. Ensures maximum enrollment for region.Prepares monthly and annual reports. Provides leadership toregional staff and volunteers. Supervises various staff actionsincluding, but not limited to, hiring, training, performanceappraisals, promotions, transfers and vacation schedules. Instructsprogram students in college access workshops. Plans and coordinatesresource center development for students, parents, teachers andstaff. Serves as representative at local school, foster careagencies, and community meetings. Negotiates in-kind donations withpartners to ensure grant dollar for dollar match.

Job Duties

Wichita GEAR UP is a program serving students grades 6-12 and firstyear in college. Multiple positions available at multiple schoollocations within Wichita.

Work directly with students during the school day, building rapportand creating personalized academic success plans.

Design and run workshops/events, focused on middle schooltransitions, high schoolrequirements, and early financial aidconcepts. These are often in the evenings or on weekends, that makecollege readiness feel real.

Coordinate campus visits and connect students to on-site/off-siteresources.

Integrate GEAR UP programming into the school day, advisoryperiods, after-school time, classroom collaborations.

Track and document every service, outcome, and contact withprecision and professionalism.

Use real-time student data (grades, attendance, progress) to tailorinterventions before a students falls behind.

Engage parents and guardians so they’re part of their student’ssuccess story, not watching from the sidelines.

Lead and supervise staff, coaching them to deliver consistentlyexcellent student support

Required Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Six (6) years of experience in educational program managementwith diverse populations or related field. Every 30 hours ofcollege coursework in education, counseling, or social services canbe substituted for one (1) year of experience.

Required License/Certifications/Training:

Valid Kansas drivers license for Trio Talent Search, Trio TalentSearch South, Haysville GEAR UP, and TRIO Upward Bound WichitaPrep

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated experience in implementing programs inschools.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulations affecting low-incomestudents, grants or other K-12 programs.
• Knowledge of the education systems, assessments in the State ofKansas or higher ed entrance exams.
• Strong computer, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Management skills: able to analyze problems and resolveconflicts.
• Ability to independently manage time, pivot as need withcompeting priorities.
• Knowledgeable on how to supervise staff and utilize coachingmethods.
• Exceptional organizational skills in order to execute planswith efficiency.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in education, counseling, social services orrelated field

Preferred License/Certifications/Training:

Additional Information:

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position. Ability to operate acomputer and other office equipment including but not limited tophone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Ability to communicatewith others and accurately exchange information. Ability to travelin a vehicle for distances including but not limited to acrosscity, county, and state.

Additional Physical Requirement:

Ability to drive 7 to 15 passenger van safely & traveldistances regularly. Must be able to escort students on campus visits - which mayinclude lots of walking. Must be able to attend community and school presentations. Overnight travel occasionally to trainings and conferences may berequired.