Director, Grants and Services

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston-System is seeking a Director of Grants and Services to lead grant development, strategic partnerships, and student support initiatives for its prison education program.

The role advances access, student achievement, and program expansion by securing external funding and coordinating services across departments and partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Minimum five years of demonstrated experience in higher education or nonprofit administration/operations.
• Experience providing individualized advising, coaching, and mentorship to students, members, or clients.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements a strategic grants agenda to secure external funding for prison education initiatives, student support services, and program expansion.
• Manages the full life cycle of grant-funded projects, including budgeting, compliance, reporting, evaluation, and stakeholder communications.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with correctional institutions, government agencies, community organizations, foundations, and employers to expand educational opportunities and student resources.
• Designs, coordinates, and evaluates wraparound services that support student persistence, completion, transfer, employment, and reentry success.
• Leads strategic initiatives to increase enrollment, retention, and completion within prison education programs and related pathways.
• Collaborates with academic leadership, faculty, and staff to identify funding opportunities and develop innovative educational programs and services.
• Analyzes program enrollment and outcome data to assess effectiveness, support decision making, and demonstrate program impact to stakeholders and funders.
• Coordinates compliance with correctional facility requirements, applicable regulations, and institutional governing prison education programs and performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Grant development

Fundraising strategies

Grant writing

Communication

Data analysis

Budgeting

Project management

Collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Department

Liberal Arts

Salary

Commensurate with education and experience.

Description

The Director of Grants and Services leads grant development, strategic partnerships, and student support initiatives for the prison education program. The role supports the growth and long-term sustainability of the program by identifying and pursuing new revenue streams while ensuring effective coordination of services and initiatives. Through these efforts, the position advances institutional goals related to access, student achievement, and program expansion.

Duties

• Develops and implements a strategic grants agenda to secure external funding for prison education initiatives, student support services, and program expansion.
• Manages the full life cycle of grant-funded projects, including budgeting, compliance, reporting, evaluation, and stakeholder communications.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with correctional institutions, government agencies, community organizations, foundations, and employers to expand educational opportunities and student resources.
• Designs, coordinates, and evaluates wraparound services that support student persistence, completion, transfer, employment, and reentry success.
• Leads strategic initiatives to increase enrollment, retention, and completion within prison education programs and related pathways,
• Collaborates with academic leadership, faculty, and staff to identify funding opportunities and develop innovative educational programs and services.
• Analyzes program enrollment and outcome data to assess effectiveness, support decision making, and demonstrate program impact to stakeholders and funders.
• Coordinates compliance with correctional facility requirements, applicable regulations, and institutional governing prison education programs and performs related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's Degree
2. Minimum five years of demonstrated experience in higher education or non-profit administration/operations.
3. Experience providing individualized advising, coaching, and mentorship to students, members, or clients.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master's Degree
2. Experience working with justice-impacted people and collaborating with colleagues on navigating the criminal legal system to the benefit of students.
3. Experience in higher education administration, including academic advising, student services, financial aid and/or classroom teaching.
4. Experience working with Texas Department of Criminal Justice policies and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of grant development and fundraising strategies.
• Skills in grant writing and grant management.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Knowledge of higher education, re-entry, and student support services.
• Skills in budget development and project management.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships.
• Knowledge of strategic program development and partnership management.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop strategic solutions.
• Skills in data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to navigate and collaborate with correctional environments.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.