Director of Literacy Programs

Reading Area Community College; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Reading Area Community College is seeking a Director of Literacy Programs to lead adult literacy initiatives, oversee non-credit staff and contracts, and secure state and federal literacy grants. The role involves budgeting, reporting, and expanding ESL/GED offerings while collaborating with Education Department agencies.

The position requires a Bachelor’s in Education or related field, with experience in adult literacy and supervision, plus grant management capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field is required.
• A minimum of two years’ experience in Adult Literacy Education or Adult Education.
• A minimum of two years supervisory experience.
• Experience managing a grant, including budget management and reporting, is required.
• Grant writing experience (preferred).
• Bilingual Spanish/English strongly preferred (preferred).
• Experience working in a community college setting (preferred).
• Teaching experience (preferred).
• Experience developing curriculum and programs (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Annually secure federal and state literacy grants available through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• Pursue additional funding to support literacy programs.
• Implement best practices set forth in Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines.
• Responsibly administer the budgets for various grants for maximum student impact.
• Administer and manage the United Way Bilingual ESL program.
• Administer and manage the Spanish GED program.
• Develop, promote and manage other non-credit ESL, GED courses and language acquisition courses.
• Act as a liaison between the Adult Education Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Reading Area Community College.
• Supervise and verify data collection for the College and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• Work with the Professional Development Specialist to support and provide quality professional development to all staff.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with various community agencies.
• Work closely with non-credit Career Programs and Workforce Development staff to develop and implement new skills remediation courses for entry into career training.
• Attend annual PAACE statewide conference, statewide and regional program meetings, and participate in webinars related to program administration and teaching practices.
• Supervise all program staff and work study employees.
• Attend One Stop Partner Meetings at the Berks County Career Link Office.
• Facilitate Title II Information Sessions at the Berks County Career Link Office.
• Seek out and participate in recruitment activities such as job fairs, community events, and RACC sponsored recruitment events to promote Literacy Programs.
• Prepare reports for Pennsylvania Department of Education, the College, and United Way.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Interpersonal skills

Curriculum development

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field

Tools

Word processing

Email

GED online

GED on computer

Spreadsheets

E-grants

Job description

If you are chosen for this position, a background check will be required. Full details regarding thebackground check are available here .

Title: Director of Literacy Programs

10/16/2026

Apply by date: 10/30/2026

Application status: Accepting Applications

Position type: Full-time

$55,000 to 65,000 per year

Summary:

The Director of Literacy Programs is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for adult basic education and literacy programs and courses offered through the college. Responsibilities include program and course development as well as seeking out and promoting new opportunities. The Director of Literacy Programs has primary responsibility of supervising non-credit instructional and professional staff at Reading Area Community College and sub-contractors to fulfill contractual obligations with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and other funding agencies. The position also involves writing and securing federal and state literacy grants that already exist or may become available.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• 1. Annually secure federal and state literacy grants available through the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• 2. Pursue additional funding to support literacy programs.
• 3. Implement best practices set forth in Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines.
• 4. Responsibly administer the budgets for various grants for maximum student impact.
• 5. Administer and manage the United Way Bilingual ESL program.
• 6. Administer and manage the Spanish GED program.
• 7. Develop, promote and manage other non-credit ESL, GED courses and language acquisition courses.
• 8. Act as a liaison between the Adult Education Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Reading Area Community College.
• 9. Supervise and verify data collection for the College and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
• 10. Work with the Professional Development Specialist to support and provide quality professional development to all staff.
• 11. Maintain collaborative relationships with various community agencies.
• 12. Work closely with non-credit Career Programs and Workforce Development staff to develop and implement new skills remediation courses for entry into career training.
• 13. Attend annual PAACE statewide conference, statewide and regional program meetings, and participate in webinars related to program administration and teaching practices.
• 14. Supervise all program staff and work study employees.
• 15. Attend One Stop Partner Meetings at the Berks County Career Link Office.
• 16. Facilitate Title II Information Sessions at the Berks County Career Link Office.
• 17. Seek out and participate in recruitment activities such as job fairs, community events, and RACC sponsored recruitment events to promote Literacy Programs.
• 18. Prepare reports for Pennsylvania Department of Education, the College, and United Way.
• 19. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Directly supervise full-time and part-time employees assigned to Literacy Programs. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Reading Area Community College policies, collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws.Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and/or Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field is required.
• A minimum of two years’ experience in Adult Literacy Education or Adult Education.
• A minimum of two years supervisory experience.
• Experience managing a grant, including budget management and reporting, is required.

Preferred:

• Grant writing experience
• Strongly preferred bilingual Spanish/English,
• Experience working in a community college setting
• Teaching experience
• Experience developing curriculum and programs

Communication Skills:

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of students, faculty, staff, outside groups and the general public.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Competency with balancing budgets.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Computer Skills:

Ability to use word processing, email, lnternet software, e-grants, GED online, GED on computer, online professional development and lesson planning, spread sheets, E-data.

Travel Required:

Position requires occasional local travel; employee must have access to ready transportation.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills

Budget management

Ability to develop spreadsheets, prepare budget reports and provide statistical data reports

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regular required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 25 pounds.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.