Director, Redhawk Discover - Enrollment Strategy

Southeast Missouri State University; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Southeast Missouri State University seeks a Director to lead Redhawks Discover, a four-semester non-degree transition program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The role oversees strategy, operations, staffing, budget, and compliance, ensuring outcomes align with student goals and program objectives.

The position requires strong leadership, collaboration with campus and community partners, and commitment to inclusive higher education.

Qualifications

• Leadership and staff management experience.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with data reporting and systems for tracking student outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for program planning, launch, growth, and sustainability.
• Develop and evaluate policies for student participation, safety, confidentiality, and emergency response.
• Ensure compliance with university, grant, accreditation, and federal CTP requirements.
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting on recruitment, enrollment, retention, progress and employment outcomes.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate staff and student employees; coordinate faculty participation.
• Lead the advisory board and coordinate partnerships with campuses, agencies, and employers.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Budget management

Communication

Collaboration

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in special education, social work, rehabilitation, counseling, family science, human development, higher education, or related field

Job description

Director, Redhawks Discover

Enrollment Strategy

Full Time

Southeast Missouri State University seeks a professional to lead the University’s Redhawks Discover program. This four semester non-degree seeking post-secondary comprehensive transition program (CTP) is for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The mission of the program is to offer opportunities for students to develop the skills to transition to independent living and obtain competitive employment that aligns with their individual goals and abilities. The program is built around four pillars: academics, independent living, social development, and employment. Upon completion of the program students will be issued a certificate of Career Readiness.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for program planning, launch, growth, and sustainability, including oversight of operations, budget, staffing, policies, and assessment
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies addressing student participation, safety, confidentiality, conduct, and emergency response
• Ensure compliance with university requirements, grant funding agreements, applicable accreditation standards, and federal Comprehensive Transition Program requirements
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting on recruitment, enrollment, retention, completion, student progress, and employment outcomes. Use findings and stakeholder feedback to guide planning, recruitment, resource allocation, and continuous improvement
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate staff, student employees, peer mentors, and other personnel; coordinate faculty participation
• Lead the advisory board, including member recruitment, engagement, meetings, and contributions to program planning and evaluation
• Coordinate student recruitment, admissions, onboarding, transition, and orientation in collaboration with university offices, students, and families
• Oversee individualized, person-centered learning plans and approve weekly student schedules. Coordinate academic, employment, independent living, and social supports through appropriate personnel
• Provide ongoing education for students and families on independence, healthy boundaries, self-advocacy, autonomy, and changing roles during college
• Train and support university faculty and staff to promote student inclusion and success across campus
• Build campus, community, agency, and employer partnerships supporting internships, employment, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, and independent living. Collaborate with SEMO Career Services, state workforce development job centers, and Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation to expand employment preparation and placement
• Maintain regular communication with students, families, personnel, university offices, community partners, employers, funders, and advisory board members
• Respond to urgent student or program situations under established emergency procedures, including assigned after-hours responsibilities
• Participate in professional development related to inclusive higher education, postsecondary transition, disability services, employment, and evidence-based practices; perform other duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s degree in special education, social work, rehabilitation, counseling, family science, human development, higher education, or another closely related field
• Professional experience working with individuals with intellectual, developmental, or other disabilities
• Leadership and staff management experience
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets and revenue sources
• Strong knowledge of federal Comprehensive Transition Program requirements and recognized standards in inclusive higher education
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Strong computer and technical skills
• Proficiency with student information systems for data collection, assessment, reporting, and continuous program improvement
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
• Exercises sound judgment
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of person-centered planning and outcomes

To ensure full consideration, application materials must be received by October 20, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

About Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO):

Founded in 1873 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Southeast Missouri State University provides student-centered education and experiential learning with a foundation of liberal arts and sciences, embracing a tradition of access, exceptional teaching and commitment to student success that significantly contributes to the development of the region and beyond. SEMO values access to high quality, affordable education with a broadly representative student body, faculty and staff that respects and celebrates a diverse learning community in a global society.

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