Program Director, Rising Scholars (Justice Impacted Student Program) (COF)

Kern Community College District

Bakersfield (CA)

On-site

USD 113,000 - 160,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Kern Community College District's Bakersfield College is seeking a Program Director for the Rising Scholars program (Justice Impacted Student Program). The role leads planning and evaluation of student services and supports within a collaborative governance framework.

The successful candidate will partner with CDCR, correctional facilities, community organizations, and campus departments to expand educational access and equitable outcomes for justice-impacted students.

Qualifications

Master's degree in an academic area related to assignment.
Five years of full-time administrative experience, including at least three years in a leadership role.
Demonstrated sensitivity to diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and disability backgrounds.

Responsibilities

Interpret and administer District policy regarding assigned program(s).
Interpret and administer College policy with respect to student-centered services; plan, implement, and evaluate strategies.
Review and improve programs and services; implement plans to enhance outcomes and operations.
Provide leadership in staff development opportunities for support staff.
Assist in recruitment, orientation, and evaluation of support staff.
Supervise department planning and operations; manage staff development and evaluation.
Develop and monitor annual plans and expenditures.
Liaise with District, State, and federal bodies on assigned programs and practices.
Market the College and programs to the College community and the general public.
Serve on College and District committees as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Diversity awareness

Education

Master's degree in an academic area related to assignment

Five years of full-time experience in administration, including leadership experience

Demonstrated sensitivity to diverse backgrounds of students and employees

Job description

Program Director, Rising Scholars (Justice Impacted Student Program) (COF)

Kern Community College District

Salary: $113,225.41 - $159,984.54 Annually011

Job Type: Management - Classified Administrator

Job Number: FY25-2600408

Location: Bakersfield College -- Panorama Campus, CA

Department: Rising Scholars

Basic Function

The Program Director is responsible to the assigned Vice President or assigned supervisor, and has broad accountability, within the participatory governance framework, for planning, directing and evaluating assigned functions associated with maintaining quality academic and student services programs.

About the Rising Scholars Program

The Rising Scholars Program at Bakersfield College is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and improving student success for justice-impacted individuals, including students who are currently incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or otherwise impacted by the criminal justice system. Through collaboration with correctional institutions, community organizations, workforce partners, and campus departments, the program provides educational pathways, comprehensive student support services, and resources that promote persistence, completion, transfer, career readiness, and successful reentry.

The Program Director provides leadership for one of the College's signature student success initiatives, supporting educational programs both within correctional facilities and across the Bakersfield College service area. The successful candidate will foster collaboration among faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners to strengthen educational access, remove barriers to student success, and advance equitable outcomes for justice-impacted students.

This position requires a collaborative and innovative leader who can build strong partnerships with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), county correctional facilities, probation departments, community-based organizations, and other agencies that support student achievement and successful reentry. The Program Director will lead a dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality services while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, grant requirements, and institutional priorities.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker and servant leader who values collaboration, integrity, equity, and continuous improvement. They will possess the ability to build productive relationships across the College and throughout the community while promoting a culture of inclusion, accountability, and student-centered decision making. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a growing program that transforms lives through education and strengthens Bakersfield College's commitment to serving justice-impacted students and the communities in which they live.

Representative Duties

1. Interpret and administer District policy regarding assigned program(s).
2. Interpret and administer College policy with respect to student-centered educational services. Plan, implement, and evaluate short and long-range strategies, goals, and objectives related to assigned program(s).
3. Review, assess and evaluate assigned programs and services; recommend and implement approved plans and policies to facilitate and improve outcomes, operations and programs within areas of responsibility.
4. Provide leadership in generating staff development opportunities for support staff.
5. Provide assistance in recruitment, selection, orientation, and evaluation of support staff in assigned program(s).
6. Supervise and coordinate department planning and operations; personnel supervision, including development and evaluation of all support staff.
7. Develop, implement, and monitor the annual plans and expenditures.
8. Act as liaison with District, State, and federal governing bodies regarding assigned programs and practices.
9. Market the College and assigned programs to the College community and the general public.
10. Serve on College and District committees as appropriate.
11. Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in an academic area related to assignment.
Five years of full-time experience in administration, including at least three years of leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and disability backgrounds of community college students and employees.

Important Instructions & Additional Information

For all positions, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, shall be considered a core system competency and job requirement. (5 CCR § 53022)

Required Application Materials

Candidates may be required to submit any of the following materials based on the specific role. Please review the job posting and the attachments section of your application to confirm which documents are required for your submission.

Completed Online Application
Current resume
Letter of interest (Cover Letter)
Copy of legible transcripts
Copy of Driver's License

References

Professional reference information will be confirmed and required upon invite to second level interview, if applicable.

Equivalency for Minimum Qualifications

Applicants for faculty and educational administrator positions in California Community Colleges are required to meet certain minimum qualifications as provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and detailed in the Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges handbook. If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you may still be eligible by completing the Kern CCD Application for Equivalence process. Please see our Faculty Equivalency Process website for more information.

International or Foreign Degrees

Applicants with international or foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.

Accommodations

Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements. (For more information, see our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunities website.)

Discrimination Free Work Environment

Discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, military and veteran status, or the perception that a person has one or more of these characteristics is illegal and violates Kern Community College District policy.

The Kern CCD Equal Employment Opportunity Plan guides the development, implementation, and monitoring of the District's efforts to foster equal employment opportunities and workplace diversity.

Work Authorization

Kern Community College District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorizations should be established at the time of application submission.

E-Verify

The Kern Community College District participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, please visit e-verify.gov.

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