Program Manager - Education Pathways

Highline Community College; Des Moines (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Highline College seeks a Program Manager for Education Pathways to coordinate recruitment, marketing and advising across education pathways, including ElevatED in partnership with Puget Sound Educational Service District.

The role supports recruitment, enrollment, and first-quarter advising for students in Early Childhood Education, Paraeducator and Elementary Education programs, with regular attendance at department and partner meetings. Evening/weekend work and travel are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or any combination of relevant education, training, and experience.
• 2 years of advising, college recruitment, or related experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with pathway faculty and staff to identify outreach goals aligned with departments strategic priorities.
• Coordinate events, information sessions, and admissions clinics (in-person and virtual) to promote pathway offerings.
• Lead community recruitment efforts focusing on adult learners and diverse student populations.
• Provide advising and navigation Through enrollment in first quarter; track student progression.

Skills

Communication skills

Public speaking

Customer service

Microsoft Office

ctcLink/PeopleSoft

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

ctcLink/PeopleSoft

Google Drive

Job description

Posting will remain open until filled. Priority consideration for applications received by November 15, 2026.

The Program Manager for Education Pathways is assigned to support academic programs within identified education pathways. The position is responsible for the recruitment, marketing, navigation and first quarter advising of students in these identified pathways. The key functions of this role are to ensure that students are fully supported and include recruitment, enrollment support and advising.

The Program Manager for Education Pathways will focus on supporting the ElevatED program, a partnership with Puget Sound Educational Service District in the recruitment and support of working paraeducators into education programs at Highline College. This position will also manage supporting various education programs including associate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Paraeducator and bachelor degree education programs in Early Childhood Education: Leadership and Inclusive Practices and Elementary Education. This position will attend regular department meetings and partner meetings.

This is a full-time exempt, at will position reporting to the Associate Dean of Workforce Pathways. This position will require working some evenings and weekends and will require some travel.

Recruitment and Marketing

• Collaborate with pathway faculty and staff to identify outreach goals aligned with departments strategic priorities;
• Coordinate and facilitate events, information sessions, presentations and admissions clinics (in-person and virtually, day and evening/weekend) to promote pathway offerings (with the Workforce Education Services office and other key student support services);
• Coordinate and lead community recruitment efforts (including Puget Sound Educational Service District and other community based organization partners) that focus on adult learners and diverse student populations;
• Participate in enrollment and new student orientation events;
• Ensure marketing and presentation materials distributed to schools and community partners are current;
• Collaborate with Continuing Education, AAS and BAS program department coordinators and faculty to support and facilitate coordinated efforts and activities.

Student Navigation

• Advocating and navigating challenges with funding as students access classes;
• Support workforce students from time of inquiry through enrollment in their first quarter.
• Provide accessible, responsive, and trauma-informed 1:1 student support;
• Provide technical assistance with the application, identifying funding options, account activation and registration process;
• Maintain current knowledge of campus policies and procedures to facilitate effective linkages to services.

Advising

• Provide academic advising to include: career exploration, basic course sequencing, program options, PLA, prerequisites, placement needs for Math and English, selection and registration;
• Guide students in career exploration to include: identification of educational goals and academic pathway and utilization of career exploration tools and resources;
• Provide high touch support, tutoring and advising;
• Assist with graduation support of education certificates and degrees;
• Provide a smooth transition and hand off to faculty advisor.

Administrative

• Track and monitor student progression through CRM; collecting and analyzing data to measure where we are losing students;
• Document all significant student interactions in Watermark under advising notes. Provide progress reports to the workforce team on needs, challenges, and accomplishments;
• Track, analyze and report data on community partner recruitment;
• Coordinate weekly study sessions;
• Collaborate with Puget Sound Educational Service District and education leads to align ElevatED and education department efforts;
• Attend PSESD meetings and team meetings to relay information and changes;
• Attend pathway department/division meetings and advisory committee meetings.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong communication skills; excellent written, oral, and cross-cultural communication; comfortable with public speaking, and making presentations to diverse audiences;
• Demonstrated customer service focus and experience;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain cooperative relations with diverse individuals and groups;
• Technology skills to efficiently navigate an electronic environment, including familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, ctcLink/PeopleSoft, and Google drive;
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to manage timelines, details, and competing priorities;
• Ability to be a self-starter with the willingness to take appropriate initiative and exercise independent decision-making;
• Adaptability & flexibility with the capacity to work independently and collaboratively;
• Consider equity and access issues that impact student access and completion.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree OR any combination of relevant education, training, and experience that indicates successful performance of the major responsibilities of this position;
• 2 years of advising, college recruitment, or related experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in a community college or strong understanding of the community college system and navigating college processes;
• Experience with Customer Relations Management (CRM) software;
• Experience as an adult learner or working with adult learners;
• Understanding of student success milestones and college success strategies;
• Bilingual/bicultural or significant multi-cultural experiences and/or competence in a language in addition to English.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

THE COLLEGE

Founded in 1961, Highline College was the first community college to be established in King County and is one of 34 community and technical colleges. More than 350,000 alumni have graduated from Highline over the years. Nestled between Seattle and Tacoma, we are located on the traditional village sites of the Muckleshoot, Puyallup and many other Coast Salish tribes.

Highline prioritizes access for all students, staff, and faculty, which is evident in our Mission, Vision, and Values. We are proud Highline strives to improve access to Education for our student community. Those who come to our college bring unique personal experiences, beliefs, and perspectives and make us better. We strive to provide and highlight resources to support our students, staff, and faculty by fostering a equal opportunity focused workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

Highline College is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legal protected status.

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at [phone]. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.

Highline College complies with Title IX regulations. For details on our policies, see our website https://humanresources.highline.edu/faculty-and-staff/policies/title-ix/ The College appointing authorities reserve the right and may exercise the option to make an employment decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.