Program Manager in Scholar Success Programs

Colorado State University; United States; On-site; USD 63,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado State University is seeking a Program Manager within the Scholar Success Program to lead both direct student advising and robust program management.

The role focuses on holistic student support, advocacy, and community-building, serving first-generation and limited-income students while managing budget, timelines, and external partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus ≥3 years of professional experience in K-12, higher education, or college access.
• Experience delivering direct, individualized (one-on-one) and group support focused on student success, retention, and belonging.
• Commitment to working effectively with diverse student populations.

Responsibilities

• Administer scholarship programs and foundation partnerships with recruitment, scholarship awards, donor agreements, and compliance.
• Serve as liaison to scholarship foundations and donors, coordinating communications and fulfilling program commitments.
• Provide holistic student success coaching by managing an assigned caseload and promoting academic achievement and persistence.
• Assess student needs, identify barriers to success, coordinate interventions and referrals, and advocate for student success.
• Maintain student records and ensure compliance with university policies and regulations.
• Develop and facilitate student engagement opportunities through workshops and cohort experiences.
• Collaborate with the C4E Network and campus partners to coordinate services and improve outcomes.
• Perform other related duties to support departmental and university priorities.

Skills

Student advising

Program coordination

Administrative organization

Communication

Team leadership

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Position Summary

The Program Manager role is a dynamic and dual focused leadership role within Scholar Success Program. As part of the broader Community for Excellence network, the Program Manager collaborates across campus to help develop a student success ecosystem. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Program Manager splits their time equally between direct high-touch student advising and robust programmatic management: Holistic Student Support and Advocacy. The Program Manager provides comprehensive, high-touch advising to a small group of first-generation and limited-income students through a proactive, student-centered approach focused on student success and career readiness. The Program Manager navigates complex student concerns and acute crises, serves as a frontline advocate and manages resource referrals. The Program Manager builds a strong sense of belonging, community, and support through facilitation of individual meetings, cohort events, community events, and intentional learning opportunities. Operational Management and Foundation/Donor Stewardship. The Program Manager oversees the day-to-day operations, logistics, and event planning required to execute external foundation partner and donor agreements. The Program Manager ensures compliance with established timelines and deliverables, manages program budgets, and represents the University as the primary point of contact for external stakeholders.

Full Consideration Date: Sunday, 8/23/2026, 11:59pm (MT)

Essential Job Duties

• Administer scholarship programs and foundation partnerships by managing recruitment, selection, scholarship awards, donor agreements, reporting requirements, and compliance with foundation and university expectations.
• Serve as the primary liaison to scholarship foundations and donors by maintaining collaborative relationships, coordinating communications, and ensuring fulfillment of program commitments and stewardship responsibilities.
• Provide holistic student success coaching by managing an assigned caseload and delivering individualized support that promotes students' academic achievement, personal development, persistence, and graduation.
• Assess student needs and coordinate interventions by identifying barriers to success, responding to complex student situations, connecting students with campus and community resources, and advocating for student success.
• Maintain student records and ensure compliance by documenting student interactions, monitoring academic progress, utilizing student success data, and adhering to university policies, federal regulations, and professional standards.
• Develop and facilitate student engagement opportunities by planning workshops, cohort experiences, leadership development activities, and community-building programs that foster belonging and student success.
• Collaborate with the Community for Excellence (C4E) Network and campus partners to coordinate services, strengthen scholarship support, improve student outcomes, and advance institutional student success initiatives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of departmental, divisional, and university priorities.

Supervision: Position may supervise student staff.

The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date; the department will not provide visa sponsorship for this position. Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 3 years of professional employment experience in K-12 education, higher education, or college access programs.
• Demonstrated experience delivering direct, individualized (one-on-one) and group support to students, focusing on student success, retention, and fostering a sense of belonging.
• Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with diverse student populations and their support networks.
• Demonstrated professional experience managing program logistics, administrative timelines, or independent decision-making processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education, counseling or related field.
• Experience working with scholarship foundations, donors, or grant programs.
• Experience in program coordination, leadership, or progressively responsible work within a college access or student success framework.
• Experience working with TRIO or similar college access programs, academic advising, or career counseling.
• Experience advising, counseling, teaching, or supervising individuals from historically minoritized communities.
• Demonstrated success in conflict resolution, creative problem-solving, and independent decision-making.
• Strong organization and administrative skills with a proven ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or coaching others, with a demonstrated commitment to fostering a culture of mutual accountability.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish (verbal and written).

Salary Range $62,500-$65,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Inspired by its land-grant heritage, Colorado State University is committed to excellence and engagement, setting the standard for public research universities in teaching, research, service and extension for the benefit of the citizens of Colorado, the United States, and the world.