Project Director of Title III

Limitless Decatur; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Limitless Decatur seeks a Director of Title III Programs to lead federally funded initiatives focused on student success, retention, persistence, and degree completion. The role reports to the Dean and oversees planning, evaluation, and sustaining grant-funded activities.

The director will manage budgets, regulatory compliance, assessments, and reporting while collaborating with faculty, staff, and campus partners to advance institutional priorities and ensure effective Title III implementation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree preferred in project management, higher education administration, counseling, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in student counseling or coaching or leading student support programs.
• Experience leading multifaceted projects, training programs, or initiatives in an educational setting.
• Experience in budgeting and in using software or databases related to student success initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for Title III initiatives.
• Manage budgets, assessment activities, policies, procedures, annual reports, and federal compliance requirements.
• Assist with recruiting and supporting Title III personnel and student employees as funding permits.
• Track project goals, objectives, and performance indicators to ensure grant outcomes.
• Coordinate communications and maintain the Title III Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Collaborate with the External Evaluator by gathering data and supporting continuous project improvement.
• Provide student success coaching and support to at-risk undergraduates.
• Advocate for and represent the Title III project with university leaders and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with campus partners across departments to advance institutional priorities.
• Attend professional associations to enhance skills and the visibility of the program.
• Serve on university committees and task forces as assigned.
• Perform other duties to support grant implementation and compliance requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

The Director of Title III Programs provides strategic leadership, administration, and oversight for the University's federally funded Title III initiatives. Reporting to the Dean of Academic Services and University Registrar, the Director is responsible for planning, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining grant-funded programs designed to enhance student success, retention, persistence, and degree completion.

The Director provides leadership for project operations, assessment activities, budget management, regulatory compliance, and reporting requirements. Through collaboration with faculty, staff, and campus partners, the Director advances institutional priorities and ensures effective implementation of Title III initiatives that strengthen academic support and student success.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Title III project, including planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of grant-funded initiatives.
2. Manage project budgets, assessment activities, policies, procedures, annual reports, and federal compliance requirements.
3. Assist with recruiting and supporting Title III personnel and student employees as funding permits.
4. Track project goals, objectives, and performance indicators to ensure successful achievement of grant outcomes.
5. Coordinate communications and maintain the Title III Policies and Procedures Manual.
6. Collaborate with the External Evaluator by gathering and providing data and utilizing assessment findings to support continuous project improvement.
7. Provide student success coaching and support to undergraduate students identified as having risk factors associated with attrition or non-completion.
8. Advocate for and represent the Title III project with university leaders, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
9. Collaborate with campus partners including the Executive Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer, Vice President for Student Affairs, Academic Services, Institutional Research, Information Technology, the Office of the Provost, the Director of Grants, Controller, and others as appropriate.
10. Support institutional retention, persistence, and completion initiatives through data-informed practices and collaboration with campus stakeholders.
11. Attending and serving as a leader in appropriate professional associations to enhance skills, bring and share knowledge related to the position, and improve the visibility and influence of Millikin University (e.g., ACPA, NASPA, etc.).
12. Serve on university committees, councils, and task forces as assigned.
13. Perform other duties, as requested by the institution and approved by the sponsoring agency, in support of the implementation, administration, reporting, and compliance requirements of the Title III grant.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director provides leadership and coordination for Title III project activities and works collaboratively with faculty, staff, consultants, and external partners to achieve project goals and objectives. May provide supervision and/or assist in recruiting, training, and supporting Title III staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a result-driven professional organization. Ability to manage results through a staff of direct and indirect employees. Ability to drive a team in a focused direction. Working knowledge of higher education processes and practices. Maintaining professional performance, demeanor, and results while working under pressure in a dynamic environment. Customer, budget, quality, and delivery conscious mindset. Ability to establish priorities, work independently with minimal supervision, and facilitate teamwork. Highly organized, with the ability to plan, execute, and multitask to meet deadlines and keep projects under budget. Additional qualifications specific to this position are below:

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in project management, higher education administration, counseling, college student personnel, interpersonal relations, education, or a related field.
• Personal experience overcoming barriers similar to those evidenced in the population to be served by this Project.
• Significantly similar experience leading and implementing multifaceted projects, training programs, or initiatives, particularly within an educational setting.
• 5+ years of experience in student counseling or coaching, student academic support programs.
• Related experiences in a college or university setting.
• Experience hiring and/or supervising staff at any professional level.
• Experience facilitating, teaching, and/or developing educational or training programs.
• Experience in student learning assessment or program evaluation.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Experience using software or database platforms related to the position.
• Experience in risk management practices.

CRITICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE

Skills

• Communication skills: Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Self-management skills: ability to manage time effectively, learn, and contribute to overall departmental tasks and goals.
• Project coordination skills: ability to lead or contribute to planning or organizing projects, programs, services, etc.
• Conflict resolution skills: ability to use interpersonal skills to develop and maintain positive professional relationships and resolve conflict in a team environment and with individuals from various diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Analytical skills: ability to analyze information and offer sound recommendations.
• Computational skills: ability to perform basic mathematical computations to assist with financial operations and/or data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Computer skills: proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software, preferably Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Outlook Calendaring, Office 365.

Abilities

• Ability to adhere to work attendance requirements.
• Ability to model self-care and well-being for colleagues and, most importantly, students.
• Ability to manage emotions, function effectively, and make sound decisions in stressful and crisis situations.
• Ability to handle multiple projects, services, activities, etc. in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment.
• Ability to be flexible, diplomatic, patient, service-driven, and a self-starter.
• Ability to work independently under limited supervision and in teams.
• Ability to make reasoned administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive and confidential issues.
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours based on operational need.
• Ability to comply with university vehicle-use requirements (some driving may be necessary, including transporting students and staff to approved events).

Knowledge

• Preparatory knowledge: coursework, military, or work-based knowledge of, for example, student development theories, learning theories, organizational theories, risk management.
• Software/database systems: Ability to use software/databases related to student success initiatives.
• Student knowledge: knowledge of generational college students and the ability to design generation-and audience-specific programs, events, and services.
• Accountability: experience with applying formative, summative, qualitative, and/or quantitative methodologies to assessing student learning outcomes and/or evaluating programs and services.
• Multimedia experience: ability to collaborate on or design brochures, event flyers, and/or newsletters and develop and manage social media accounts.
• Reporting experience: experience with program databases or software programs used to track, monitor, and report services to students.
• Ability to plan and execute programs and services based on social justice, cultural responsiveness, anti-racism, and civility.
• Regulatory knowledge: FERPA.