Project Director, Title III

Pacific Oaks College & Children's School; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School, located in Pasadena, California, invites applications for a Title III Project Director in the Department of Student Affairs. This full‑time grant‑funded role leads the Title III project, coordinating activities across Academic Affairs, IT, Career Services, and external partners to boost retention, workforce integration, and data capacity.

The Director reports to the Dean of Student Affairs and oversees budget, evaluation, reporting, and compliance with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in higher education administration, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education leadership, grant management, institutional effectiveness, and/or student success initiatives, including management and strategic leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success managing federal grants, including compliance, implementation, fiscal oversight, evaluation, and required reporting.
• Experience leading cross‑functional initiatives and coordinating personnel, budgets, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience using institutional or program data to assess performance, identify barriers, and guide corrective action.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of approved project activities, maintaining work plans, timelines, milestones, and assigned responsibilities; manage day‑to‑day operations, personnel, resources, and implementation documentation.
• Coordinate collaboration across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Institutional Research, Information Technology, Career Services, and external partners to integrate project activities into institutional operations and address implementation barriers.
• Convene monthly project implementation meetings to review data and progress toward objectives, documenting decisions, action items, responsible personnel, and follow‑up.
• Supervise designated grant‑funded staff, including hiring, training, work planning, and performance evaluation, consistent with confirmed reporting assignments.
• Partner with Institutional Research and the External Evaluator to coordinate required evaluations, participant tracking, and data collection and reporting processes. Review findings quarterly with project personnel and leadership, recommend corrective actions to the Dean of Student Affairs, and track approved improvements; Institutional Research retains responsibility for collecting, analyzing, and validating project data.
• Manage project budget planning, expenditure monitoring, reconciliation, and documentation in collaboration with Finance and grants administration personnel; coordinate accurate, complete, and timely submission of required performance and fiscal reports.
• Maintain current knowledge of Title III requirements and award terms, communicate relevant changes, and ensure project activities, expenditures, personnel documentation, procurement, recordkeeping, and reporting comply with federal requirements, approved project plans, and institutional policies; coordinate required approvals for scope or budget changes.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, public administration, business administration, or a related field

Master’s degree in higher education administration, public administration, business administration, or a related field

Job description

Job Description:

Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School Department of Student Affairs Project Director, Title III Full-time Salary: $85,000 - $100,000

Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School is recruiting a Title III Project Director for their Pacific Oaks College campus in Pasadena, California.

About Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School

Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School, located in Pasadena, California, is a nonprofit institution rooted in Quaker values and a strong social justice heritage. The College offers bachelor’s, master’s, a doctorate, and certificate programs in education, human development, counseling, and related fields, while the Children’s School is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in anti-bias education, emergent curriculum, and peaceful conflict resolution. Together, they foster inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that honor the unique potential of every individual. Employees join a mission-driven community committed to respect, diversity, social justice, and lifelong learning.

About the Position

The Department of Student Affairs supports students’ academic achievement, personal well-being, and professional growth through a holistic, personalized approach to the student experience. Student success coaches guide students throughout their educational journey, helping them navigate challenges, connect with resources, and work toward their goals. The department’s support services include career services, learning assistance, disability support, international student support, and wellness resources, along with opportunities for engagement through student government and community-building activities. Through collaboration with faculty and staff, Student Affairs fosters a welcoming, supportive environment where students feel connected and empowered to succeed.

Reporting to the Dean of Student Affairs, the Title III Project Director provides overall leadership, day-to-day management, and oversight of Pacific Oaks College’s Title III grant project. The Director coordinates project personnel and activities and collaborates across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Institutional Research, Information Technology, Career Services, and external partners to advance student retention, workforce integration, and institutional data capacity.

The Director is responsible for implementation of the approved project plan, monitoring all measurable objectives, managing project resources, coordinating evaluation, and preparing required performance and fiscal reports. The position ensures that project activities, expenditures, and reporting adhere to applicable federal requirements, award terms, and institutional policies. This is a full-time, grant‑funded position. Continued employment is contingent upon continued grant funding and institutional needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of approved project activities, maintaining work plans, timelines, milestones, and assigned responsibilities; manage day‑to‑day operations, personnel, resources, and implementation documentation.
• Coordinate collaboration across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Institutional Research, Information Technology, Career Services, and external partners to integrate project activities into institutional operations and address implementation barriers.
• Convene monthly project implementation meetings to review data and progress toward objectives, documenting decisions, action items, responsible personnel, and follow‑up.
• Supervise designated grant‑funded staff, including hiring, training, work planning, and performance evaluation, consistent with confirmed reporting assignments.
• Partner with Institutional Research and the External Evaluator to coordinate required evaluations, participant tracking, and data collection and reporting processes. Review findings quarterly with project personnel and leadership, recommend corrective actions to the Dean of Student Affairs, and track approved improvements; Institutional Research retains responsibility for collecting, analyzing, and validating project data.
• Manage project budget planning, expenditure monitoring, reconciliation, and documentation in collaboration with Finance and grants administration personnel; coordinate accurate, complete, and timely submission of required performance and fiscal reports.
• Maintain current knowledge of Title III requirements and award terms, communicate relevant changes, and ensure project activities, expenditures, personnel documentation, procurement, recordkeeping, and reporting comply with federal requirements, approved project plans, and institutional policies; coordinate required approvals for scope or budget changes.

Note: While this list captures the core focus of the position, we look forward to sharing the full scope of responsibilities with finalists during our interview stages.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in higher education administration, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education leadership, grant management, institutional effectiveness, and/or student success initiatives, including management and strategic leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success managing federal grants, including compliance, implementation, fiscal oversight, evaluation, and required reporting.
• Experience leading cross‑functional initiatives and coordinating personnel, budgets, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience using institutional or program data to assess performance, identify barriers, and guide corrective action.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education leadership, grant management, institutional effectiveness, and/or student success initiatives, including management and strategic leadership experience.
• Experience with Title III or other U.S. Department of Education grants.
• Experience with career pathways, workforce integration, or employer partnerships.
• Experience with institutional data improvement, participant tracking, or project reporting systems.

Location

This position requires the employee to work at the designated campus location and may occasionally require night or weekend hours depending on operational needs.

Anticipated Salary

$85,000 - $100,000

Compliance with Federal Antidiscrimination Guidance

Pacific Oaks College is committed to providing equal employment and educational opportunity to all people and strictly adheres to federal anti‑discrimination laws. In accordance with DOJ guidance, the College affirms that no programs, hiring practices, promotions, admissions, or other decisions shall provide preferential treatment based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics without appropriate lawful rationale. The College will also ensure compliance of its third‑party contractors or program partners in this regard. Pacific Oaks participates in E‑Verify and verifies identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired.

Disclaimer

The duties listed above describe the general nature and level of work expected of faculty in this position and are not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The College reserves the right to amend or modify the job description as institutional needs evolve. Pacific Oaks College provides equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $ base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time‑off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement.

Pacific Oaks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.