Assistant Director of TRIO SSS - Academic Adv

Job Description

Job Description

Assistant Director of TRIO SSS/Academic Advisor

About Saint Elizabeth University:

Saint Elizabeth University (SEU), located in Morris County, New Jersey, offers convenient access to major highways including Routes 287, 280, 80, 10, and 24, as well as the nearby Convent Station train station. Established in 1899 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, the University is situated on 150 scenic acres of rolling hills and wooded landscapes. Rooted in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, SEU provides a high-quality education that serves students of diverse ages, backgrounds, and cultures, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth.

SEU Mission & Commitment:

SEU is devoted to providing educational and career training opportunities to traditionally underserved communities and is characterized by small class sizes and a highly communal student-centered culture emphasizing individualized attention. SEU is a federally designated Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving Institution. Our traditional undergraduate population is 38 percent Black, and our total enrollment is 30 percent Hispanic, while 47 percent of our students are first-generation college students. In addition, 76 percent of our first-time freshmen are low-income students eligible for federal Pell funding; many come to us with unique challenges related to their financial, social, academic, mental, and physical health. Saint Elizabeth University seeks to foster and maintain a diverse campus community through inclusive excellence and equal opportunity. SEU has long preserved its legacy of providing quality education and access for underserved populations, particularly in fields and career paths traditionally beyond the reach of marginalized and often disenfranchised communities. In our traditional co-educational undergraduate enrollment today, women outnumber men two-to-one. SEU has a long legacy of educating women who thrive in STEM and healthcare professions and continues to produce diverse women and men as leaders equipped with a deeper appreciation of inclusion in its various forms. We strive to ensure that all graduates realize their potential through hard work and an exceptional education that is unimpeded by irrational self-doubt or societal biases.

The Assistant Director of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)/Academic Advisor provides leadership and oversight for all aspects of the federally funded TRIO SSS program at Saint Elizabeth University. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the management of all project activities and services designed to support low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The Director ensures program compliance with federal regulations, supervises program staff, manages the program budget, and works collaboratively across campus to promote student success and retention. The Assistant Director advocates for and serves the target population while maintaining the program's goals of good academic standing, retention, and graduation.

Duties and Responsibilities may include but are not necessarily limited to the following:

Program Leadership and Compliance

• Provide overall leadership and daily management of the TRIO SSS program in accordance with the approved grant and all U.S. Department of Education regulations.
• Ensure full federal compliance, including maintaining accurate participant records and program documentation.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate academic, personal, and financial support services for participants.
• Conduct ongoing program assessment and prepare all required federal reports, including the APR.
• Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the TRIO SSS program website.

Budget and Resource Management

• Develop and manage the program budget to ensure compliant, effective use of federal funds.
• Monitor expenditures, coordinate procurement, and prepare financial documentation.

Staff Oversight

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate program staff
• Provide required TRIO-related training and professional development.
• Maintain a collaborative, high-quality service team.

Student Advising and Support Services

• Provide individualized academic advising and support to TRIO participants.
• Monitor academic progress including academic standing, persistence, and degree completion, and implement intervention strategies when challenges arise.
• Coordinate workshops and programming related to academic success, financial literacy, career planning, graduate school preparation, and cultural engagement.

Recruitment and Eligibility Compliance

• Recruit and enroll students who meet federal TRIO eligibility criteria.
• Verify and document eligibility to ensure required percentages for low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities.
• Maintain accurate eligibility and enrollment records.

Campus Collaboration and Advocacy

• Work with campus partners (Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Registrar, Accessibility Services, and others) to support student success.
• Represent the TRIO program at campus events and participate in institutional success and equity initiatives.
• Advocate for the needs of first-generation, low-income, and disabled students.

Data Management and Reporting

• Track participant engagement, services, and outcomes using student success platforms and databases.
• Analyze data to guide program decisions and demonstrate impact.
• Prepare required internal and external reports and ensure FERPA compliant recordkeeping.

Professional Development

• Complete all required TRIO Director training and maintain ongoing professional development.
• Participate in regional and national TRIO trainings and remain current with regulations and best practices.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in Education, Public Administration, Sociology, Counseling, or a related field from an accredited institution is required.
• Master’s degree preferred

Required Experience

• Three to five years of experience in program administration, staff supervision, budget management, and program development and evaluation are required.
• Two to three years of experience working with federal TRIO programs, academic support programs, or similar initiatives serving disadvantaged college students is required
• One to three years of experience providing academic advising, counseling, or coaching related to academic planning, career planning, and student success
• Training or professional experience focused on improving persistence and retention rates for first-generation and low-income students
• Direct experience with Student Support Services (SSS) programming preferred

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for underrepresented students and promoting access and success in higher education
• Experience with grant management, including compliance with federal regulations and budget oversight
• Ability to design and implement student development programming aligned with SSS objectives
• Proficiency in data collection, assessment, and reporting to evaluate program outcomes and support continuous improvement
• Experience establishing collaborative partnerships to enhance program effectiveness
• Maintain accurate student records and documentation in compliance with federal reporting requirements
• Support program evaluation, annual performance reporting, and continuous improvement efforts

Salary: $65,000.

Why Choose Saint Elizabeth University?

Saint Elizabeth University offers a positive work environment, dedicated leadership, faculty, and staff who are committed to excellence, and an attractive benefits and compensation package.

Full-time Faculty and Staff Benefits Include:

• Employer-Subsidized Health Care Plan
• Dental and Vision Plan – (Paid by employee)
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match
• Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance (No cost to employee)
• Supplemental Insurance Available for Employee, Spouse, and Dependents
• Other Voluntary Plans (Legal, Identity-Theft, Accident, Critical Care, etc.)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Remission for Employee, Spouse, and/or Dependents
• Tuition Exchange Program offering Reciprocal Scholarships Nationwide at 600+ Colleges and Universities
• Paid State and Federal holidays, as well as the week before and the week after Christmas off with pay
• Paid Days Off on Fridays in the Summer Months
• Birthday as a Paid Day Off
• Vacation Days
• Sick Days
• Employee Discount Program

How to Apply

• Applications should consist of a cover letter, resume, and three professional references with email addresses and/or telephone numbers.
• Saint Elizabeth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.
• Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
• Saint Elizabeth University is a designated minority serving undergraduate institution.

EEO/AA Statement:

Saint Elizabeth University is committed to fostering a community grounded in collaboration, innovation, creativity, and a strong sense of belonging. Our collective success is driven by the open and respectful exchange of ideas—an exchange that is enriched by the diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. We believe that this environment thrives when all individuals feel welcomed, safe, secure, and heard.

In support of this commitment, Saint Elizabeth University provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Any information collected for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) or Affirmative Action reporting purposes will be used solely in compliance with applicable regulations. Providing this information is voluntary and will not affect an applicant’s opportunity for employment or the terms and conditions of employment.