Executive Director of TRIO and Student Support Programs

Department

Equity & Student Engagement

Position Summary

The Executive Director of TRIO and Student Support Programs is responsible for providing programmatic oversight and leadership for key Student Affairs functional areas. The Executive Director supervises the leadership (directors) and ensures the vitality of Epic Scholars and other federal grant-funded programs. 

As a leader within the Division of Student Affairs, the Executive Director of TRIO and Student Support Programs actively contributes to divisional and institutional strategic planning and setting of priorities, in addition to leading major initiatives and projects. Centering student access in their work and approach to leadership, the Executive Director critically contributes to success and belonging initiatives across the division and across the institution. The Executive Director is both a high-level thinker, and a student-centered and connected doer. The Executive Director will balance priorities that involve strategy, leadership, and theoretical application of knowledge along with duties that connect them directly to students, the needs students have, and the experiences that students have - or do not have - at MSU Denver on a daily basis.

The Executive Director of TRIO and Student Support Programs is responsible for the management of the institution’s TRIO SSS and other federal grants, including supervision of all program operations, staff, and budget. The Executive Director serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) on the TRIO SSS and other federal grants, and is responsible for assuring grant compliance, including all reporting functions to the Department of Education.

The Executive Director of TRIO and Student Support Programs plays a key coordinating role, ensuring that programmatic synergies between TRIO SSS, Epic Scholars, and other federal grant programs are fully realized in support of student success at MSU Denver. As appropriate, the Executive Director develops structures and systems to sync services and opportunities, realize efficiencies, and optimize coordination among these program areas, as well as other relevant University and community entities. In light of the importance of the programmatic areas of oversight, the Executive Director is actively involved in University committees. Additionally, the Executive Director is engaged with relevant external community and/or government groups and/or initiatives that further the goals of the program areas and/or the mission of the University.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. Our student population is majority first generation college students and approximately half of our students identify as students of color.

Within the Division of Student Affairs, we strive to create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. Rather, it requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a foundation for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer.

IND208

This is a temporary grant funded position with funding available for a 5 year cycle with the possibility of extension, if additional funding is secured.

Duties and Responsibilities

70% - Direct the TRIO SSS Program

• Direct grant activities and staff in support of grant objectives. Appropriately integrate grant activities with University initiatives and programs that support student success. Provide leadership to support continuation of the TRIO SSS grant, and/or related grant opportunities, at the University.
• Stay abreast of relevant higher education policy changes that impact TRIO and its participants. Guide program operations accordingly.
• Supervise TRIO SSS staff, to include hiring, training, management, and other related duties for professional staff working on the TRIO SSS grant.
• Provide direct student service, in line with the grant objectives, to a caseload of TRIO SSS participants.
• Oversee the timely submission of all reporting to the Department of Education, per grant requirements.
• Manage the TRIO SSS budget, as well as any auxiliary funds identified, to support the program. Ensure compliance with all University, state, and federal fiscal regulations.

20% - Supervision of Epic Scholars and other federal grant programs

• Supervise the lead staff managing Epic Scholars and other federal grant programs to include hiring, training, management, and other related duties.
• Actively attend to policy at the state and federal level that impacts, or has the potential to impact, these programs and their participants. Play a leadership role in educating and engaging key staff at the University on relevant higher education and related policies.
• Ensure the examination of major departmental activities from a critical lens, with particular attention paid to student outcomes related to social identities.
• Identify logical liaison points for programs within the institution and work to empower staff to develop meaningful professional relationships, in support of student success and program objectives.
• Along with departmental leaders, work to maximize program capacity so that participating students are highly engaged, while also working to maximize eligible student participation.
• Work with staff to identify strategic opportunities to strengthen existing programs or develop new initiatives within the programs’ scopes. Guide department leaders in ways that promote the continued success of the program(s) and the students served by the program(s). Ensure alignment between functional area work/objectives and institutional and divisional strategic plan and priorities.
• Support the effective assessment of program activities and the application of learning gleaned through meaningful assessment.

10% - Other administrative duties

• Serve on University committees/working groups as needed or requested.
• Lead and promote initiatives that address issues of access, retention, completion, and post-graduation outcomes. 
• Write grants and/or otherwise pursue alternative funding opportunities to support program goals and/or otherwise to meet student needs.
• Refer students and/or staff to relevant services and opportunities. Facilitate and/or contribute to professional development for self and others, in particular related to access and student achievement.
• Develop and implement programming/professional development trainings and initiatives towards promoting a positive campus culture and student sense of belonging.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, sociology, human services, psychology, counseling, social work, public administration, organization management, or fields related to the project’s objectives
• At least five years of professional experience designing, managing, or implementing a TRIO or comparable higher education program
• Two years of experience in:
  • Pro staff supervision
  • Budget management
  • Program development and management
  • Curriculum design
  • Program assessment and evaluation

​​Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate degree
• Effective written, presentation, and training skills
• Expertise in working with low-income, first-generation, and other underrepresented populations
• Knows current best practices for persistence and the ability to apply theory to program and student development
• Proficient grant writing experience and building collaborative partnerships
• A background and have succeeded in overcoming barriers like those confronting SSS-eligible students
• Grant writing and/or grant management experience
• Experience working with faculty
• Experience supervising student staff
• Conversational Spanish

Work Hours

• Full-time, 40 hours per week, Exempt 
• Monday - Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm and some evening and weekend work is required
• Limited remote work schedule option.
• Light travel to conferences when necessary

Salary for Announcement

We anticipate the qualified candidate to be placed between $93,850 – $105,000. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

3 professional references will be required of the finalist. One reference must be a prior supervisor.

This position will remain open until filled. Please apply by November 24, 2025 for consideration.

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay Menu

​​Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

This is a temporary grant funded position with funding available for a 5 year cycle with the possibility of extension, if additional funding is secured.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting Representative

Araceli Cortez

Posting Representative Email

acortez7@msudenver.edu

Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at totalrewards@msudenver.edu.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.