DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE SUCCESS

Reports To: Executive Director

Organization: Waterbury Promise, a 501(c)(3) Organization

ABOUT WATERBURY PROMISE

Waterbury Promise is a comprehensive college access and success program dedicated to building a generation of college graduates and closing the higher education attainment gap for talented Waterbury students. Through scholarships, success coaching, career-readiness initiatives, and holistic support, Waterbury Promise helps students access higher education, persist through graduation, and transition successfully into meaningful careers.

Our small but mighty team is comprised of passionate professionals committed to increasing college aspirations, reducing financial barriers, and supporting students from enrollment through career success. We foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive environment where every team member contributes to transforming lives and strengthening the Waterbury community.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of College Success serves as a senior leader responsible for the strategic direction, management, implementation, and continuous improvement of Waterbury Promise's college success and career readiness initiatives. This position is full-time and oversees all Reaching Forward programming and ensures exceptional support, engagement, persistence, graduation, and career outcomes for more than 1,100 Promise Scholars.

The Director of College Success supervises college success staff, develops systems and strategies to enhance scholar success, manages partnerships with colleges and universities, oversees data and evaluation efforts, and collaborates closely with organizational leadership to advance Waterbury Promise's mission and impact.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Program Management

• • Lead the vision, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of Waterbury Promise's college success and career readiness initiatives.
  • Develop annual goals, objectives, and measurable outcomes for scholar persistence, retention, graduation, and workforce readiness.
  • Ensure programmatic excellence through evidence-based practices and continuous improvement.
  • Identify emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities impacting student success and recommend innovative solutions.
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director on organizational strategy, growth planning, grant initiatives, and board reporting.

Staff Supervision & Team Leadership

• • Supervise, mentor, and evaluate College Success Coordinators, Coaches, Ambassadors, interns, and future college success program staff.
  • Establish performance expectations and accountability measures aligned with organizational goals.
  • Support recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of high-performing staff.

Scholar Success & Engagement

• • Oversee comprehensive support services for Promise Scholars from college enrollment through graduation.
  • Ensure scholars receive individualized coaching, academic support, resource navigation, financial aid guidance, and crisis intervention when needed.
  • Develop and implement engagement strategies that foster belonging, connection, and scholar success.
  • Oversee cohort-based programming and targeted interventions for scholars facing academic, financial, social, or personal challenges.
  • Ensure a seamless transition from high school through college completion & execute annual summer programs.
  • Support and coach the newly enrolled 2026 cohort with additional support as needed from team members.

College & Community Partnerships

• • Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with colleges, universities, employers, workforce organizations, community-based organizations, and public agencies.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with higher education partners regarding scholar support and success initiatives.
  • Represent Waterbury Promise at conferences, community events, meetings, campus events, and stakeholder gatherings.
  • In collaboration with the Director of Development & Community Engagement, strengthen partnerships that expand opportunities for internships, employment, mentoring, and career development.

Career Readiness & Workforce Development

• • Lead the organization's career readiness initiatives and implementation.
  • Develop pathways connecting scholars to internships, career exploration opportunities, networking events, and employment experiences.
  • Collaborate with employers and community partners to create opportunities that support scholars' professional growth and oversee the annual career and internship fair.
  • Track and support Promise Scholars after college graduation and engage in alum activities.

Budget, Data & Resource Management, Evaluation & Reporting

• • Monitor program expenditures and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.
  • Support grant reporting and outcome measurement requirements.
  • Monitor key performance indicators including persistence, retention, graduation, engagement, and employment outcomes.
  • Prepare reports and presentations for leadership, funders, board committees, and community stakeholders.
  • Ensure accurate maintenance of scholar records and compliance with organizational requirements.

Other Duties

• • Serve as a key member of the leadership team.
  • Support organizational events, fundraising initiatives, scholar celebrations, and community engagement activities.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• • Strong leadership, supervision, and team development skills.
  • Deep understanding of college access, persistence, retention, completion, and career readiness best practices.
  • Knowledge of barriers facing first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented college students.
  • Exceptional relationship-building and partnership development skills.
  • Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making abilities.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and student-centered practices.
  • Ability to inspire, motivate, and support scholars, staff, and community partners.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications

• • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a related field.
  • Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, college success coaching, student affairs, college access, retention programming, educational leadership, or a related field.
  • Minimum of two years of supervisory or management experience.
  • Demonstrated success designing and managing student success initiatives.
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
  • Experience utilizing data systems and outcomes reporting to drive program improvement.
  • Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• • Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field.
  • 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, college success coaching, student affairs, college access, retention programming, educational leadership, or a related field.
  • Experience leading college persistence and completion initiatives.
  • Experience managing grant-funded programs.
  • Event planning experience preferred.
  • Familiarity with Connecticut higher education institutions and workforce development systems.

Insurance

• • Low-cost Health & Dental Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Coverage
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Coverage

Retirement

• • 401(k) with employer contribution equal to 5% of annual salary
  • Employee voluntary contribution option

Paid Time Off

• • Vacation Time
  • Sick Time
  • Paid Holidays

Additional Benefits

• • Mileage reimbursement based on IRS rates
  • Flexible work environment
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Meaningful work with a mission-driven team