Adult Education assists eligible students in developing basic skills that can be used to obtain employment and enable their success in college, the community, and the workplace. Adult Education provides a supportive, nurturing environment with a lot of teacher attention; classes that start where the student is now and helps them get to the next level; offers several choices for many classes that prepare the student for real jobs; and ensures inclusion and belonging with classes that meet the needs of all.

The Director for Adult Education provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Adult Education program and staff which includes directing and monitoring adult education programs and support services, developing and disseminating information, reference materials, curricular resources, and professional development opportunities. The Director also leads the development of program goals, objectives, budgets, and evaluation procedures and is responsible for developing program content, conducting regular assessments to ensure program effectiveness, ensuring compliance, and preparing reports for Santa Fe College (SF) and the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE).

Job Description

Responsibilities and Duties Include:

• Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing model that effectively accomplishes College and State goals and objectives for Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Student Access and Inclusion Together (Project SAINT), and transition and concurrent training programs.

• Develops and executes the department’s strategic plan, maintaining alignment with the college’s mission, values, and goals.

• Develops, implements, and maintains program budgets to include supervising and approving purchase requisitions, preparing and submitting grant applications/paperwork, and ensuring program expenditures and activities align with grant requirements.

• Tracks program finances, including payroll and instructional expenditures as defined in the state and federal grants; evaluates all budget expenditures on a monthly and quarterly basis.

• Manages program performance and ensures the quality of program and course content by participating in annual program review processes, coordinating the assessment of student learning outcomes, and promoting innovative approaches and solutions that enhance Adult Education programs and student learning.

• Oversees the transition of students to credit and certificate programs after successful completion of the Adult Education program.

• Maintains confidential Adult Education student records to include testing and adherence to mandated testing requirements, and program performance as determined by FLDOE.

• Supervises Coordinators and Instructional Specialists who develop, implement, and evaluate programs designed to train students in reading, writing, and speaking the English language, computing to solve problems at home, work, and the community, and training in targeted occupations.

• Oversees appropriate counseling with students in Adult Education, offers referrals to appropriate departments on campus, and arranges for any accommodations as needed.

• Provides conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation to include concerns involving behavior, academic matters, and/or instruction, such as retention issues.

• Collaborates with appropriate personnel to optimize classroom utilization, class size, student needs, and meet enrollment goals.

• Facilitates textbook orders for departmental courses and assists in the preparation of accurate college catalog information and course descriptions.

• Stays abreast of FLDOE regulatory issues and advises leadership of changes and revisions necessary to ensure continued compliance with regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Liaises with internal and external constituents, such as CareerSource of North Central Florida, Vocational Rehabilitation, high schools within and around Alachua County, and community businesses and organizations to market and promote the Adult Education program.

• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop and ensure successful job acquisitions and career advancement opportunities and to promote Adult Education via webpages, brochures, flyers, and other marketing materials.  

• Supervises, evaluates, and trains Coordinators and Instructional Specialists for Adult Education programs, including providing and promoting professional development opportunities, celebrating achievements, and completing timely performance evaluations.

• Possesses a working knowledge of prescribed state and federal program performance measures in all levels of ABE, GED, and ESOL.

• Analyzes and interprets federal and state laws and regulations regularly and communicates important information to leadership as appropriate.

• Facilitates the collection and analyzing of data to prepare special and recurring reports.

• Regularly assesses community needs to develop opportunities for funding and support of Adult Education initiatives, expansion of program offerings, and increases in enrollment.

• Complies with all published College Rules, procedures, guidelines, and laws/regulations governing public employees, including but not limited to those related to document retention and destruction, FERPA, and confidentiality.

• Strictly honors the privacy, security, and confidentiality of student records and other sensitive information according to appropriate state, federal, and college regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Provides service excellence through courteous, informed, accessible, and professional engagement.

• Performs other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required: A bachelor’s degree in a related field with three (3) years of experience working in Adult Education or a related educational program and/or a combination of related education and experience equal to seven (7) years. Prior supervisory experience is required.

Additional Requirements: A criminal background check will be conducted.

Preferred: A master’s degree in a related field; prior experience teaching or coordinating an educational program; budget management experience; and two (2) years of supervisory experience.

General Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment.

• Adaptability to Change – able to be flexible and supportive, able to positively and proactively assimilate change in rapid growth environment.

• Analytical Aptitude & Problem Solving - able to analyze information, problems, situations, practices and/or procedures, collect and interpret data, reason logically, establish facts, identify and define existing and potential issues, recognize the interrelationships among elements, draw valid conclusions, develop recommendations, as well as alternative courses of action, select appropriate course, follow up, and evaluate.

• Communication – able to effectively communicate in a professional, diplomatic, empathetic, and tactful manner using preferred method and level as applicable to the job.

• Critical Thinking & Judgement - able to make well-reasoned, sensible, and timely decisions based on careful, objective review and informed analysis of available information, considerations, and other factors.

• Customer Service – ability to respond promptly and courteously to all questions from students and faculty, demonstrating patience and persistence when helping students with little or no computer skills.

• Ethics – able to demonstrate integrity, professionalism, civility, and a high degree of ethics in all job-related actions.

• Organization & Time Management – able to plan, schedule, and organize tasks related to the job to achieve goals within or ahead of established time frames.

• Problem Solving – proven skills in identifying issues, determining their cause, developing creative solutions, and following through with implementing resolutions.

• Relationship Management – able to personally provide high level of interactive service to others, building relationships and addressing identified needs.

• Results Orientation – proven ability to set and exceed established targets.

• Systems & Software - proficient level of knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or relevant position software programs.

• Detail Oriented - Proven accuracy and attention to detail.

• Multi-task - Ability to expeditiously organize, coordinate, manage, prioritize, and perform multiple tasks simultaneously to swiftly assess a situation, determine a logical course of action, and apply the appropriate response.