GEAR UP Project Director

id='p5007_'>GEAR UP Project Director JobID: 5007

Position Type:

District Administration & Support/Director

Date Posted:

6/15/2026

Location:

Jubilee Academies District Office, San Antonio, TX

Date Available:

ASAP

Additional Information: Show/Hide

Position Title: GEAR UP Project Director

Position Type: Competitive Salary / Commensurate with Experience / Exempt

Position Hours: Full-time extended workdays, occasional Saturdays, and frequent travel

Length of Term/Employment: 223 workdays / At-Will

Reports to: Executive Director of Accountability and Compliance

Grant Funded Position

Position Mission: The GEAR UP Project Director will provide strategic leadership, comprehensive project management, and oversight to ensure the successful implementation of the GEAR UP program and the development of strong, sustainable College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) systems across Jubilee Academies.

This role is responsible for ensuring that GEAR UP initiatives are embedded into district and campus practices, supported by clear processes, staff training, implementation tools, progress-monitoring systems, and accountability structures that can be sustained beyond the grant period. The Project Director will manage the grant budget, ensure compliance with federal and state requirements, lead the GEAR UP Executive Team, coordinate with internal and external partners, and serve as the primary liaison to the U.S. Department of Education's GEAR UP Office.

The Director will supervise GEAR UP Executive staff, build the capacity of campus teams, monitor program implementation and student outcomes, and ensure campuses receive the training, coaching, resources, and support needed to implement high-quality CCMR programming consistently.

Position Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Valid Texas mid-management or other appropriate Texas certificate, preferred
• Minimum of three years of teaching experience, required
• Minimum of three years of CCMR experience, required
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or monitoring districtwide or campus-based CCMR initiatives
• Previous experience in financial management and grant compliance
• Experience supervising staff and leading cross-functional teams
• Must fully believe in and support the mission and vision of Jubilee Academies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience in college counseling or postsecondary advising, including college applications, FAFSA/TASFA, scholarships, enrollment, and student transition support
• Demonstrated success advancing CCMR outcomes at the campus or district level
• Experience with CTE programs, including programs of study, industry-based certifications, work-based learning, and postsecondary partnerships.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Strong leadership skills with experience in managing large-scale educational projects.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, monitor, and sustain strategic plans.
• In-depth knowledge of CCMR indicators, postsecondary readiness, college access, career pathways, financial aid, dual credit, industry-based certifications, and military readiness, including college application and financial-aid processes, postsecondary enrollment and transition, CTE programs of study, industry-based certifications, work-based learning, and college/workforce partnerships.
• Ability to design sustainable systems, procedures, training plans, implementation tools, and accountability structures.
• In-depth knowledge of federal grant management, including budget oversight, documentation, reporting, and compliance.
• Ability to analyze student, campus, and program data to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to develop dashboards, progress-monitoring tools, and implementation metrics.
• Strong coaching, facilitation, and professional-development skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly.
• Proficiency in data-management systems used to track program implementation, student progress, and required reporting.

Job Duties:

Strategic Leadership and Sustainability

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure all GEAR UP activities align with grant requirements, district priorities, and Jubilee Academies' CCMR goals.
• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the GEAR UP strategic plan.
• Develop a sustainability plan to ensure effective GEAR UP and CCMR initiatives, processes, resources, and partnerships continue beyond the grant period.
• Build districtwide systems that embed CCMR practices into campus operations, academic planning, student advising, family engagement, and progress monitoring.
• Develop standardized CCMR procedures, implementation guides, calendars, tools, and campus expectations to support consistent execution across schools.

Campus Support, Training, and Capacity Building

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual CCMR training plan for campus leaders, counselors, teachers, advisors, and other applicable staff.
• Provide ongoing professional development, coaching, technical assistance, and implementation support to campus teams.
• Establish clear campus roles and responsibilities for implementing and monitoring CCMR initiatives.
• Ensure campus staff understand CCMR indicators, student-level milestones, documentation requirements, and strategies for improving student outcomes.
• Develop systems to onboard and train new staff so CCMR practices remain consistent despite leadership or personnel changes.
• Build the capacity of campus teams to independently sustain high-quality CCMR programming and student support systems.

Implementation Monitoring and Accountability

• Establish measurable implementation standards, performance indicators, milestones, and timelines for all GEAR UP and CCMR initiatives.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and trackers that monitor student participation, program implementation, staff training, service delivery, and progress toward CCMR goals.
• Conduct regular campus implementation reviews to identify strengths, gaps, and required corrective actions.
• Provide campus and district leaders with regular progress reports, including red, yellow, and green status indicators, identified barriers, responsible owners, and next steps.
• Monitor whether campuses are consistently implementing required CCMR practices and receiving the support necessary to meet program expectations.
• Establish escalation and intervention processes for campuses or program areas that are not meeting implementation timelines or performance expectations.

Program and Project Management

• Coordinate all aspects of the GEAR UP program, ensuring timelines, budgets, deliverables, and performance measures are met.
• Develop detailed project plans identifying deliverables, project owners, deadlines, dependencies, and evidence of completion.
• Regularly review project progress and adjust strategies as necessary to achieve grant and district goals.
• Maintain organized records of program activities, services, participation, outcomes, and supporting documentation.

Budget and Grant Compliance

• Oversee the GEAR UP grant budget and ensure all expenditures align with federal guidelines, approved grant activities, and district procedures.
• Conduct monthly budget reviews and internal audits to ensure fiscal responsibility, proper documentation, and timely use of funds.
• Ensure that all program activities comply with federal, state, grant, and district requirements.
• Prepare and submit accurate and timely reports to the U.S. Department of Education and other required stakeholders.

Collaboration and Alignment

• Lead and facilitate regular meetings with the GEAR UP Executive Team, campus teams, advisory groups, and external partners to ensure collaboration and alignment.
• Collaborate with the High School CCMR Team, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Accountability, campus leaders, counselors, and other departments to ensure GEAR UP programming aligns with district academic and accountability priorities.
• Partner closely and routinely with the Director of CCMR to align GEAR UP grant activities with the districtwide CCMR strategy, coordinate campus support and training, share student-level progress data, avoid duplication of efforts, and jointly address gaps in college, career, and military readiness outcomes.
• Coordinate with Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Technology, PEIMS, and other departments to support effective implementation and reporting.
• Build and maintain partnerships with colleges, universities, workforce organizations, community agencies, and other partners that expand opportunities for students.

Data Analysis and Continuous Improvement

• Use student-level, campus-level, and district-level data to monitor program effectiveness and identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure program decisions are informed by data, research, best practices, and student needs.
• Monitor progress toward CCMR outcomes, including college applications, financial aid completion, dual credit, industry-based certifications, college entrance readiness, postsecondary enrollment, and other applicable indicators.
• Develop improvement plans when data indicate that programs, campuses, or student groups are not making sufficient progress.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of services, partnerships, training, and initiatives and make recommendations for continuation, revision, expansion, or discontinuation.

Staff Supervision and Community Engagement

• Supervise GEAR UP Executive staff and ensure their work is aligned with program goals, campus needs, and student outcomes.
• Establish clear performance expectations, monitor staff deliverables, and provide regular feedback, coaching, and professional development.
• Ensure staff are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to provide high-quality services.
• Serve as the program's representative to students, families, educators, community members, and external partners.
• Develop family and student engagement strategies that increase awareness of college, career, and military pathways and available support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise all GEAR UP Executive staff and ensure they effectively support grant objectives, campus implementation, sustainable CCMR systems, and improved student outcomes. The Project Director will establish clear responsibilities and deliverables, monitor staff performance, provide coaching and professional development, and hold team members accountable for completing assigned work accurately and on time.

Charter & Community Responsibilities:

• Convey the charter's mission to the public and encourage support in accomplishing the mission.
• Illustrate understanding of Charter and community needs and begin activities to meet those needs.
• Demonstrate use of productive and efficient skills to raise community and parent involvement.
• Actively participate in student recruitment efforts.

Charter Atmosphere:

• Encourage a constructive, thoughtful climate for learning.
• Promote fairness of students and staff from all cultural backgrounds.
• Communicate with students and staff in an effective manner that promotes and sustains the Jubilee culture.

Working Conditions:

• Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Busy office environment with multiple priorities and frequent interruptions.
• Occasional district and statewide travel.
• Occasional prolonged and irregular hours.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.