Program Director, Rising Scholars (Justice Impacted Student Program) (COF)
Salary
$113,225.41 - $159,984.54 Annually
Location
Bakersfield College -- Panorama Campus, CA
Job Type
Management - Classified Administrator
Job Number
FY25-2600408
College
Bakersfield College
Department
Rising Scholars
Opening Date
07/13/2026
Closing Date
Continuous
Salary Range/Class
011
Hours Per Week
1
Months Per Year
12
Assured Consideration Date
07/27/2026
Internal Posting Information
None
Below is our job description for this position. Please also review the Important Instructions & Additional Information section below, which contains valuable information about our application process.
Basic Function
The Program Director is responsible to the assigned Vice President or assigned supervisor, and has broad accountability, within the participatory governance framework, for planning, directing and evaluating assigned functions associated with maintaining quality academic and student services programs.
About the Rising Scholars Program
The Rising Scholars Program at Bakersfield College is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and improving student success for justice-impacted individuals, including students who are currently incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or otherwise impacted by the criminal justice system. Through collaboration with correctional institutions, community organizations, workforce partners, and campus departments, the program provides educational pathways, comprehensive student support services, and resources that promote persistence, completion, transfer, career readiness, and successful reentry.
The Program Director provides leadership for one of the Colleges signature student success initiatives, supporting educational programs both within correctional facilities and across the Bakersfield College service area. The successful candidate will foster collaboration among faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners to strengthen educational access, remove barriers to student success, and advance equitable outcomes for justice-impacted students.
This position requires a collaborative and innovative leader who can build strong partnerships with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), county correctional facilities, probation departments, community-based organizations, and other agencies that support student achievement and successful reentry. The Program Director will lead a dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality services while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, grant requirements, and institutional priorities.
The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker and servant leader who values collaboration, integrity, equity, and continuous improvement. They will possess the ability to build productive relationships across the College and throughout the community while promoting a culture of inclusion, accountability, and student-centered decision making. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a growing program that transforms lives through education and strengthens Bakersfield Colleges commitment to serving justice-impacted students and the communities in which they live.
Representative Duties
Interpret and administer District policy regarding assigned program(s).
Interpret and administer College policy with respect to student centered educational services. Plan, implement, and evaluate short and long-range strategies, goals, and objectives related to assigned program(s).
Review, assess and evaluate assigned programs and services; recommend and implement approved plans and policies to facilitate and improve outcomes, operations and programs within areas of responsibility.
Provide leadership in generating staff development opportunities for support staff.
Provide assistance in recruitment, selection, orientation, and evaluation of support staff in assigned program(s).
Supervise and coordinate department planning and operations; personnel supervision, including development and evaluation of all support staff.
Develop, implement, and monitor the annual plans and budgets expenditures.
Act as liaison with District, State, and federal governing bodies regarding assigned programs and practices.
Market the College and assigned programs to the College community and the general public.
Serve on College and District committees as appropriate.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Minimum Qualifications
Important Instructions & Additional Information
Complete applications received by the "assured consideration date" above are guaranteed to be reviewed by Human Resources. If you apply after this date, there is no guarantee that your application will be reviewed. However, we still recommend that you apply because recruitments remain open until filled. The District and/or College reserves the right to extend time limits and/or repost or restart recruitments at any point.
Completed applications must include the following.
It is your responsibility to redact or remove any personally identifiable information from all documents prior to uploading, including Social Security numbers, date of birth, photos, etc.
Equivalency for Minimum Qualifications
Applicants for faculty and educational administrator positions in California Community Colleges are required to meet certain minimum qualifications as provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellors Office and detailed in the Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges handbook. If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you may still be eligible by completing the KernCCD Application for Equivalence process. Please see our Faculty Equivalency Process website for more information.
International or Foreign Degrees
Applicants with international or foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.
Accommodations
Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements. (For more information, see our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunities website.)
Discrimination Free Work Environment
Discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, military and veteran status, or the perception that a person has one or more of these characteristics is illegal and violates Kern Community College District policy.
The Kern CCD Equal Employment Opportunity Plan guides the development, implementation, and monitoring of the Districts efforts to foster equal employment opportunities and workplace diversity.
See our Discrimination-Free Work Environment webpage for more information.
Work Authorization
Kern Community College District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorization should be established at the time of application submission.
E-Verify
The Kern Community College District participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, please visit e-verify.gov.
Helpful Links
Kern Community College District
Salary Schedules
Job Descriptions
Benefits
Faculty Minimum Qualifications/Equivalency Process
Full-time permanent employees (20+ hours per month) are eligible for health benefits:
Health
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Long-term Disability
In addition to the above benefits, the District also offers a robust voluntary benefits selection:
Flex 125
Additional products and services through American Fidelity
Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance
Tax Shelter Annuities
The District participates in CalPERS Retirement System and Social Security benefits for Classified and Management employees. Employees covered under the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), are vested 100% after five years of full-time service credit.
The District participates in the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) for faculty. Employees covered under the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), are vested 100% after five years of full-time service credit.
All coverages begin on the first of the following month after the hire date.
The following classifications are eligible for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health benefits at the employee expense offered through SISC:
For additional information, please visit our Kern Community College District Benefits webpage.
Employer Kern Community College District
Address 2100 Chester Ave
Bakersfield, California, 93301
Phone 6613365141