GEAR UP Project Director

Position type:

Student support services

Date posted:

12/3/2025

Location:

Albany high complex

 Additional information: show/hide

Position announcement

December 3, 2025

Position: gear up project director

Location:

albany high complex

Job summary:

The gear up 2032 project director provides visionary leadership, strategic oversight, and comprehensive coordination for the successful implementation of the dougherty county school system's federally funded gear up 2032 initiative. As the primary administrator of this seven-year, multi-site grant, the project director is responsible for ensuring all program activities, stakeholder engagement, compliance requirements, and performance metrics align with federal gear up regulations, dcss priorities, and grant objectives.

The gear up 2032 initiative is designed to:

Increase student academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education

Improve high school graduation and college enrollment rates

Expand student and family awareness of postsecondary opportunities, financial aid, and career pathways

This leadership role requires exceptional project management, fiscal stewardship, relationship-building skills, and a deep commitment to successful outcomes for students and families across the district.

Minimum ?qualifications:

* bachelor's degree in education, public administration, social sciences, or a related field; master's degree strongly preferred;

* seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in secondary, postsecondary, or youth-serving educational programs;

* five (5) years of leadership experience, preferably in a grant-funded, federally regulated, or multi-site initiative;

* demonstrated knowledge of federal grants management, including budgeting, compliance, allowable use of funds, and performance reporting;

* proven ability to build and maintain healthy, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders;

* strong organizational, fiscal, and project management skills with a record of achieving program goals;

* excellent written, verbal, and analytical communication skills;

* supervisory experience with the ability to coach, develop, and support staff for high performance;

* any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience deemed acceptable by the superintendent and the board.

Skills and abilities:

* deep knowledge of college access and readiness programming;

* ability to navigate and manage large federal grants in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations;

* ability to translate data into action through performance metrics, continuous improvement, and storytelling;

* strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and communities;

* experience leading advisory boards, cross-sector partnerships, and multi-agency collaborations;

* demonstrated success in securing and managing grant-related documentation, reporting, and deadlines;

* comfort and professionalism in representing the district at public meetings, board sessions, and community events;

* proficiency in microsoft office, google workspace, and data management platforms.

Performance responsibilities:

Program leadership & strategic oversight

* provide overall vision, strategic direction, and operational leadership for the gear up 2032 initiative;

* develop and manage annual work plans, activity calendars, logic models, and performance benchmarks aligned with federal regulations and district priorities;

* ensure alignment between program activities and the gear up performance objectives.

Grant compliance & fiscal management

* oversee proper use of gear up funds, including budgeting, documentation, purchasing, and allowable expenses;

* maintain all federally required records and reporting protocols to ensure full compliance with edgar and gear up grant regulations;

* collaborate with the program evaluator to track student data, assess program effectiveness, and submit timely performance reports to funders.

Partnerships & stakeholder engagement

* serve as the lead liaison to all gear up partners including institutions of higher education, community-based organizations, evaluators, and service providers;

* coordinate and facilitate gear up…