Director of Justice Impacted Education & Re-Entry Services

Director of Justice Impacted Education and Re-Entry Services General Summary

The Prison Education Program (PEP) Director is an energetic and equity‑minded administrative leader who serves as the primary point of contact for MCC's Prison Education Program at the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction. Reporting to the Dean of Business, Legal Studies, Education, & Public Service, this position carries full responsibility for the strategic direction, daily operations, budget, grant performance, and long‑term growth of the program, including the cultivation of high‑level working relationships with correctional administration, faculty, and student support services.

This is a highly collaborative, mission‑driven leadership role that combines program management, grant administration, staff supervision, student advocacy, and reentry planning. The Director works within the correctional environment on a regular basis and serves as the principal bridge between the college and the facility, ensuring incarcerated students have access to quality academic programming and the support they need to succeed, both inside and after release.

• Serve as the program's senior on‑site leader and primary decision‑maker for day‑to‑day operations.
• Direct all operational logistics for the Prison Education Program, including course scheduling, classroom assignments, faculty coordination, enrollment, attendance tracking, and records management.
• In collaboration across the college; oversee student applications, placement assessments, registration, and enrollment in MCC programs in compliance with both MCC and facility policies.
• Liaise with correctional leadership and educational coordinators within the facility to ensure smooth implementation of academic programming and to resolve scheduling, security, and operational challenges.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date student records, academic plans, and program data in MCC's student information systems.
• Ensure all program activities comply with Middlesex Sheriff's Office regulations, MCC academic policies, NECHE accreditation standards, and applicable state and federal guidelines.

• Directly supervise grant‑funded PEP staff (e.g., Student Navigator, program support and coordination positions), including hiring recommendations, onboarding, performance management, and day‑to‑day work assignment.

• Serve as the program's lead on grant performance, tracking deliverables, timelines, and budget expenditures for PEP‑related grant funding.
• Collect, analyze, and present program data, enrollment, retention, completion, and post‑release outcomes to support grant reporting requirements and continuous improvement.
• Research and draft proposals for new or renewal grant funding and external partnerships that support program growth.
• Coordinate with the Dean and college grants/finance offices on grant budget monitoring, reallocation requests, and compliance documentation.

• Partner with academic deans, department chairs, and faculty to assess community needs and identify opportunities to expand certificate and degree programs offered at the facility.
• Research best practices in correctional higher education and make evidence‑based recommendations for new program areas.
• Collaborate with Workforce Development and Continuing Education to explore non‑credit and vocational training opportunities that complement credit‑bearing programs.
• Partner with the Middlesex Sheriff's Office programming staff to align MCC offerings with the facility's reentry and rehabilitation goals.

• Connect students with MCC support services including financial aid (FAFSA completion, Pell Grant eligibility), academic advising, tutoring, and transfer pathways.
• Conduct or coordinate assessments with students approaching release to identify educational needs and connect them with appropriate resources.
• Support students' transition from incarceration to continued enrollment at MCC or another institution upon release, working in coordination with reentry organizations, the Sheriff's Office reentry team, and MCC student services.
• Maintain…