GEAR UP Project Director

Position: GEAR UP Project Director (0079805T)
Title:

GEAR UP Project Director

Position Number:

T

Hiring Unit: OFF VP ACADEMIC STRATEGY, HAWAII P-20

Location:

Manoa Campus

Date Posted:
December 31, 2025

Closing Date:
January 15, 2026; 11:59PM HST

Salary: salary schedules and placement information

Additional Salary Information: PBC, minimum $6,625/mo

Full Time/Part Time:
Full-time

Temporary/Permanent:
Temporary

Other

Conditions:

The position is renewable based on availability of funding

Duties & Responsibilities

•
** Oversees the GEAR UP Hawaii federal grant project, administering all project operations and maintaining strategic working relationships with partners throughout the UH System, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE), community organizations, businesses, etc.
•
** Provides staff support and leadership in the field of managing a complex, multi-year, multi-agency matching grant.
•
** Serves as the technical manager/supervisor of the GEAR UP Hawaii program, requiring substantial interfacing, directing, coordinating, planning, scheduling, reporting, and evaluating across broad organizational lines (e.g., UH campuses, DOE, etc.).
•
** Develops, implements, and monitors the policies, procedures, and use of resources to carry out the project in coordination with agencies, statewide organizations, K-12 schools, colleges, service providers, and community and business leaders.

• Recruits, selects, and supervises qualified individuals for professional and staff support positions.

• Analyzes costs and benefits of contracting vs. performing work in-house, provides technical and fiscal requirements, descriptions of work, and plans; and establishes and assesses work schedules and performance standards for staff, contractors, and subgrantees.
•
** Carries out fiscal, personnel, and reporting functions necessary to meet the project's goals and provide for its effective and efficient operation.
•
** Oversees all project budgets, including in-kind matching funds, and ensures full and proper utilization of federal, state, and private resources in compliance with grant requirements.
•
** Serves as technical resource for identifying, documenting, and certifying in-kind matching resources; secures sufficient matching funds from state and private sources to meet dollar-for-dollar match requirement of GEAR UP grant.
•
** Develops, trains staff to implement, and monitors appropriate systems for records and reports, including online systems used by partners, to ensure financial accountability and reporting.
•
** Communicates and monitors appropriate use of fiscal and other resources by staff, contractors, and partners.

• Keeps abreast of federal regulations regarding GEAR UP and college access programs; provides training and guidance to staff members on federal regulations and compliance issues.
•
** Ensures the completeness and accuracy of financial, program, and outcome reporting to the Office of Research Services and funding agencies.

• Convenes and partners with University of Hawaii administrators, faculty, and other professionals at the ten campuses in designing, implementing, and evaluating programs to facilitate outreach to K-12 schools to improve higher education access.
•
** Represents GEAR UP Hawaii in national conferences; participates in leadership opportunities in GEAR UP and college access professional communities.

• Prepares and writes proposals (e.g., GEAR UP grant and other related projects) to sponsors, soliciting support for various projects and initiatives.

• Other duties as assigned.

(

NOTE:

** denotes Essential Functions)

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Education, Educational Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Work, Community Service, Public Service, Planning/Policy and/or Liberal Arts, or related field and 6 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for implementation of programs and/or education policy or grant administration; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.

• Advanced and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide…