Assistant Director

Job Description

the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Rural Initiative in STEM Education and Undergraduate Preparation (RISE UP).

The Assistant Director provides leadership and operational oversight for one of the largest federally funded grant portfolios within the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.

Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D), College Access Unit, has an outstanding opportunity for an Assistant Director to join GEAR UP RISE UP: the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Rural Initiative in STEM Education and Undergraduate Preparation (RISE UP).

The Assistant Director provides leadership and operational oversight for one of the largest federally funded grant portfolios within the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.

Reporting to the Director, this position is responsible for supporting the strategic implementation of GEAR UP programs, supervising staff, managing budgets and projects, ensuring compliance with federal and University requirements, and cultivating partnerships with school districts and community stakeholders.

This position is grant-funded, and continuation is contingent upon the availability of funding.

This position is based out of the GEAR UP office in Seattle, WA. The UW supports some hybrid remote work so long as it meets the business needs of OMA&D as determined by the position’s supervisor and unit leadership.

• Provide strategic oversight for all GEAR UP programming, ensuring alignment with grant objectives, annual work plans, and institutional goals. Lead coordination and integration of programmatic efforts across academic year, summer, and residential programming.
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
  
  Directly supervise and provide leadership and mentorship to Program Operations Specialists, including a Program Manager and STEM-Focused Program Operations Specialist.

• Oversee complex, multi-year projects related to programming, partnerships, systems development, and grant deliverables. Develop and monitor project timelines and deliverables across teams.

• Support the Director in budget development, monitoring, forecasting, and fiscal planning across multiple grants.

• Ensure compliance with U.S. Department of Education grant requirements, University policies, and applicable state and federal regulations. Serve as a resource to staff and partners regarding grant rules, policies, and implementation standards.

• Serve as an external representative of GEAR UP RISE UP with school district leadership, community organizations, higher education partners, and funders. Build and sustain strong partnerships that support student outcomes, program goals, and long‑term sustainability.
• Support proposal development, grant renewals, and funding opportunities in collaboration with the Director and central office partners.

Perform other duties as assigned in support of program goals (5%).

• Bachelor’s degree in education, public administration, business administration, project management, social services, or a related field and 5 years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing staff, programs, budgets, and complex projects. Knowledge of federal grant compliance, reporting, and post‑award management.
• Demonstrated program management skills, including stakeholder relationship management, meeting reporting requirements, effective time management, task prioritization, and the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including public speaking and articulating ideas clearly in person and in writing.
• Experience of working with district partnerships and underserved communities
• Experience working with middle and/or high school students, particularly first‑generation and low‑income populations. Experience…