HEP Director

Central Washington University is recruiting a Director to join our High School Equivalency Program (HEP) team in Yakima, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $53,698 - $65,780 plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

The Central Washington University High School Equivalency Program (HEP) is a federally funded program designed to serve migrant and seasonal farmworkers through GED instruction, academic support, and placement service. In support of CWU's mission to build a community of equity and belonging, The CWU HEP Program Director nurtures culturally sustaining practices that promote and facilitate access and success to all prospective and eligible participants. This position administers HEP in accordance with CWU's mission of being a model learning community of equity and belonging through cultivating accessible and equitable pathways for participants from marginalized communities to achieve their academic and professional goals. Additionally, the CWU HEP Director ensures and implements the grant's goals and objectives in compliance with the US Department of Education (USDOE), Office of Migrant Education (OME) and Central Washington University (CWU). All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Leadership and Program Management:
- Administers HEP (both fiscally and administratively), in compliance with Central Washington University and the US Department of Education (USDOE) Office of Migrant Education (OME).
- Leads Migrant Academic Services Academy (MASA) in compliance with funding sponsor Migrant Education Program (MEP).
- Ensures implementation of HEP and MASA's grant's goals and objectives in compliance with USDOE, OME and CWU.
- Monitors program activities in alignment with established federal performance measures.
- Understands and implements proposed or pending changes in federal laws, rules, regulations (EDGAR, CFR), and assesses impact on program eligibility and program operations.
- Coordinates and oversees HEP recruiting, enrollment and retention efforts, per grant proposal's goals and objectives.
- Coordinates all staff activities, responsibilities and work schedules.
- Develops and maintains positive and effective working relationships with staff, students, parents, and external contacts.
- Leads HEP and MASA public relations, marketing, and direct recruitment campaign.
- Collects and analyzes data for Annual Performance Reports (APR) and submits to Office of Migrant Education.
- Coordinates and facilitates annual external program evaluations; follows up on recommendations annually.
- Attends SES division functions; fully integrates HEP and MASA staff into larger SES division.

Supervisor Duties:
- Supervises and trains HEP and MASA staff.
- Actively engages in recruitment and hiring of new employees.
- Clearly defines performance expectations, ensures accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring.
- Conducts formal performance evaluations.
- Ensures employees have necessary resources.
- Oversees and directs the work of staff.
- Serves as mentor, coach and leader, and resolves complaints or issues.
- Promotes professional development opportunities.
- Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation and engagement.
- Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community.
- Takes corrective action in a timely manner.
- Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance.
- Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approves payable time and absence requests.
- Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results.
- Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce.
- Values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity and teamwork.

Student Success and Outreach:
- Participates in initiating, developing, maintaining and representing the program in cooperative/partnership agreements, including increasing referral agents within the Yakima County area.
- Liaisons and coordinates with external partners including school districts, city governments, state agencies, and community-based organizations.
- Provides critical information to publication/radio/television media, community, outside organizations and special interest groups.
- Maintains collaborative relationships with Central Washington Region service area migrant programs, school districts, DSHS, EPIC, Employment Security, WIA, business/employer community as well as other outside agencies.
- Attends local, regional and national meetings and/or conferences as program representative.
- Presents to schools, colleges, public officials and at local, regional, national conferences.
- Serves on state/regional and nationwide committees/councils/boards for High School Equivalency and/or educational/GED programs.

- Performs other duties as assigned.

• Master's degree.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish: reading, writing, speaking and understanding).
• Experience that illustrates understanding of migrant/seasonal farm worker populations.
• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with budgets, program development, management and report writing
• Excellent networking skills, as well as strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
• OR and equivalent combination of education and/or experience which clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with federally funded education programs.
• Experience working in higher education setting.
• Familiarity with central Washington communities.
• Computer skills, i.e., database management, word processing, desktop publishing.
• Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote inclusion.
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU's commitment to inclusion and diversity.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through various activities.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position has a minimum annual salary of $53,698 and maximum annual salary of $77,862. The Hiring Department's expected hiring range is $53,698 - $65,780. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch) / This grant funded position is currently funded through June 30, 2026. Continuation of this position past 06/30/2026 is contingent upon renewed funding being obtained.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.