Executive Director: Educational Opportunities Program (Internal Employment Opportunity)

About the position

The Educational Opportunities Program is seeking an Executive Director. This is a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, professional faculty position. The Executive Director of Educational Opportunities Program provides strategic and operational leadership for grant-funded programs as well as education and general funded programs and departments that all promote access to higher education. EOP serves historically underserved students, including first-generation college students, students of color, students with high financial need, rural students, students with disabilities, and K-12 students statewide through precollege outreach. The Executive Director leads efforts in academic enrichment, college readiness, community engagement, and student support, ensuring alignment with OSU's land-grant mission and the Division of Student Affairs' strategic plan, Thriving Together. The Executive Director oversees EOP's operations, including budgeting, goal setting, program assessment, staff development, and participant selection. They ensure compliance with university, state, and federal regulations while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The role requires strategic vision, leadership, and collaboration to enhance institutional and division-wide goals for student success, engagement, and belonging. This position reports directly to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Establish a cohesive vision and strategic direction for university and grant-funded access programs within EOP, clearly aligned with institutional strategic goals.
• Develop and oversee programs that bridge precollege outreach and collegiate academic success to ensure seamless student transitions.
• Foster partnerships at institutional, regional, and statewide levels to support comprehensive access and student success initiatives.
• Ensure programs align with OSU's commitment to inclusion and access.
• Advance OSU's commitment to inclusion, and access by embedding these principles in all programs and initiatives.
• Oversee operations, budget management, resource allocation, and fiscal oversight for all EOP programs.
• Administer both university-funded and externally funded grant budgets, maintaining compliance with applicable policies and guidelines.
• Implement ongoing program assessment and develop assessment strategies to ensure effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
• Supervise professional staff through hiring, training, professional development, performance evaluation, and mentoring.
• Lead comprehensive assessment efforts to evaluate program effectiveness, outcomes, and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships internally with OSU departments, as well as externally with schools, community organizations, governmental agencies, and other educational institutions.
• Represent OSU's educational access initiatives regionally and nationally, actively participating in outreach and engagement activities.
• Secure external funding opportunities and effectively manage grant-funded programs to sustain and expand impact.
• Participate in divisional and university-wide committees, councils, and initiatives related to student success, access, and inclusion.
• Act as an advocate and spokesperson for EOP, promoting program visibility and influence across OSU and beyond.
• Engage in university-wide committees, service, special projects, and additional responsibilities as designated by AVP/divisional leadership.

Requirements

• Master's degree in education, higher education leadership, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in educational access, student success, or precollege outreach programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, operational management, program development, and budget oversight.
• Proven track record of building effective partnerships across diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to supporting first generation students or students with high financial need.
• Experience supervising and developing cross-functional professional teams.
• Experience with data-driven decision-making, program evaluation, and research methodologies.
• Expertise in grant writing, reporting, compliance, and managing grant-funded initiatives.

Nice-to-haves

• Extensive experience serving first-generation college students, students of color, students with disabilities, rurally isolated students, and those with high financial need.
• Successful history of securing external funding and managing complex grant-funded programs.
• Experience with pre-college or student retention programming in higher education.
• Research and evaluation expertise relevant to educational outreach and retention programs.
• Familiarity with federal TRIO programs and other educational access initiatives.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Basic Life. OSU pays 95% of premiums for you and your eligible dependents.
• Free confidential mental health and emotional support services, and counseling resources.
• Retirement savings paid by the university.
• A generous paid leave package, including holidays, vacation and sick leave.
• Tuition reduction benefits for you or your qualifying dependents at OSU or the additional six Oregon Public Universities.
• Robust Work Life programs including Dual Career assistance resources, flexible work arrangements, a Family Resource Center, Affinity Groups and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Optional lifestyle benefits such as pet, accident, and critical illness insurance.