00159 - Project Director

Project Director

The project director is responsible for overseeing the Pell Initiative of Virginia program to support Passport participants through academic preparation and career development. The key components of the position are as follows :

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

Direct the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of academic support and enrichment programming for Passport students.

Supervise and coordinate the work of Success Coaches, Academic Advisors, Community College Liaison, tutors, and administrative support staff.

Ensure program strategies align with NSU's mission, SCHEV expectations, and institutional student success priorities.

Institution-Wide Barrier Review (IwBR)

Lead NSU's Barrier Review process as required by SCHEV, including identifying enrollment and retention barriers for Pell-eligible students.

Convene faculty / staff working groups and student focus groups, analyze findings, and prepare annual IwBR reports.

Track policy / practice changes and share lessons learned as "best practices."

Faculty, Staff, and Mentor Development

Organize training and professional development for faculty mentors, tutors, and advisors on inclusive teaching, mentoring, and intrusive advising practices.

Coordinate the integration of faculty and peer mentors into the Passport program.

Provide leadership in shaping the culture of support for Pell-eligible students across academic units.

Program Development & Student Support

Oversee advising software implementation, laptop distribution, textbook voucher use, and tutoring infrastructure.

Coordinate enrichment programming such as workshops, orientations, and academic success seminars.

Ensure alignment of student services with NSU's first-year and transfer pipelines.

Data & Continuous Improvement

Collaborate with NSU's Institutional Effectiveness and the FY26 Data Analyst to track retention, persistence, and completion outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

Direct the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of academic support and enrichment programming for Passport students.

Supervise and coordinate the work of Success Coaches, Academic Advisors, Community College Liaison, tutors, and administrative support staff.

Ensure program strategies align with NSU's mission, SCHEV expectations, and institutional student success priorities.

Lead NSU's Barrier Review process as required by SCHEV, including identifying enrollment and retention barriers for Pell-eligible students.

Convene faculty / staff working groups and student focus groups, analyze findings, and prepare annual IwBR reports.

Track policy / practice changes and share lessons learned as "best practices."

Collaborate with NSU's Institutional Effectiveness and the FY26 Data Analyst to track retention, persistence, and completion outcomes.

Produce interim and annual progress reports for SCHEV, NSU leadership, and the Board of Visitors.

Use data to recommend adjustments and improvements to academic support strategies.

Build and maintain partnerships with Tidewater Community College and Northern Virginia Community College to enhance pre-transfer preparation.

Work with NSU's Advancement and Sponsored Programs offices to identify additional funding streams to sustain and expand the program.

Develop a sustainability plan for academic support and enrichment activities beyond the grant period.

Additional Considerations

Master's Degree

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and / or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Application and / or rsum for this position must be submitted electronically by 11 : 59 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia's Job Board / Recruitment Management System (RMS). Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and / or rsums will not be accepted.

Applicants who possess an Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Form) as issued under the Department of Human Resources Management (DHRM) Policy 1.30 Layoff (Commonwealth of Virginia Employees Only), must attach these forms when submitting their state application and / or rsum.

The decision to interview an applicant is based solely on the information received for this position from either the electronic application and / or rsum. RMS provides a confirmation of receipt when your application and / or rsum is submitted successfully. Please refer to "Your Application" in your RMS account to check the status of your application for this position.

Norfolk State University conducts background checks on all candidates identified as a finalist for employment consideration. The type of background check(s) performed are dependent upon the type of position for which you have been identified as a finalist and may include : criminal history, including sexual offender registry checks, reference checks, degree validation, DMV (driving) records, license verification, and credit report reviews.

The results of background checks are made available to university employing officials. As a finalist, you will be required to sign an Authorization to Release form. Norfolk State University utilizes Form I-9 and E-verify in the verification of eligibility for employment. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

In support of the Commonwealth's commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process.

Note : Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.