Director, NEIU-El Centro

Northeastern offers a rewarding working environment for our students and employees. Our faculty and staff are smart dedicated people who work to create an excellent urban university experience for bright and motivated students.

Job Summary:

The primary function of the Director of NEIUEl Centro is to oversee the operations and growth of the El Centro location one of three campuses of Northeastern Illinois University located in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago. El Centro was founded in the 1960s to provide access and equitable education opportunities to the Latinx community and has evolved into a comprehensive academic center serving students from all walks of life and the community.

The Director is responsible for the development and implementation of academic professional community and other programs services and activities at El Centro aimed at the successful recruitment retention of students particularly Latino and firstgeneration students.

The Director of the El Centro (1) provides visionary leadership that centers Latino student success cultural affirmation and community engagement as well as supporting El Centro staff; (2) ensures El Centro remains an accessible welcoming and affirming space for Latino immigrant bilingual firstgeneration students and other nontraditional and multicultural populations; (3) works collaboratively with appropriate department chairs to support scheduling classes at El Centro reflecting the needs of Latino students and working professionals; (4) works collaboratively with administrators faculty and staff and university partners; (5) ensures that all policies and contractual obligations are met; (6) Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with the El Centro Advisory Committee Latino community organizations businesses and civic leaders to create and expand academic and career pathways; (7) develops and monitors budgets; (8) Represents the University at events particularly those that engage Latino communities and advance El Centros mission ; and (9) Other duties as assigned. This position reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Job Description:

OPERATIONS

• Oversee the overall operation of the NEIUEl Centro campus.

• Work collaboratively with chairs deans and relevant university administrators to determine full degree and exclusive program offerings at El Centro.

• Work collaboratively with all NEIU campuses to optimize the use of resources and to make the center more visible in NEIUs operations and culture.

• Develop strong relationships with community and professional organizations.

• Carry out administrative functions including but not limited to budget management and facilitate efficient operations of El Centro.

• Desire and skill to lead in the advancement of the curriculum culture and mission of El Centro.

• Grant writing to procure funding for curricular and communitycentered programming.

• Demonstrated ability in marketing social media and various approaches necessary to promote and advertise El Centro.

RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

• Work closely with the Office of Enrollment Services to ensure successful recruitment efforts by bringing traditional and nontraditional students to the programs offered at the El Centro and other NEIU locations.

• Participate in the Universitys ongoing student success initiatives and plans that positively impact retention and graduation.

• Foster a culture of academic excellence and promote individual student success.

• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to recruit and retain Latino and other underserved populations to ensure equitable access to higher education.

• Collaborate with admissions financial aid and academic departments to amplify pathways that support firstgeneration lowincome and students carrying various immigration status.

• Work with high schools community colleges and communitybased organizations to increase awareness of university programs and opportunities for Latino students.

• Lead outreach programs including college readiness workshops family engagement initiatives and culturally responsive recruitment events.

• Advocate for and support students through financial aid navigation scholarship opportunities and emergency funding resources.

• Utilize datadriven strategies to monitor retention and graduation rates identifying key areas for intervention and support.

• Develop and promote culturally affirming academic success programs including tutoring career development and leadership training.

• Develop and provide meaningful staff development opportunities for El Centro employees to enhance recruitment retention and graduation.

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

• Actively develop a thorough knowledge of Chicago utilizing available resources to develop community/citywide partnerships and political capital to enhance the academic profile of El Centro and the lives of its constituents.

• Establish and maintain strong reciprocal relationships with Latinoserving organizations nonprofits businesses and civic leaders in surrounding communities.

• Represent the university at Chicagoland conferences civic meetings and community events to enhance visibility and strengthen partnerships.

• Demonstrated ability in the design and development of cocurricular programming.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND ACTIVITIES

• Engage with program coordinators department chairs deans and community partners on programming that meet the needs of a 21st century workforce while maintaining the El Centro emphasis on the scholar/activist tradition.

• Is a member of and engages with the Provosts Council on universitywide initiatives that promote student success and satisfaction.

• Collaboratively develop the use of social media technology as a means of encouraging communication and institutional promotion to internal and external stakeholders.

• Work with academic advisors and support services to identify and address educational challenges Latino and firstgeneration students face.

• Collaborate with institutional research teams to assess student academic performance retention and graduation rates using data to inform policy and program development.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Serve as a member of university college and department committees and/or councils as appropriate.

Minimal Qualifications:

• Earned Doctorate or a terminal degree from an accredited college or university in a field represented at NEIU (Education Arts Sciences Humanities Business Technology and related fields).

• Three to five years of experience with the recruitment retention and graduation of underserved student populations in a postsecondary setting with proven success in administration.

• Proven ability to develop and implement robust programming relevant to instruction and community outreach.

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with community organizations businesses and other external stakeholders.

• Experience working with Latino communities organizations or advocacy groups in an educational setting.

• Deep understanding of the barriers Latinx students face in higher education and proven experience implementing strategies to address them.

• Successful track record of leadership in program development strategic planning and student retention initiatives.

• Proven ability to collaborate successfully with a set of diverse stakeholders and ability to prioritize needs in support of an overarching strategy.

• Cultural knowledge and experience in working with Spanishspeaking and bilingual populations.

• Strong leadership and teambuilding skills with experience supervising staff and volunteers.

• Experience in operational responsibility and budget management.

• Experience with staff evaluation.

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish.

Other Competencies:

• Knowledge of and passion for addressing intersectional race and culturebased issues and issues that disproportionately affect marginalized students faculty and staff.

• Deep appreciation for and understanding of Latino cultures histories and experiences with a commitment to continuous learning.

• Experience creating and running programs that support Latinx student success including culturally relevant academic and career support initiatives.

• Ability to foster trust and meaningful partnerships with students families and community organizations.

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with community organizations businesses and other external stakeholders.

• Significant leadership and management experience.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate across diverse audiences including students staff faculty administrators and community partners.

• Experience designing and evaluating impactful student support and engagement programs.

• Ability to navigate institutional challenges and drive positive change in a dynamic educational environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Community and civic minded: ability to work with and establish support of political agents policymakers and community activists to promote the wellbeing of the educational institution and relevant programming.

• Demonstrated ability to engage and facilitate in the recruitment of traditional and nontraditional students including working with area high schools.

• Demonstrated interest in seeking and managing externallyfunded grants.

• Experience with university staff hiring procedures.

• Experience working with faculty chairs and deans.

• Understanding of and willingness to work in a collective bargaining environment.

Office Hours:Schedule requires 37.5 hours per week in person.

Salary Range: $100000 $150000

Preference will be given to applications submitted by Monday June 2 2025.

The anticipated start date for the position is Friday Aug. 1 2025.

This position requires a background check.

Salary Range

Benefits

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). Please visit ourEmployee Benefitspage to learn more about our comprehensive benefits packageincluding health dental and vision benefits sick and vacation days and participation in the State Universities Retirement System.

Transcripts

Copies of unofficial transcripts are accepted; however official transcripts for all earned degrees will be required of candidates selected for final interviews.

Northeastern Illinois University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and invites applications from Women Minorities Veterans and Persons with Disabilities as well as other qualified Illinois Universitys positions are contingent upon the Universitys receipt of its State of Illinois appropriation.