TRIO Talent Search Assistant Director

The TRIO Programs department is a collective of federal TRIO grants dedicated to preparing students for postsecondary education and helping them complete their desired credentials.

Assistant Directors serve as regional operational leads and educational specialistss serve as key personnel for the TRIO Alaska Talent Search (TS) project; the first statewide TRIO grant in Alaska. In this role, Assistant Directors will be assigned a specific target area to coordinate program services, manage and train hired/contracted staff, and ensure their success.

Assistant Directors help guide students toward high school graduation and postsecondary success by sharing practical knowledge of college admissions, CTE pathways, apprenticeships, and financial aid like FAFSA. Assistant Directors also work with federal grant guidelines and TRIO Talent Search regulations (34 CFR Part 643). Clear, welcoming, and culturally responsive communication will be key in delivering presentations, connecting with diverse communities, and building positive relationships with school staff, Tribal leaders, and local partners.

To support your daily work, Assistant Directors will use student databases, district platforms, and virtual tools like Zoom to track student progress, review transcripts, and plan helpful support strategies. Candidates should feel comfortable managing event logistics, keeping track of deadlines, and working with small teams. Most importantly, candidates should be excited about providing direct, engaging support to students both in-person and virtually across Alaska's diverse communities.

To thrive in this role the ideal candidate will be highly effective in communicating complex information to diverse audiences and establishing working relationships in both secondary, workforce, and postsecondary institutions. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and effectively manage competing priorities. Furthermore, the candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments as they work within different school sites and community partners and be able to assess needs within a target school/area to determine the best plan of action to deliver services. Finally, the candidate must demonstrate experience effectively delivering postsecondary preparation services to large caseloads with varying needs and the ability to train others on best practices.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, Social Work, Higher Education Administration, or a related field and four years of progressively responsible relevant experience working within a state, federal, or similar educational support program serving special populations, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Master’s degree preferred.

An unrestricted Alaska driver's license and clean driving record in compliance with UA Safe Driving criteria is required. 

Position Details:

This position is located on the Mat-Su College campus in Palmer, Alaska. The position predominantly travels to different school locations to train staff and offer support, with traditional work hours from 8-5pm. This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and  full employee benefits package . UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the  UA Staff Salary Schedule , Grade 80, based on education and experience.

We review applications on a rolling basis. Because we may close the posting once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is established, we encourage early submission. Please note that once a viable pool is identified, further applications may not be reviewed. 

To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE .

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Meagan Sullivan, TRIO Programs HR Coordinator, at View email address on careers.alaska.edu or View phone number on careers.alaska.edu.

This is a term-funded position reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at View email address on careers.alaska.edu .

The  University of Alaska () is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a  policy of non-discrimination () against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

* Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA : (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online:  . Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or  View email address on careers.alaska.edu / View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or  View email address on careers.alaska.edu . 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online:  . Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or  View email address on careers.alaska.edu .

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online:   . Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: View phone number on careers.alaska.edu or emailing   View email address on careers.alaska.edu .