Jobs and Careers

Promise Zone Associate Director for K-12 Support and Community Engagement

Grand Rapids, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 11 Jun 2026

💰 $64,553/yr

About the role

The Grand Rapids Promise Zone is a program that provides free tuition for eligible students.
The Grand Rapids Promise Zone Associate Director for K-12 Support & Community
Engagement reports to the Promise Zone Executive Director and is responsible for leading
initiatives focused on post-secondary access, K-12 support and community engagement for
Grand Rapids Promise Zone students. This role involves providing strategic leadership in
designing, coordinating, and implementing programs, services, and resources that enhance
post-secondary access for Promise Zone students and deepening connections within our
community to provide broader reach for the Grand Rapids Promise Zone. This position will
oversee a team that coordinates with Promise Zone eligible high schools and the broader
community to implement strategies that aid in this work.

The Associate Director will collaborate closely with Promise Zone schools and community
partners to create engagement opportunities that provide increased visibility and exposure to
post-secondary opportunities for students and allows for increased knowledge and agency in
the decision-making and processes for post-secondary options. They will work to support the
Promise Zone Success Coordinators in their roles and the implementation of programs and
strategies that support the goals of each Promise Zone school. They will also work alongside
the Promise Zone team to ensure a smooth transition for students from high school to college,
helping them navigate and prepare for post-secondary education.

The Associate Director is expected to be knowledgeable about scholarship requirements, four-
year partners, community partnerships and creative strategies to support post-secondary
access for Grand Rapids Promise Zone students. This position will work with a variety of offices
at GRCC, including but not limited to, Enrollment/Admissions, Financial Aid, ISIP, New Student
Orientation, MTEC, as well as community partners.

Requisition ID: 1134

Department: Grand Rapids Promise Zone

Employee Group: PMA

Schedule: 40 hours/52 weeks

Compensation: AM2 $64,553

Benefits: Full Time

Reports to: Promise Zone Executive Director

Posting Open: 6/18/2026

Posting Close: 6/25/2026

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Leadership and Team Management

Provide leadership strategic planning, development, and oversight for the Promise Zone team integrated in designated schools designed to increase post-secondary access for Promise Zone students.
Lead the Promise Zone K-12 team by providing direction and guidance, coordinating team workflows and priorities, and monitoring outcomes to ensure effective operations and high-quality services for Promise Zone students, as well as partner schools and community organizations.
Directly hire, supervise, train, support and evaluate staff that provide support to Promise Zone schools. Convene regular meetings, establish work expectations, and complete annual performance evaluations.
Lead Promise Zone student access initiatives through collaboration and alignment with GRCC departments and community partners to ensure coordinated services that promote student exploration and post-secondary enrollment while continuously identifying opportunities to improve processes, enhance student engagement, and strengthen cross-departmental partnerships.
Communicate goals, objectives, student milestones and outcomes to the Executive Director and other stakeholders as requested.

K-12 School Support and Community Engagement

Lead the development, design, implementation, and evaluation of school support, community engagement, events and other resources, and monitor outcomes to develop new strategies and initiatives to support the access and success of Promise Zone students.
Serve as the primary point of contact for Promise Zone K-12 schools and community partners, and act as the central liaison between the Promise Zone team and college staff working with K-12 schools and prospective students, ensuring coordination of services and alignment of efforts to effectively support student post-secondary access.
Maintains a strong understanding of the structure, systems, organizations, and day-to-day operations of school partners to effectively support students, the Promise Zone K-12 school team, and collaborate with school staff.
Assist in the development and implementation of post-secondary access initiatives by assisting with programming which may include, but is not limited to, placement testing, post-secondary preparation activities, FAFSA completion programs, off-site placement testing, bridge programming and other related activities and events at Promise Zone sch