Edtech.com's Summary

Bottom Line is hiring a Founding Director of Programs to lead the launch and implementation of its College Access program in Houston. The role involves managing program resources, overseeing staff, building partnerships, and driving student recruitment and program fidelity to help first-generation and low-income students access and succeed in college.

Highlights

Lead launch and implementation of Bottom Line's College Access program in Houston.
Manage a team of program staff and provide training and support.
Develop and maintain partnerships with local schools, community organizations, and colleges.
Analyze data to improve recruitment strategies and program effectiveness.
Manage program resources and ensure achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Bachelor's degree required with 5-7 years of relevant experience in college access, financial aid, or nonprofit program management.
Expertise in youth engagement and leadership, with experience leading performance-based programs.
Expected annual salary range: $95,000 to $98,000.
Manage local and regional travel up to 30%.
Serve as part of Houston's founding leadership team and support regional program growth.

Director of Programs Full Description

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Full Time

Houston Office, Houston, TX, US

Salary Range:

$95,000.00 To $98,000.00 Annually

FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Houston, TX

Who We Are and What We Believe:

Founded in 1997, Bottom Line is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization with a mission to partner with degree-aspiring students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds as they get into college, graduate, and launch meaningful careers. For over two decades, Bottom Line has provided consistent, one-on-one support to help students navigate the challenges of accessing and succeeding in college.

Today, we proudly serve over 7,000 students through our three core programs—College Access, College Success, and Bluprint—across regional offices in Massachusetts, New York City, Chicago, Ohio, Detroit, and soon, Houston. Our vision is to create a far-reaching ripple effect, launched by the transformative power of a college degree and a mobilizing first career, that uplifts individuals, families, and entire communities.

When you join Bottom Line, you will become a part of a team that combines passion with expertise to advance equity and opportunity for degree-aspiring students. In our dynamic, results-driven environment, your contributions will help shape brighter futures and stronger communities.

What You Will Do:

This is an opportunity to join a national organization as a member of the founding leadership team in Houston. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Founding Director of Programs will lead the launch and implementation of Bottom Line’s Access program in Houston, translating the national program model into a locally effective delivery strategy while maintaining strong program fidelity.

You will serve as a Bottom Line program expert, leading the Houston region in implementing the organization’s best in-class program model, which has been validated with successful results from a randomized control trial, hence the focus on model fidelity in our regions. Your responsibilities include managing program resources, achieving key performance indicators, training, and supporting staff, building partnerships with schools and community organizations, and analyzing data to drive strong program results. With your expertise and dedication, you will make a significant impact on the lives of local students, helping them navigate the college application process and achieve their educational goals.

As a member of the Houston team, you'll be at the forefront of shaping our programmatic presence in the region. This means not only growing our programs but also cultivating a dedicated and engaged team. Your role will be dynamic, evolving in response to the changing needs of the site. As we expand our footprint and deepen our impact, your adaptability will be pivotal. This presents a unique chance for you to make a lasting mark by tailoring your contributions to the evolving landscape and driving our mission forward. Your proactive approach and strategic insights will be integral to the growth and success of our programs in the Houston area.

*This position is supported by a national grant during the region’s first year of operation, providing a strong foundation for program launch and growth. We are optimistic about the long-term sustainability of the role, with continuation beyond the initial year expected based on program success and ongoing funding opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Recruitment & Partnership Management – 30%

Support student recruitment efforts in Houston, serving an inaugural cohort College Access students in July 2026, eventually leading the recruitment efforts in 2027.
Build and manage a sustainable recruitment pipeline across partner high schools, community organizations and college admission offices, serving as an ambassador for Bottom Line’s work in the Houston landscape.
Oversee recruitment efforts for future years based on the annual recruitment goals for the region. Develop and execute strategies for student recruitment activities in the region to meet recruitment goals for College Access program.
Identify and resolve barriers that may impact Advisors' work with students on campuses, in preparation for College Success Program launch.
Analyze data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement in recruitment processes.
With guidance from the Executive Director, develop key relationships with likely partners at target colleges (financial aid, student affairs, etc.). Represent Bottom Line in a professional manner in all dealings with external partners, ensuring retention of partnerships.
Collaborate with local and organizational leadership to align program strategies with the overall regional goals.

Program Management – 30%

Ensure successful implementation of the College Access Program, aligning with Bottom Line's mission and goals.
Train, manage, and support College Access staff in providing high quality services to students in the program.
May contain a small caseload of Access students (approximately 3-5) to stay connected to direct service and inform coaching, program oversight and team management.
In conjunction with the Executive Director, identify a program delivery site and set up systems to facilitate the 1st year of in-person programming.
Establish foundational program operations including advising workflows, student tracking systems, and internal communication structures necessary for launching the Houston Access program.
Collaborate with national program, data, and operations teams to implement systems, tools, and reporting structures that support program delivery and KPI tracking.
Communicate, oversee, and achieve site-specific Program Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the College Access program.
Manage program resources, ensuring staff have the necessary resources to carry out their duties effectively.
Oversee special projects, working groups, and scholarships related to the College Access program, ensuring their successful execution.
Evaluate program effectiveness through data analysis and feedback, identifying areas of improvement and implementing necessary changes.
Help build the College Success Program department, as we move to serve the first College Success cohort in fall of 2027.
Support regional growth by ensuring strong College Access to College Success Program transitions, expanding the number of students served year over year.
Evaluate program effectiveness through data analysis and feedback, identifying areas of improvement, and implementing necessary changes.

Staff Management & Talent Development – 30%

Lead the hiring process for all regional program staff with support from HR.
Collaborate with Human Resources and the Regions team to create, deliver, and schedule onboarding and training programs.
Manage a team of 3 Advisors, serving a total of 180 Houston students through the College Access Program in the 2026-27 school year and growing to serve 300 College Access students in the 2027-28 school year.
Foster a supportive, positive, and inclusive work environment, being available and approachable to meet the needs of each member of the Program staff.
Observe and coach staff interacting with advisors/students, analyze data, and deliver formal annual performance reviews along with informal ongoing feedback.

Secondary Responsibilities:

Organizational Support – 10%

Serve as a member of the program leadership team, contributing to regular meetings and strategy development.
Provide support to other organizational teams as needed, leveraging individual campus knowledge and available resources.
Assist the Development Team by nominating and recruiting students for events, facilitating event components, and managing logistics.
Represent the Bottom Line brand positively and take actions to increase brand awareness in the community.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without advanced notice.

Work Schedule:

Monday - Friday 9a - 5p or 10a - 6p (local time), and flexibility may be requested; Additional hours as needed

Direct Reports:

Up to 5 Access Advisors. Eventually, will manage the Access Team Manager.

Expected Travel:

20-30% (local travel), 10% outside of the region

Who Should Apply:

If you meet the qualifications below, you should apply.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent and work authorization.
5-7 years of work experience in college access, financial aid, program management, or a related field, particularly in nonprofit organizations.
Expertise in youth engagement and leadership
Have hands-on program management experience, and a track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcomes-based program and staff
Experience in building continuous improvement feedback loops
At ease with ambiguity, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and seek new solutions
Unwavering commitment to the students Bottom Line serves
Demonstrated commitment to Bottom Line’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values

How To Apply/Application Deadline:

All applications must be submitted via Bottom Line’s Career Page.

Please share your resume and cover letter.

The application deadline is April 14, 2026.

Start Date:

May/June 2026

Compensation:

$95,000 – 98,000

Benefits:

Learn about our benefits here.

Original Job Description