GEAR UP Regional Coordinator (Midlands, Pee Dee, & Lowcountry Regions)
🇺🇸Columbia, South Carolina🕑
Full-Time 💰
TBD
💻Academic Advising🗓️October 20th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
University of South Carolina is hiring a GEAR UP Regional Coordinator (Midlands, Pee Dee, & Lowcountry Regions). The role is field-based across South Carolina, serving as a liaison between schools, families, communities, and higher education institutions for GEAR UP South Carolina, a college access program for students from underserved communities. The coordinator runs college readiness, FAFSA, and scholarship programming, along with GEAR UP Freshman (13th Year) services that help students transition to and persist in college.
Highlights
Make sure all required GEAR UP activities take place in assigned schools, coordinating training and programs that prepare administrators, teachers, students, and families for postsecondary education during the academic year and summer.
Plan and run workshops for students, teachers, and families on college readiness, financial aid, FAFSA completion, and postsecondary success, and coach faculty at assigned schools.
Coordinate outreach and support for GEAR UP Freshman (13th Year) participants to promote a successful transition, persistence, and retention in postsecondary education.
Build collaboration with community-based organizations, postsecondary institutions, and assigned schools, and serve on county GEAR UP partnership advisory boards.
Collect data from partner schools for the Annual Performance Report and prepare and submit the scheduled reports.
Mentor GEAR UP students and serve as a positive role model.
Bachelor's degree in a job-related field and four or more years of related experience, which certification, training, education, or other experience can substitute for.
Preferred: a master's degree in education or a related field, three years of teaching, counseling, college access, or student affairs experience with middle school, high school, or first-year college students, and experience with FAFSA completion, financial aid advising, GEAR UP, or TRIO programs.
Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, travelling between assigned schools across South Carolina in a personal vehicle with mileage reimbursed, with some evening, overnight, and weekend hours.
GEAR UP Regional Coordinator (Midlands, Pee Dee, & Lowcountry Regions) Full Description
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by November 20, 2026.
Posting Details
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Posting Summary
Logo | Posting Number | RTF00243PO26 USC Market Title | Program Coordinator Link to USC Market Title | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/156370 Business Title (Internal Title) | GEAR UP Regional Coordinator (Midlands, Pee Dee, & Lowcountry Regions) Campus | Columbia Work County | Richland College/Division | College of Education Department | CED College of Education Anticipated Hiring Range | Salary commensurate with qualifications. Location of Vacancy | This is a field based position. Part/Full Time | Full Time Hours per Week | 37.5 Work Schedule | Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department. This is a field based position requiring travel between the assigned GEAR UP SC schools in the state of South Carolina. It may require evening, overnight, and/or weekend hours, along with travel to target counties and communities. Must have the personal resources to travel to multiple educational institutions (mileage will be reimbursed). Type of Staff Position | Staff Research Grant (SRGP) Basis | 12 months Job Search Category | Other Professional
About USC
About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Benefits for Research Grant or Time-Limited Positions Are Indicated Below The University of South Carolina (UofSC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about UofSC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
South Carolina Retirement | Yes State Insurance Programs | Yes Annual Leave | Yes Sick Leave | Yes
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary | Join the University of South Carolina’s GEAR UP South Carolina team and make a lasting impact on the educational futures of students across the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina. The GEAR UP Regional Coordinator serves as a key liaison between schools, families, communities, and higher education institutions, providing college access and success support to students from underserved communities. This position coordinates college readiness programming, FAFSA and financial aid initiatives, scholarship and postsecondary planning activities, and GEAR UP Freshman (13th Year) services designed to help students successfully transition to and persist in college. The ideal candidate is passionate about educational opportunity, skilled at building partnerships, and committed to empowering students and families to achieve their postsecondary goals. This field-based position requires regular travel throughout the assigned service region and offers the opportunity to positively influence students and families across multiple regions of South Carolina. Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience | Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience. Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials | Preferred Qualifications | Master’s degree in education or related discipline. At least three years of teaching, counseling, college access, student affairs, educational outreach, or related experience working with middle school, high school, or first-year college students. Experience with FAFSA completion initiatives, financial aid advising, college access programs, GEAR UP, TRIO, or related federally funded programs. Knowledge/Skills/Abilities | Experience working in public schools and with educational organizations. Knowledge of college admissions requirements, post-secondary education pathways, financial aid processes. FAFSA completion requirements, scholarship opportunities, and student persistence strategies. Experience assisting students and families with college and financial aid planning. Strong public relations and outstanding organizational skills. Ability to establish rapport with both adults and adolescents. Capable of working well and communicating effectively with students, staff, community partners, and students’ family members in various large and small settings. Demonstrates cultural competency and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds of our students and community.
Job Duties
Job Duty | Ensure that all GEAR UP required activities take place in assigned schools. Coordinate and implement training and programs that enhance preparation for postsecondary education for school administrators, teachers, students, and families during the academic year and summer. Support college access initiatives through financial aid awareness, FAFSA completion activities, scholarship planning, and postsecondary enrollment efforts. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 15Job Duty | Plan and implement student, teacher, and parent/family development workshops, including college readiness, financial aid, FAFSA completion, and postsecondary success programming. Coach and develop faculty at assigned schools. Establish collaboration with community-based organizations, postsecondary institutions, and assigned schools. Coordinate outreach and support services for GEAR UP Freshman (13th Year) participants to promote successful transition, persistence, and retention in postsecondary education. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 60Job Duty | Facilitates data collection from partner schools for the Annual Performance Report. Responsible for creating and submitting scheduled reports. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 15Job Duty | Serve on selected county GEAR UP partnership advisory boards. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 5Job Duty | Serve as a mentor and positive role model to GEAR UP students. Essential Function | Yes Percentage of Time | 5
Position Attributes
Hazardous weather category | Non-Essential Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing. | No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies | 1 Desired Start Date | 12/01/2026 Position End Date | Job Open Date | 10/19/2026 Job Close Date | 11/20/2026 Open Until Filled | No Special Instructions to Applicant | Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by November 20, 2026. Quicklink for Posting | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/214720 EEO Statement | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* Do you have at least a Bachelor's Degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience?
Yes
No
* Do you have experience with training or teaching? Please explain. (Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Letter of Recommendation 1
Resume
Optional Documents
Other Supporting Documents
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