Director, Correction Education and Reentry Support

Pay Grade: Manager 7

The Director, Correction Education and Reentry Support will provide strategic leadership, program oversight, partnership development, and operational management for the college’s Correction education and reentry initiatives serving incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and justice-impacted prospective and enrolled students.

The Director will lead efforts to expand access to postsecondary education, workforce development, academic advising, reentry navigation, and student success services for justice-impacted learners in Correction and community settings. This position will coordinate closely with Correction institutions, community organizations, workforce agencies, behavioral health providers, faculty, academic divisions, and student support departments to create ensure justice-impacted learners have seamless access to college transfer and living wage employment.

Most postings are open for a limited time, depending upon the number of applications received. When the stated closing date is "Continuous", please apply immediately. The position may close without notice.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

*Provide strategic direction and leadership for Wake Tech’s Correction education and reentry initiatives.

*Develop and implement short- and long-range goals aligned with the college’s strategic plan, workforce priorities, and student success agenda.

*Design innovative educational pathways that support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students from enrollment through completion.

*Lead development of instructional opportunities, career pathways, digital learning access, and reentry transition supports.

Establish metrics and outcomes for enrollment, persistence, credential attainment, transfer, employment, and economic mobility.

Correction Education Oversight

*Ensure compliance with all federal, state, NC Department of Adult Correction, accreditation, and institutional policies and procedures.

*Plans programing and manages budget for Correction Education classes in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety and Wake County Sheriff’s Office 

*Coordinate educational programming delivered within Correction facilities, detention centers, and associated reentry environments.

*Collaborate with internal and external partners to identify high-demand workforce and transfer pathways appropriate for Correction education delivery.

*Maintain approval to enter Wake County Correction facilities, including passing required background checks, maintaining security clearance, and attending required NC DPS training.

Manage the coordination of instructional delivery, faculty access, scheduling, technology, student support services, and program logistics in Correction settings.

Support implementation and administration of Second Chance Pell initiatives and other prison education funding opportunities.

Reentry Navigation and Student Success

*Lead transition planning for incarcerated students preparing for release and postsecondary enrollment.

*Plan, implement, and monitor a comprehensive reentry navigation process.

Foster a welcoming and inclusive campus environment for formerly incarcerated learners.

Develop educational and workforce pathways that support long-term economic mobility.

Collaborate with internal and external partners to integrate support pipelines for wraparound services including academic advising, career coaching, financial aid navigation, and community referrals. 

Partnership and Community Engagement

Serve as the college’s primary liaison with external partners including, NC Department of Adult Correction, the Local Reentry Council (LRC), community-based organizations, and workforce development boards.

Develop collaborative partnerships that strengthen educational access and student support for justice-impacted individuals.

Build and sustain partnerships that support apprenticeships, work-based learning, employment pipelines, and post-release transitions.

Grants, Compliance, and Assessment

*Identify external funding opportunities including federal, state, foundation, and private grants.

Support the development of grant proposals, program reports, and required compliance documentation.

Monitor program budgets and ensure responsible fiscal stewardship.

Collect, analyze, and report data related to student success outcomes focused on persistence, retention, completion, and economic mobility.

Utilize assessment data to strengthen continuous program improvement and institutional effectiveness.

Supervision and Team Leadership

*Lead the hiring, onboarding, training, supervision, and evaluation processes of departmental staff and related positions.

Foster a collaborative and high-performing team committed to student success and economic mobility.

Coordinate faculty and staff training related to trauma-responsive practices, justice-impacted student success, and Correction environment protocols.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of barriers impacting justice-impacted students

Working knowledge of Correction education systems and reentry best practices

Demonstrated skill in program leadership and development including budget management, resource allocation, supervision, and evaluation

Demonstrated commitment to access, student success, and economic mobility

Strong leadership, organizational, and strategic planning skills

Ability to work effectively in Correction and community environments

Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and collaborative partnerships

Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office platforms



Minimum Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or a closely related field

Three years of experience in Correction education, reentry services, higher education administration, student success programming, or related fields

Supervisory experience 

Experience developing partnerships with Correction systems, community organizations, or workforce agencies.

Must pass required background checks and security clearance required to enter Wake County Correction facilities


Preferences

Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in Higher Education, Student

Affairs, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or a closely related field.

Experience working within a community college environment.

Experience working in a Correction setting

Experience with Second Chance Pell implementation or Correction education programming

Knowledge of justice-impacted student populations, reentry frameworks, financial aid practices, and accreditation standards

Experience with data-informed program assessment and evaluation