Associate Director Foster Care Alumni Success (FCAS) Center - CARE

TITLE

Associate Director, FCAS (Foster Care Alumni Success) Center

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Director of the Foster Care Alumni Success (FCAS) Center supports the mission of Texas Woman's University by leading, coordinating, and evaluating programs that improve college access, readiness, and transition for students with lived experience in foster care. This position directs Center & Resource Hub operations-including a statewide helpline, Success Coach team, and cross-system referral processes-and advances initiatives that build a stronger statewide pipeline from high school to higher education. The Associate Director implements developmentally appropriate programming, high-impact practices, and data-informed strategies that foster student belonging, empowerment, and long-term success. The position also collaborates extensively with K-12 districts, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and statewide agencies to ensure warm hand-offs, consistent support, and cohesive services for prospective and incoming students. Work is performed under the administrative supervision of the Executive Director for CARE and evaluated based on program implementation, service delivery, statewide collaboration, and student outcomes.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Executive Director, CARE (Campus Alliance & Resource Education)

Supervises: Assistant Director, FCAS Resource Hub; Student Success Coaches; may supervise Graduate Assistants, Student Assistants, and Interns

ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but not limited to the following:

• Supports the Executive Director in strategic planning, program development, and long-term goals for the FCAS Center.

• Oversees daily operations of the statewide Center, ensuring effective coaching, intake, referrals, and transition services.

• Contributes to CARE's division-wide priorities and uses data to assess impact and guide improvements.

• Provides direct support to youth and prospective students with foster care experience, including college exploration, enrollment, and financial aid guidance.

• Supervises Success Coaches and ensures trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate coaching practices.

• Coordinates smooth warm hand-offs among K-12 partners, nonprofits and higher-education liaisons.

• Creates tools, workshops, and transition supports addressing financial, basic needs, and housing barriers.

• Designs and delivers training for K-12 staff and community partners to improve identification and support of foster youth.

• Works with Education Reach for Texans, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and other relevant organizations to develop consistent training for higher education foster care liaisons.

• Facilitates communication among child welfare, K-12, higher education, and nonprofit partners; represents the Center at outreach events.

• Manages FCAS Center, Helpline and Resource Hub operations to ensure timely, accurate referrals and information.

• Supervises and evaluates staff and student employees.

• Oversees scheduling, documentation, communication workflows, and other operational logistics.

• Assists with budget planning and resource allocation.

• Leads assessment and reporting on student engagement, helpline activity, transition outcomes, and outreach efforts.

• Ensures FERPA compliance and appropriate handling of student data.

• Supports grants, donor reporting, and program documentation.

• Strengthens partnerships across TWU to support access and belonging for foster care alumni.

• Collaborates with K-12 districts, colleges, nonprofits, and state agencies to align statewide services.

• Serves on university committees and acts as lead contact for the Resource Hub in the Executive Director's absence.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Performs other duties as requested.

EDUCATION

Master's degree in higher education, student development, counseling, social work, or a related field required.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in student development, college access, child welfare-aligned work, or related fields. Experience supervising staff and/or managing student-support programs strongly preferred. Experience working with foster youth or other special populations highly preferred. Experience in training, program development, or statewide collaboration is a plus.

EQUIREMENT

Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regular scheduled days and work hours is an essential function of this position.

All employees share the responsibility of maintaining information security and privacy requirements within the university by adhering to Federal and State regulations, and TWU Policies & Procedures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - The following are essential:

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. Strong presentation skills and ability to deliver training to diverse audiences.

• Ability to use office software, student databases, and communication platforms.

• Strong communication, organization, project management, and supervisory skills.

• Ability to conceptualize, prioritize, and execute programs and services with minimal supervision.

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with students, faculty, staff, K-12 partners, higher education institutions, and community organizations.

• Ability to manage budgets, coordinate multiple projects, and adapt to peak periods and short deadlines.

• Ability to use university software, case-management tools, and communication platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to handle the demands of frequent travel, maintain high-level engagement with multiple stakeholder groups and delivery under tight deadlines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described in the Essential Duties and below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

The employee may be required to travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

All employees are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, including sexual harassment. Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment.

SAFETY

TWU promotes a safe working environment. Employees are responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently, and supervisors are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. Employees must report any unsafe work conditions or practices, as well as any near-miss incidents, to their supervisor and Risk Management. Supervisors and employees should ensure that injury/accident reports are submitted to the Office of Human Resources and Risk Management within 24 hours of the incident.

Texas Woman's University, an AA/EEO employer, provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected category, class or characteristic.

All offers of employment will be contingent on the candidate's ability to provide documents which establish proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Positions at Texas Woman's University deemed security-sensitive require background checks and verification of all academic credentials.

If you are a male between the age of 18 and 25, federal law requires that you must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. Under HB 558, enacted by the 76th Texas State Legislature, if you are currently of the age and gender requiring registration with Selective Service, but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for employment with an agency in any branch of Texas state government. For additional information regarding registration or status, you can contact the Selective Service System at 847-688-6888 or www.sss.gov.