Interim Director, Special Programs (Fire Technology)

Rancho Santiago Community College District

$129K — $173K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of project management experience.
  • Experience working with community groups and governmental entities.
  • Proficient in budget administration and program documentation.
  • Strong understanding of state education codes and district policies.
  • Demonstrated cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement specific project activities.
  • Analyze data and create comprehensive reports with statistical evidence.
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of specially funded initiatives.
  • Assist in staff recruitment, training, and evaluation.
  • Supervise the development and management of project budgets.
  • Establish partnerships with community organizations to support project goals.
  • Lead committees linked to service areas and foster collaboration.

Benefits

  • Paid holidays.
  • Work in a supportive and diverse organizational culture.
  • Opportunity to effect change in the community and educational sector.
Full Job Description
Location : 1530 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA
Job Type: Interim Full-Time Mgmt - Classified Supervisory
Job Number: CL26-01424
Division: SAC Human Services & Technology
Department: Fire Technology
Opening Date: 06/23/2026
Closing Date: 7/6/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: N/A
Start Date: As needed
Site: Santa Ana College
2025 Management Annual Salary: Grade H: $129,437.45 - $173,467.04
Position Duration: This interim assignment is temporary through June 30, 2027, or until the permanent position is filled through the normal recruitment process, whichever occurs first.
Program Description: Has overall responsibility to a designated administrator for the supervision and administration of fire technology programs, including all assigned personnel and participants, all related records and reports; performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

POSITION DETAILS
About the Position

The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college populations, including faculty, classified staff, and students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD's mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling all members of the college community to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.
Candidates will foster an inclusive and collaborative institutional culture that engages and supports faculty, classified staff, and students in achieving the college's mission and goals. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to lead and manage teams effectively while addressing the unique needs of diverse individuals within the organization. They should exhibit sensitivity, equity-mindedness, and a commitment to anti-racism in their decision-making and interactions. Through strategic leadership and inclusive practices, they will empower students to reach their educational and career aspirations while ensuring faculty and classified staff are supported in fostering a creative, confident, and thriving community college environment.
Class Summary

Has overall responsibility to a designated administrator for the supervision and administration of a specially funded program, including all assigned personnel and participants, all related records and reports; performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Representative Duties

Designs, implements, coordinates, and directs activities related to specific projects. Analyzes data in relation to policy questions and study purposes; creates statistical tables and graphic displays. Writes comprehensive reports and makes oral presentations explaining research findings, implications, and applicability. Has overall supervision and day-to-day oversight of specially funded initiatives, as appropriate; assists in recruiting and selecting staff in all areas under direct supervision; provides for in-service training; supervises and evaluates staff, program functions and activities; responsible for the timely and accurate review and preparation of budget documents, including monthly expenditure reports and such documents and summaries as required by the funding source; has substantial responsibility for reporting, including program accountability reports and for seeking additional and alternative funding for programs and activities; responsible for the development and implementation of project goals, objectives, and activities associated with program operations, including but not limited to: planning seminars, training activities, workshops, orientations, public relations and recognition events, as well as for the documentation and evaluation of project activities and outcomes as measured against stated goals and objectives in final proposal, if applicable; supervises the recruitment, orientation, and on-going participation of individual program participants, their organizational sponsors or mentors, as appropriate, and provides overall support necessary to establish a new community-oriented support services program; successfully implements and institutionalizes project activities; responsible for establishing collaborative partnerships with community-based and other local organizations, public and private groups, State and national entities and affiliates to further project goals and objectives and meet critical student and/or community needs; provides substantial leadership and support to committees directly linked to service areas, including special program steering and advisory committees, district-wide committees or task forces.

Organizational Relationships
This class reports to senior administrations and supervises all staff in areas of direct responsibility.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
Any combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree plus three years of related experience in project management. Experience involving work with community groups and governmental entities, documentation of program activities, and budget administration.
Knowledge and Abilities
Good Knowledge of:principles of supervision and management, record keeping, accountability, and thorough program documentation; research design and methods.
Knowledge of: state education code and district rules, regulations, and policies relating to the district's operation and administration, as well as state and federal rules, regulations, and policies.
Ability to: plan and implement programs; develop and manage budgets; design and administer research studies: write clear and concise complex documents; compile reports; work cooperatively with other employees and the public; establish positive and effective relationships; communicate effectively in writing and speech; comprehend and interpret financial statements; analyze situations and make appropriate decisions; supervise the work of others.
Additional Qualifications
Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To ensure full consideration, all applicants must submit a complete online Rancho Santiago Community College District application that includes the items listed below by the position's closing date. Recruitment will review all applications for completeness, and only complete application packets will be forwarded to the screening committee for further review.
A Complete Application Packet Must Include the Following:
  1. RSCCD Online Application
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Resume - details all relevant education, training, and other work experience
  4. Academic Transcripts (Unofficial copies of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate transcripts).

Foreign Degrees
Transcripts from countries other than the United States must be evaluated by an agency that is approved by or a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service () or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (), or Commission on Teacher Credentialing ().
Application Screening

In addition to the requirements and responsibilities listed, the following criteria (as appropriate) may be considered in selecting candidates:
  1. Education experience breadth and depth.
  2. Work experience breadth and depth.
  3. Demonstrated leadership capabilities.
  4. Program development.
  5. Community involvement.
  6. Demonstrated experience in working with a diverse socio-economic community.
  7. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others.


Based on the information presented in the application materials, a limited number of candidates with qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a written test and an oral interview.
Meeting the position's minimum requirements does not guarantee advancement in the selection process. Candidate qualifications will be assessed to determine those who meet and exceed requirements and are deemed the most competitive in the applicant pool.
Interview

Applicants selected for an interview may be required to take additional tests or assessments and will be notified of such prior to the date of the interview. During the oral session, those selected for interviews will, in addition to the above, also be evaluated on the following factors:
  • Oral communication skills
  • Presentation
  • Problem-solving skills


A predetermined set of questions will be asked of all applicants interviewed. Applicants are requested to provide thorough yet concise information on their related experience to ensure the correct evaluation of their qualifications. Evaluation criteria will be applied consistently to all applicants.
Conditions of Employment

The selected candidate is required to complete the following before employment as part of the onboarding process:
  1. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
  2. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis Exam.
  3. Fingerprints (by a Live Scan Agency at the candidate's expense, and clearance must be received before the first day of employment)
  4. Submit official transcripts.


For a detailed Benefits summary, please click this link:

Paid Holidays
For the complete list of paid holidays per fiscal year, visit the link below:
01

Describe your experience developing, administering, and maintaining instructional service agreements (ISAs) and training partnerships with fire service agencies. Include your experience coordinating with agency training officers, tracking and collecting training hours and positive at

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