Program Director Jobs in Bakersfield, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $88,715.07 - $125,352.08 Annually
Location : District Office, CA
Job Type: Management - Classified Administrator
Job Number: FY26-2700040
College: District Office
Department: California Renewable Energy Laboratory
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Assured Consideration Date: 09/09/2026
Internal Posting Information: None
Below is our job description for this position. Please also review the Important Instructions & Additional Information section below, which contains valuable information about our application process.
Basic Function
Under direction of the Programs Director or assigned supervisor, the Program Manager is responsible for managing assigned program activities associated with maintaining quality academic and student services programs.
The California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) is a groundbreaking initiative based at the Kern Community College District that connects community colleges with researchers, employers, and public agencies to catalyze innovation, expand economic opportunity, and strengthen climate and energy resilience statewide. CREL focuses on four core technical areas: Clean Energy and Grid Resilience, Advanced Transportation, High-Performance Buildings, and Carbon Management.
The position will primarily manage projects and initiatives within CREL's Clean Energy and Grid Resilience, Advance Transportation, and High-Performance Buildings Centers of Excellence, working closely with the CREL team to develop high-impact, innovative programs that connect community college faculty, staff, and students, DOE national laboratories, and industry stakeholders.
Representative Duties
1. Manage the implementation of multiple project activities to meet or exceed assigned program(s) expectations.
2. Manage and monitor budgets to ensure compliance with regulations and/or directives from program agencies and cooperative educational partners.
3. Assist in preparation and administration of budget, control and authorize expenditures, approve invoices for payment, and respond to budget inquiries from college staff.
4. Supervise and coordinate department planning and operations; personnel supervision, including development and evaluation of all support staff.
5. Coordinate the release of project information and outreach activities to familiarize students with the services and programs of the college.
6. Develop and implement methods to identify and serve students who meet project guidelines, assessing their needs and providing programming to address those needs.
7. Participate in meetings and conferences related to programs within the assigned area; disseminate information, coordinate projects and implement procedural changes; follow up on action items, and develop program reports as needed.
8. Market the College and assigned program(s) to the College community and the general public.
9. Perform related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Two years of experience related to area of assignment.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and disability backgrounds of community college students and employees.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge of:
• Student services available at the college.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and procedures of financial record-keeping and reporting.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations related to the assigned special programs processes.
• Principles of public speaking.
• Record-keeping and report preparation methods.
• Principles of providing work direction and guidance to others.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Ability to:
• Evaluate and implement project goals.
• Communicate information to individuals and groups.
• Interpret and apply the policies and procedures of the college and the project initiatives.
• Interact with and motivate others.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Prepare and monitor budgets.
• Supervise and provide work direction and guidance to assigned staff.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Collaborate with college personnel and key project staff to track program effectiveness based on evidenced based milestones for student success.
• Develop and facilitate orientations, seminars, and workshops designed to familiarize students, faculty, and staff with assigned special programs opportunities.
SALARY RANGE
$ 88,715.07 - $ 125,352.08 annually
Maximum Entry Level Salary: $93,206.27 annually
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
First Review of Applications: Complete application packets will be accepted until the position is filled; but those received by September 9th, 2026, are assured consideration. The College reserves the right to extend time limits or reinitiate the recruitment/selection process at any point.
Completed application packet MUST include:

• Completed Online Application for Employment form
• Current resume
• Letter of interest (Cover Letter)
• Copy of legible transcripts
• List of five (5) professional references - Listed on application form

It is the applicant's responsibility to redact (or remove) any personal information from all documents prior to uploading. This includes Social Security Numbers, Date of Birth, and any photos of the applicant.
Foreign Degree: Applicants with foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your on-line application.
Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements. EEO Plan 2021-2024
Note: The District is strongly committed to achieving staff diversity and the principles of equal employment opportunity. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race or ethnicity, color, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, or because he/she is perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law, in any of its policies, procedures or practices. Discrimination Free Work Environment
The District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorization should be established at the time of application submission.
Important Instructions & Additional Information
Complete applications received by the "assured consideration date" above are guaranteed to be reviewed by Human Resources. If you apply after this date, there is no guarantee that your application will be reviewed. However, we still recommend that you apply because recruitments remain open until filled. The District and/or College reserves the right to extend time limits and/or repost or restart recruitments at any point.
For all positions, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, shall be considered a core system competency and job requirement. ()
Equivalency for Minimum Qualifications
Applicants for faculty and educational administrator positions in California Community Colleges are required to meet certain minimum qualifications as provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and detailed in the If you do not meet these minimum qualifications, you may still be eligible by completing the KernCCD Application for Equivalence process. Please see our for more information.
International or Foreign Degrees
Applicants with international or foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, INC. (ACEI). A copy of the evaluation must be submitted with your online application.
Accommodations
Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection process should contact Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements. (For more information, see our )
Discrimination Free Work Environment
Discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, military and veteran status, or the perception that a person has one or more of these characteristics is illegal and violates Kern Community College District policy.
The Kern CCD Equal Employment Opportunity Plan guides the development, implementation, and monitoring of the District's efforts to foster equal employment opportunities and workplace diversity.
See our for more information.
Work Authorization
Kern Community College District does not provide sponsorship for authorization to work in the United States. Work authorization should be established at the time of application submission.
E-Verify
The Kern Community College District participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, please visit
Helpful Links
Full-time permanent employees (20+ hours per month) are eligible for health benefits:

• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Long-term Disability

In addition to the above benefits, the District also offers a robust voluntary benefits selection:

• Flex 125
• Additional products and services through American Fidelity
• Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance
• Tax Shelter Annuities

The District participates in CalPERS Retirement System and Social Security benefits for Classified and Management employees. Employees covered under the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), are vested 100% after five years of full-time service credit.
The District participates in the State Teacher's Retirement System (STRS) for faculty. Employees covered under the State Teacher's Retirement System (STRS), are vested 100% after five years of full-time service credit.
All coverages begin on the first of the following month after the hire date.
The following classifications are eligible for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health benefits at the employee expense offered through SISC:

• Permanent Employees (19 hours or less)
• Adjuncts
• Temporary Hourly
• Professional Experts

For additional information, please visit our