Associate Director, Upward Bound - Johnson, United States - Vermont State University

Description

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, UPWARD BOUND
VSC - UP PAT Bargaining Unit, Exempt, Grade 12

BASIC FUNCTION
To work with the director in all aspects of administration of the Upward Bound Program, and to plan, coordinate, and supervise staff for the summer academic program and curriculum.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, implement, administer, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the various specific activities, functions, and services of the Upward Bound Program, including operating policies and procedures. Participate in, develop, and modify program goals, objectives, services, activities, and policies, in accordance with student needs, institutional objectives and resources, and funding agency requirements.
• Supervise and coach Student Development Coordinators and 3-5 part-time student counselors and coordinators associated with the program, as well as program office staff, including supervising, interviewing, hiring, training, and evaluating staff. Confer regularly with staff to plan and coordinate activities, assign and review work, assist with difficult or unusual tasks, resolve problems, and the like.
• Coordinate the work/mentoring component for the summer program, including: planning, locating job sites, working with mentors on a weekly basis and performing a variety of grant/fundraising projects to help fund the program.
• Play a key advisory role in a variety of key research and planning tasks associated with the program, typically involving developing program goals and specific plans for implementing goals, assist with the preparation of the federal Upward Bound grant and other grant and fundraising activities.
• Design and maintain appropriate records systems, prepare reports on program activities and status for funding agency, design and implement appropriate program and staff evaluation processes to ensure compliance with funding agency requirements, and so forth.
• Perform various planning tasks associated with the summer residential program, such as evaluating appropriate academic class levels for students, scheduling the academic program, hiring and supervising 3-5 summer staff, developing job sites, planning group excursions and projects, making all necessary arrangements for use of residence halls, dining halls and other campus facilities, preparing a handbook on the summer program, and the like.
• Assist with all facets of administering the summer program, including staff and participant supervision, coordinating of activities, monitoring job sites and serving as a general liaison with on-site supervisors.
• Compile and disseminate information to the public regarding program services via various online and print media. Write/edit various other educational and information materials.
• Recruit students for the program and maintaining a comprehensive system of student needs assessments, involving working with prospective applicants and their parents at schools and in their homes.
• Design, implement and provide personal, career and academic counseling for both residential and outreach components of the program.
• Assist in carrying out postsecondary placement of students and provide assistance to students and families throughout the college application and financial aid application process. Plan college visits for seniors, and provide transportation if needed. Serve as a general education and behavioral consultant for staff, parents and school personnel.
• Monitor academic progress of students through regular contact with school personnel, program personnel, students, and family members.
• Demonstrate inclusivity and provide excellent customer service in all modalities, including in-person, telephone, e-mail, video call, live chat, texting, and the like.
• Plan and organize workshops for students during the academic year intended to increase their academic and personal success.
• Attend relevant local, regional and national professional meetings.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Direct supervision is received from the Director of Upward Bound.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Partial administrative and functional supervision of 15 to 20 program staff, principally part-time or student.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelors degree in liberal arts, human services or other appropriate discipline, with master's degree desirable, plus two to four years of relevant counseling or teaching experience, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Knowledge:

• Strong base of general knowledge and skills relevant to the program, such as counseling, working with community action agencies, educational program design, implementation and evaluation, understanding of postsecondary opportunities and admission policies/processes, and the like.
• Directly related experience working with the program's targeted constituency.
• Understanding of the psychological and cultural characteristics of economically and educationally disadvantaged students, particularly in a rural setting.

Skills:

• Strong writing skills.
• Excellent counseling skills.
• Good planning, administrative, organizational, and supervisory skills.
• Ability to deal effectively with and serve as a principal program representative to students, parents, secondary and post-secondary school personnel, community agencies, funding agencies, and the like, as well as various University personnel, requiring skills in individual counseling, coordinating and public presentation.

Abilities:

• Ability to deal effectively with and serve as principal program representative to students, parents, secondary and postsecondary school personnel, community agencies, funding agencies, and the like, as well as various University personnel, requiring skills in individual counseling, coordinating, public presentation and public relations.
• Demonstrated positive attitude regarding Vermont State University and a desire to improve student outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to support a diverse community and promote diverse perspectives and cultures.

Location: Johnson campus with travel between seven participating high schools is required. Some travel
between Vermont State's campuses may also be required.

This general outline illustrates the type of work which characterizes the job classification. It is not an all-encompassing statement of the specific duties, responsibilities and qualifications of individual positions assigned to the classification.

Vermont State University is a part of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS). VSCS values individual differences that can be engaged in the service of learning.Diverse experiences from people of varied backgrounds inform and enrich our community.VSCS strongly encourages applications from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations.VSCS is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with ADA requirements, and will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant.Please contact our HR office for assistance with accommodations at

NOTE: This job is subject to a fingerprint-supported criminal background check. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of this check.