ACE (Accelerate, Complete and Engage Programs) Director, Division of Student Affairs

City University of New York • New York, NY

45d

About The Position

Hunter College of the City University of New York, a distinguished public university, values learning in the liberal arts and sciences as a cornerstone of individual development and a vital foundation for a more just and inclusive society. Continuing our long tradition of expanding opportunity, we seek students from all backgrounds to engage in a rigorous educational experience that prepares them to become leaders and innovators in their communities and in the world. Hunter also contributes to intellectual discourse by supporting excellent scholarship and creative activity by its accomplished faculty. Both ASAP and ACE help students earn their college degree as quickly as possible, by removing the financial, academic, and personal obstacles that many students confront. Key ASAP|ACE program features include a consolidated block schedule, required full-time study and comprehensive advisement and career development services. Financial incentives include tuition and fee gap scholarships for financial aid eligible students, textbook assistance, and OMNY transportation benefit for all students. Further information is available at www.cuny.edu/ASAP Reporting to the Associate Dean, the ACE Director provides general day to day oversight and successful delivery of a comprehensive program of academic, advisement, career and financial supports for program students. The director will represent the college's ACE programs on all relevant committees, within and outside the college, developing and maintaining relationships that create buy in and allow the program to operate successfully as part of the college. The director will implement CUNY ACE policy, and well as develop local program policies and processes, to meet the Program's mission, as well as develop the local strategy to meet program enrollment/recruitment targets each semester. This position oversees all program staff and manages the development of processes to regularly and consistently enter, share and analyze engagement and outcomes data, both within the team and with college leadership, to ensure successful progress toward student engagement and program academic performance benchmarks. The director oversees the program budget and daily administration, including scheduling and timely delivery of services. The CUNY ACE director is responsible to create a supportive, inclusive environment, encouraging and promoting opportunities to staff for professional development and growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an appropriate disciple and eight years' related experience required.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology, Counseling, and/or Social Work will be considered as a substitute for 2 years' experience.
• Strong management and supervisory skills, ability to manage change and build productive teams
• Demonstrated budget oversight and planning experience
• Demonstrated successful program management experience, including strategy development
• Understands the experiences of historically marginalized racial groups in the U.S in education, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latinx groups.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff and external stakeholders
• Excellent organization, project management, communication, and facilitation skills
• Proficient computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office; CUNYfirst and Tableau data visualization software a plus
• Proven leadership experience in supervising professional staff and managing cross-functional teams
• Strong understanding of academic advising models and retention strategies, particularly for transfer and underrepresented student populations
• Experience using data to inform program development, assess outcomes, and drive continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with EAB Navigate and CUNY systems, policies, and student support structures is a plus

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and timely implementation of strategies and delivery of supports to improve retention, including interventions/academic supports for probation and at-risk students
• Create and manage program component delivery and data collection to ensure successful progress towards student engagement and program academic performance benchmarks
• Develop strategy and processes to reach enrollment targets
• Develop processes for program incentive distribution in coordination with appropriate college departments
• Develop strategy and mechanisms to increase FAFSA completion, reduce SAP/verification issues
• Establish points of contact within college departments integral to programming including, but not limited to admissions, registrar, career center, financial aid
• Regularly attend required meetings with CUNY Central ASAP|ACE staff, prepares reports for the University ASAP|ACE Executive Director, CUNY Office of Academic Affairs (CUNY Central), and share outcomes each semester with college leadership
• Monitor the development of a comprehensive framework to provide opportunities for ACE students to progress toward career competencies
• Actively participate in relevant campus-wide committees and working groups to remain informed about institutional initiatives, foster cross-departmental collaboration, and ensure program alignment with broader college goals
• Collaborate closely with other offices campus wide to align ACE program goals with broader student success initiatives and institutional priorities
• Facilitate cross-functional communication and coordination between ACE staff and other programs and departments, including academic advising, tutoring, and student support services
• Lead or co-lead initiatives that enhance the student experience, particularly for transfer students and those facing academic or financial challenge
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding of new ACE students, including orientation sessions and transition support for incoming transfer students
• Performs related duties as assigned

Benefits

• CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development.
• We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off.
• Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees