Associate Director Upward Bound

Vermont State University•Randolph, VT

1d•$46,000 - $52,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Upward Bound works with the director in all aspects of administration of the Upward Bound Program. This role involves planning, coordinating, and supervising staff for the summer academic program and curriculum. The position requires a strong understanding of program goals, objectives, services, and policies, ensuring alignment with student needs, institutional objectives, and funding agency requirements. The Associate Director will also play a key role in grant preparation and fundraising activities, and will be responsible for maintaining records, preparing reports, and implementing program evaluation processes.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in liberal arts, human services or other appropriate discipline.
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.
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.
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.
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 first-generation and economically disadvantaged students.
Subject to a fingerprint-supported criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree desirable.

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 Coordinator 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.