Director of Programs

UMass Boston•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Director of Programs serves as the chief daily operations officer for UMass Boston’s Talent Search and Talent Search TBACHS programs. Together, the programs provide 1,452 students at partner Boston Public Schools with academic preparation, tutorials, college advising, career awareness, social-emotional skill-building, and cultural enrichment to support high school completion and entry into and completion of post-secondary education. The Director has administrative responsibility for overseeing, developing, and implementing both programs, ensuring objectives are achieved and funder requirements are met. The role plans and coordinates programming, personnel, and fiscal matters and directly supervises program staff. It also collaborates with the Senior Director of Programs and Initiatives on procedures, grant applications, and funding opportunities, and works with university departments, Boston Public Schools, and community partners to coordinate services and support student success. The position works closely with UMass Boston’s Pre-collegiate TRIO and Early College programs to coordinate student services, outreach, recruitment, advising, college-success programming, workshops, and professional development. The Director also oversees summer programming, curriculum and services, student counseling and records, reporting and assessment, budgets and procurement, school and community relationships, and fundraising proposals. The position is grant-funded, with a current end date of August 31, 2031, subject to renewal contingent on funding and university needs.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or a closely related field.
Five to seven years of administrative experience within higher education, a secondary school, or a related educational or workforce-training setting.
Knowledge of Massachusetts Core (MassCore) or similar standards and educational assessments such as SAT and MCAS.
Technical skills in grant and program management, accounting, budgeting, and procurement.
Knowledge of the Boston Public School System or a similar public school district.
Knowledge of and ability to address challenges facing students eligible for Talent Search.
Ability to work weekends, evenings, and/or holidays.
Valid motor vehicle driver’s license.
Knowledge of postsecondary education, career advising, and financial aid.
Proficiency in financial management, staff development and supervision, and organizational development and advancement.
Experience evaluating programs and developing systems for continuous improvement.
Ability to collaborate with university and/or school personnel and initiate and nurture partnerships.
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, work independently, and complete tasks in a timely manner.
Ability to act with discretion and maintain confidentiality.
Proficiency with office and database software, social media, and web-conferencing platforms.
Strong oral and written communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated success serving students who have faced obstacles similar to those faced by program participants.
Strong commitment to customer service.

Nice To Haves

Thorough knowledge of federal guidelines and requirements for TRIO programs.
Knowledge of mandated reporting.
Bilingual in Spanish, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, or another prominent language spoken by students at partner schools.
Familiarity with MyCAP and ACT Skills Frameworks.
Familiarity with CTE pathways, including early college and dual enrollment, workforce opportunities such as apprenticeships and internships, and digital credentialing.

Responsibilities

Recruit, hire, train, and directly supervise the Program Coordinator and five Educational Outreach Counselors.
Recruit, select, onboard, train, and supervise part-time, non-benefitted staff and support tutors and instructors through orientation, feedback, planning, observations, evaluations, and meetings.
Plan, direct, and coordinate program operations, personnel, and fiscal matters.
Plan and execute the Talent Search summer component for 50–100 middle- and high-school students, including recruitment and staff hiring, training, and supervision.
Develop the summer curriculum with support from the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Ensure participant safety and welfare and maintain required application, medical, and waiver documentation in accordance with university requirements.
Work with the Senior Director of Programs and Initiatives to develop and implement program curricula and services, including federally mandated services and college-preparatory activities.
Coordinate accommodations for students needing English Learner and/or special education services.
Maintain communication with the U.S. Department of Education Program Specialist and keep unit leadership and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs informed of high-level program matters.
Build relationships with school and district personnel, university departments, referral sources, community agencies, and families; coordinate program activities with partner-school goals and improvement efforts.
Provide technical assistance to target high schools, participate in school improvement committees, and assist with evaluating improvement efforts.
Collaborate with university departments, Early College, other pre-collegiate programs, Boston Public Schools, partner schools, and community organizations.
Manage the Talent Search and Talent Search TBACHS budgets in consultation with the Senior Director, ensuring compliance with university, state, and funder policies.
Coordinate with the SEAS Business Center and relevant university units to ensure compliance with policies and timely processing of paperwork.
Negotiate and supervise contracts for use of classrooms and athletic facilities.
Coordinate collection of student transcripts, low-income status verification, and documentation of participation in rigorous programs of study.
Supervise student and program recordkeeping, data collection, and databases for reporting and program evaluation.
Prepare and submit annual performance and progress reports and continuation proposals.
Assess program compliance and student outcomes and evaluate practices and systems for continuous improvement with the Director of Data and Assessment and Senior Director of Programs and Initiatives.
Work with the Senior Director of Programs and Initiatives to develop and write funding proposals for federal, state, city, corporate, and foundation sources.
Provide academic, career, and personal counseling as needed, including regular guidance to a caseload of approximately 50–100 students on academic progress, college and career goals, course selection, and personal wellness.
Adjudicate student discipline and code-of-conduct matters.
Encourage alumni participation through social media, direct mail, and phone outreach as appropriate.
Chaperone college trips, tours, and field trips as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.