Director, Placement and Testing

Joliet Junior College•Joliet, IL

About The Position

Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction to Testing Services, Placement Office, and credit for prior learning (CPL) initiatives in an effort to serve the immediate, ongoing, and long-term needs of current and prospective JJC students, as well as community members, at all campus locations, at District 525 locations, and remotely. Provide administrative leadership and support to the Dean of Academic Intervention, Support, and Student Development Grants (Dean) and the Academic Intervention and Support Leadership Team (AISLT). Methodically plan and implement testing, placement, and CPL strategies for a diverse student population in collaboration with faculty, staff, and designated departments to address the needs of JJC students, which include on-campus, hybrid, and remote learners. Develop, document, strategically implement, and continuously evaluate placement, testing, and CPL procedures, practices, services, and programs that recognize the complex and growing needs of students. Program initiatives and practices support the effective enrollment, active persistence, and overall retention of students. Leadership and direction of the assigned departments are consistent with the mission of the college, and work toward achieving the strategic outcomes identified by the division of student development. This includes gathering, assessing, and reporting on data that indicates student engagement, learning, and success outcomes with a strong emphasis of continuous program quality/ improvement.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology, Leadership, or related field.
Strong administrative, organizational development, budget management, and supervisory experiences.
Expert experience in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as video conferencing software (i.e., TEAMS, Zoom, etc.), and website page update and creation.
Strong technical data analysis and reporting skills. Familiarity with college Student Information and Reporting systems such as Ellucian.
Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; strong ability to work cooperatively with diverse populations.
Direct experience with diagnostic testing tools that support college course placement (i.e., Accuplacer, ALEKS, etc.).
Experience with state and federal laws pertaining to collegiate placement measures, CPL management, ADA, FERPA, communication, and data-sharing standards.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with other members of the college and community, displaying cultural competence as well as emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated commitment to the college’s core values of respect and inclusion, sustainability, integrity, collaboration, humor and well-being, innovation, and quality.

Nice To Haves

Earned Doctorate Degree.
Experience with college scheduling software and academic intervention systems (i.e., Register Blast, EAB Navigate) and familiarity with higher education Learning Management System (i.e., Canvas).
Successful experience in developmental education, working with testing centers and placement offices.
Experience working with large and at-risk student populations within a diverse educational setting.
English and Spanish verbal and written communication proficiency.
Demonstrated multicultural competence.

Responsibilities

Professionally represent Joliet Junior College and uphold the College’s core values.
Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction to the Placement Office and Testing Services departments.
Oversee and execute administrative duties including but not limited to budget oversight and management (institutional, revenue, and/ or grant), annual contractual obligations and funding sources, technology acquisition and implementation, operational efficiencies, and professional development for all Placement and Testing areas.
Oversee all testing, placement, and CPL software integrations and maintenance as related to the college’s Student Information System (SIS).
Oversee and support the testing, placement, and CPL needs of JJC students and high school programs, as well as community members.
Serve on College Readiness Committee including Placement Subcommittee and Credit for Prior Learning Subcommittee, Curriculum Committee, Data Governance, Dual Credit Strategic Plan, Online Instruction Steering Committee, Strategic Enrollment Management Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and other groups as appropriate, to inform, recommend, and support overall student enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation, as well as support initiatives, resources, and strategic plans.
Develop, lead, and evaluate JJC Placement strategies including but not limited to (1) reviewing, updating, and communicating related policies, procedures, and practices; (2) capturing relevant information to report on departmental successes and opportunities; (3) bridging the gap between application completion and student advising; (4) minimizing unnecessary placement testing thus expediting students through the enrollment process and degree/ certification acquisition; (5) automating placement measure data entry; (6) evaluating placement platform and multiple measures effectiveness in terms of cost and student success rates; and (7) monitoring and implementing departmental professional development, training, and practices to ensure the highest levels of customer service and quality assurance.
Develop, lead, and evaluate JJC Testing Services strategies including but not limited to (1) reviewing, updating, and communicating related policies, procedures, and practices around placement, academic, accommodated, and certification testing; (2) capturing relevant information to report on departmental successes and opportunities; (3) leading related advisory circles to gather stakeholder feedback at all testing locations with the goal of ensuring appropriate services are offered to meet student and community testing demand; (4) maximizing resources to meet tester need, increase number of exams administered, and increase number of exam types offered; (5) increasing incoming testing revenue to help offset departmental costs; (6) evaluating testing opportunities to add or delete from menu of services; and (7) monitoring and implementing departmental professional development, training, and practices to ensure the highest levels of customer service, quality assurance, and testing integrity.
Develop, lead, and evaluate JJC CPL strategies including but not limited to (1) reviewing, updating, and communicating related policies, procedures, and practices; (2) building and maintaining CPL TEAMS site to document and track approval, regular review, archives, and other related workflows; (3) coordinating regular meetings with Student Development and Academic Affairs stakeholders to share updates, build relationships, and ensure consistent two-way communication; (4) ensuring JJC remains in compliance with CPL standards and accurately promotes (un)accepted CPL opportunities at JJC; (5) increasing student acquisition of CPL to increase student enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation rates; and (6) reporting on related CPL qualitative and quantitative data.
Provide direct support to, and in his/ her absence represent, the Dean and AISLT to implement best practice efforts that increase student success by providing leadership and guidance to all program areas that deliver support and services to students.
Oversee the placement, testing, and CPL processes and represent these functions at all internal and external committees for the college, including implementation and quality assurance of placement prerequisites, alternative placement measures, and placement exams; testing services, locations, and scheduling; and CPL opportunities and outcomes.
Effectively market Placement Office, Testing Services, and CPL resources to future and current JJC students, faculty, and staff; maintain departmental websites to clarify public information about JJC accommodations, procedures, and services.
Analyze departmental services and disseminate usage and outcome data gathered by the placement, testing, and CPL functions; prepare regular reports (monthly and annually) related to programs, services, accomplishments, and concerns.
Collaborate with all Student Development and Academic Affairs Deans and campus-wide partners.
Perform related duties as assigned.