Assistant Director for Student Success Outreach Hybrid Opportunity

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public landgrant research university that seeks to expand educational access fuel innovation and creativity and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863 UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1450acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts stateoftheart facilities for teaching research scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valuedand thrives and offers a full range of undergraduate graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental social economic and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

As a member of the Undergraduate Student Success Center team the Assistant Director for Student Success Outreach develops implements and assesses programs and services that support the academic success sense of belonging persistence and degree completion of undergraduates with a particular focus on firstgeneration college students and transfer students. A key aspect of this position involves demystifying university life by providing accessible resources mentorship opportunities and guidance. The Assistant Director collaborates with colleagues in Student Success Outreach and other units campuswide including academic advising and Student Affairs & Campus Life.

Essential Functions

• Designs implements and assesses campuswide initiatives for firstgeneration and transfer students including recognition events and initiatives largescale signature events dedicated dropin hours newsletters and outreach messaging and ongoing events and workshop series.
• Creates and publishes engaging written and visual content related to transfer and firstgeneration student success for various platforms (e.g. social media webpages and newsletters).
• Designs and delivers training sessions for campus partners (e.g. advisors instructors and staff) to enhance their understanding and support of firstgeneration and transfer students.
• Leads implementation and assessment of comprehensive student financial literacy programming and collaborates with campus partners (e.g. Financial Aid Office Bursars Office Career Development etc. to manage content updates and promotion.
• Analyzes data related to the success of transfer and firstgeneration students (e.g. academic performance retention and graduation rates) and provides synthesized reports and presentations to Center colleagues and campus decisionmakers as needed.
• Serves as subject matter expert and campus resource on current trends and best practices on firstgeneration student success transfer student success and financial wellness.
• Represents UMass Amherst and the Undergraduate Student Success Center in national student success initiatives such as First Gen Forward and opportunities offered by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students.
• Provides data and consultation to the Director for Student Success Outreach on resource and budget strategy.
• Actively participates in Student Success unit activities (e.g. presentations tabling and other events as needed).
• Represents the unit and its support services to prospective students.
• Provides oversight training and support to a team of undergraduate student employees who facilitate peer workshops and perform office duties.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• Bachelors degree with four 4 years of related experience in student success programs academic advising student affairs and/or higher education.
  • Masters degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for two 2 years of required experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience coordinating and assessing programs for college students.
• Outstanding organizational and logistics management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to facilitate workshops and give clear and effective presentations.
• Strong content development skills (e.g. social media website copy visual presentations and graphics etc..
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and see projects through to completion.
• Strong computer skills including website management social media management word processing and spreadsheets.
• Ability to research analyze and synthesize data and use it create clear reports and presentations.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• Masters degree in education counseling student affairs or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the unique challenges and needs of firstgeneration college and transfer students either through previous work experience or academic research or projects.
• Previous professional experience working with firstgeneration college and/or transfer students in a higher education setting.
• Knowledge of current trends and best practices in firstgeneration college and transfer student success.
• Previous experience with assessment and data analysis in a professional or academic setting.
• Experience in a diverse or large public university setting.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday Friday 8:30am 5:00pm.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employees work isregularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. Asthis position falls within the Professional Staff Union it is subject to the terms and conditionsof the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

PSU Level 27

Exempt Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three 3 professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race color religion caste creed sex age marital status national origin disability political belief or affiliation pregnancy and pregnancyrelated condition(s) veteran status sexual orientation gender identity and expression genetic information natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment admission to and participation in academic programs activities and services and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities women persons with disabilities and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes rules and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.