Assistant Director RHSA (Internal Opportunity Only)

General Summary of Position:

This being an internal opportunity only current UML Employees irrespective of Bargaining units are eligible to apply for this position.

River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA) is UMass Lowells academic success program dedicated to student transition persistence completion and holistic development across the first-generation college experience. The Assistant Director provides leadership for the planning coordination implementation and assessment of RHSA programs services and campus partnerships that strengthen student success academic excellence belonging and preparation for life after graduation.

Program Leadership Operations and Student Engagement:

• Lead the planning execution and continuous improvement of RHSA programs events and operational processes that support student success belonging and engagement across the first-generation college experience.
• Develop and execute new programs events and initiatives aligned with RHSA goals and evolving student and departmental needs.
• Oversee program timelines logistics communications materials and follow through to ensure effective and timely execution.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen program structure delivery and student engagement and recommend improvements to the Director.
• Ensure programming reflects a welcoming student centered and strengths-based approach.
• Lead the Peer & Team Leader Program of over 40 students.
• Execute the successful onboarding of first year cohorts annually and the coordination of the RHSA cohort pathway involving faculty leads and advocates across each college.

Supervision and Student Employee Leadership Development:

• Oversee the recruitment training supervision and ongoing development of RHSA student employees and other student support personnel.
• Supervise approximately 50 student employees including peer leaders team leaders college ambassadors and as applicable interns or practicum students.
• Lead onboarding training scheduling communication performance feedback and day-to-day oversight of student staff.
• Develop leadership expectations workflows and accountability practices that support effective student staff performance.
• Foster a team environment that promotes professionalism collaboration leadership development and strong student support.

Program Assessment Tracking and Continuous Improvement:

• Assist the collection tracking and review of program participation outreach and student engagement data.
• Develop and refine processes for monitoring progress evaluating outcomes and identifying trends across RHSA efforts.
• Prepare reports summaries and visual materials that support planning assessment and communication of program impact.
• Recommend improvements to existing tracking systems assessment practices and program operations to strengthen effectiveness and efficiency.

Communications Outreach Recruitment and Visibility:

• Develop and execute outreach recruitment marketing and promotional strategies for RHSA programs and opportunities.
• Oversee RHSA social media messaging and promotional content to strengthen program visibility and student connection.
• Create and coordinate materials that support recruitment event promotion student communication and departmental storytelling.
• Ensure communications are timely accurate engaging and aligned with RHSA priorities and university standards.

Campus Partnership Development & RHSA Representation:

• Serve as a key RHSA representative in meetings events collaborations and other outward facing opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with divisional and campus partners to support joint programming student referrals and coordinated student success efforts.
• Collaborate with faculty staff and campus departments to develop and implement initiatives that advance RHSA goals.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

Education:

• Bachelors degree required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 4-5 years relevant experience (preferably in higher education) developing & executing student success programs events initiatives and engagement opportunities.
• Experience leading the development implementation coordination and assessment of student programs events and initiatives.
• Experience supervising training and supporting student employees peer leaders or other student staff.
• Experience using data to monitor participation assess outcomes identify trends and inform program improvements.
• Knowledge of the opportunities barriers and support needs often associated with the first-generation college experience financial barriers to college access and persistence and other circumstances that may affect student success.

Skills:

• Strong leadership organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written verbal interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently exercise sound judgment and advance projects while keeping leadership appropriately informed.
• Ability to develop and execute outreach recruitment marketing and communication strategies across multiple platforms including social media.
• Ability to analyze information synthesize findings and make recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students faculty staff families and community partners from varied backgrounds and experiences.
• Commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment that promotes student success engagement and belonging.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters preferred.
• Experience in a university setting supporting transition retention student engagement leadership development or college success initiatives.
• Experience overseeing large scale events student leadership programs and department operations.
• Experience with student information systems data reporting tools presentation platforms and communication tools such as Canva PowerPoint and social media platforms.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This being an internal opportunity only current UML Employees irrespective of Bargaining units are eligible to apply for this position.

This position is full-time benefited and in the SEIU union in gradeP16. Anticipated salary based on range- minimum $5967 25th quartile: $67879 and midpoint of $76085.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.