Upward Bound Project Assistant Director

Job Summary:

Under general supervision and direction of the Project Director (PD), the Project Assistant Director (PAD) will oversee and facilitate the planning, implementation and enrollment for the Upward Bound (UB) college preparation program and activities for approximately 60 ninth through twelfth grade participants at the International Preparatory High School (IPREP). The PAD will assist the PD with overall program evaluation and compilation for the Department of Education regulations. The PAD will provide direct supervision to the Project Advisor (PA) who will administer, coordinate, and implement program services, in-person and virtually to assigned high school participants of the Upward Bound Program.

The UB program provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The goal of UB is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Essential Job Duties:

• Assist the PD in planning, coordination and administration of academic support services, college access and post-secondary preparation.
•  Public school collaboration as the in school D’Youville University liaison to IPREP High School.
• Organization and maintenance of program and participant data.
•  Coordination, scheduling and participation in program special events and field experiences.
•  Supervise implementation of services by program staff.
•  Provide assistance to the PD in staff recruitment, training, scheduling and evaluation.
• Supports the PD in administering, coordinating and implementing program services at the target high school IPREP; including, but not limited to: coordinating tutoring services to integrate reading, writing, and mathematics to address areas of need and support; assisting in secondary school course selection; preparing and registering for college entrance examinations and completing college applications; applying for financial aid; seeking and applying for internship opportunities; facilitating workshops on career and self-development, financial/economic literacy and resources for post-secondary education.
• Work with the PD on organizing large-scale events to include orientation, end of the year awards banquet, and others.
• Once participants reach college, help them connect with other support services, such as those provided by other TRIO programs or state funded agencies.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of academic advising and college, career, financial aid and economic literacy activities and services for low-income and potential first-generation college students.
• Ability to perform recruitment presentations.
• Ability to review, analyze, and evaluate program applications.
• Ability to effectively maintain a caseload of Project Participants and provide them with services and activities as indicated on their Individual Service Plans and Academic Progress Plans.
•  Knowledge of basic computer skills including Office software.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
•  Exceptional interpersonal, counseling, communication, organization and facilitation skills.
• Ability to assist the PD in supervising and evaluating the work of others.
• Ability to assist PD in collecting and analyzing data and conducting internal Project evaluations (formative and summative).
• Supports the Project Advisor (PA) with working directly with seniors to ensure timely submission of all college applications, financial aid materials and Post-Secondary planning.
• Supports the PD and PA in maintaining and ensuring accuracy of participants’ data in files and database in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education Guidelines in the preparation of the Annual Performance Report and other program related reports;
• Maintains effective relationships with school administrators, counselors, teachers, parents and community agencies.
• Supports PD in the planning, development and implementation of the Summer Instructional Component.
• Serves as a constructive and positive role model for personal behavior, academic pursuits, and adherence to program policies.

Other Requirements

• Attends appropriate TRIO conferences and/or professional development trainings as required.
• Attends staff, departmental, and required meetings.
• Adheres to all company policies and procedures.
• Must be flexible to work evenings and weekends and travel with students as required.

Core Competencies

·         Adaptability & Accountability: Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; accepts criticism and feedback; changes approach or method to best fit the situation and takes responsibility for own actions.

·         Analytical Skills: Synthesizes complex or diverse information, prioritizes projects and determine best way of meeting deadlines and requirements. 

·         Attendance & Punctuality: Schedules time off in advance, begins working on time, keeps absences within guidelines, ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent and arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

·         Business Ethics: Works with integrity and ethically, upholds organizational values and abides by written policies.

·         Communication: Expresses ideas and thoughts clearly both verbally and in written form, exhibits good listening skills and comprehension, responds well to questions, writes clearly and informatively and edits work for spelling and grammar. Presents accurate numerical data effectively.

·         Compliance: Within specified functional area of authority, is personally accountable to understand and ensure regulatory and policy compliance with state and federal requirements in accordance with his/her respective job duties and responsibilities.

·         Confidentiality: Maintains a high degree of confidentiality.

·         Customer Service: Provides prompt and high-quality service to team members, vendors and internal/external customers.

·         Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions in a timely manner, exhibits sound and accurate judgment, supports and explains reasoning for decisions, includes appropriate people in decision-making process and takes responsibility for communication including what is heard.

·         Organization: Maintains clean, functional workspace and continuous workflow to meet daily/weekly/monthly deadlines.                   

·         Teamwork / Morale: Treats others with respect and courtesy, gives and welcomes feedback, inspires the trust of others, exhibits tact and consideration, displays positive outlook and pleasant manner, offers assistance and support to co-workers, and works cooperatively in group situations. Demonstrates professional demeanor.

·         Training: Completes company required training in a timely manner.

Experience & Education:

• Master’s degree required in education, counseling, social work, public administration, or related field from an accredited college or university. Work experience may not be substituted for the master’s degree requirement for this position.
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in the areas of staff supervision, program development, and evaluation knowledge of admission and application requirements of postsecondary school institutions, preparation and registration for college entrance exams, financial aid process and financial/economic literacy.
• Minimum of one (1) year of appropriate and relevant professional experience working in a TRIO federal program or similar program/project with disadvantaged and at-risk students, experience coordinating and supervising project programming and field experiences, experience advising and assisting students with the college admissions and financial aid process.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of first-generation and/or low-income students; understanding of cross-cultural values regarding education; and the ability to establish rapport with the target population.

Computer and Software Skills

• Strong working proficiency of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and Teams; 
• Experience in database management.

About the Institution:

D’Youville is a highly regarded private college and research institution with a rich history located on the vibrant West Side of Buffalo adjacent to a growing downtown with year-round cultural events and outdoor recreation. While preparing students for the 21st-century, D’Youville excels at helping students reach their career goals as change agents, doing well for themselves and their communities by doing good. Under the leadership of President Lorrie Clemo, the university is moving boldly forward through a dynamic and integrated planning process to strengthen the institution and positively impact the student experience and surrounding community.

Founded in 1908, the Grey Nuns named the college after the Patron Saint Marguerite D’Youville and committed to making it a compassionate place of learning for those from underrepresented populations. That commitment and tradition continue today. D’Youville was the first college in Western New York to offer baccalaureate degree programs for women. With a long Catholic history, D’Youville welcomes students of every culture, background, and faith and is a place where different faith traditions can be openly shared and respected. Coeducational since 1971, D’Youville strives to expand opportunities for diverse learners, including adults, first-generation, low-income, and other students historically underrepresented in higher education.

Today, D’Youville features an urban, growing campus community of 3,000 students and offers more than 50 majors in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies including advanced certificates and accelerated learning programs. Featuring degrees in healthcare, business, and the liberal arts, D’Youville encourages students to balance their learning with activities that integrate community service with coursework. D’Youville’s proud graduates have the academic strengths necessary for careers that make a difference and the skills to be leaders for the world. To learn more about D’Youville, please visit http://www.dyc.edu/.

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