Assistant Director - TRIO Upward Bound Programs East

Assistant Director - East

Penn State's Upward Bound Programs (UBP) in the Office of Educational Equity is inviting applications for the position of Assistant Director - East. Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits.

UBP Serves : High school students in the Hazleton, Mifflin County, Mount Union, Newport, Reading, and Steelton-Highspire School Districts who are from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

The Assistant Director reports to the UBP Director and is responsible for the planning, coordination, assessment, and supervision of significant components of Upward Bound Programs including the academic programming for weekend academies and the residential component of the six-week summer academy. In addition, the Assistant Director has oversight responsibility for the UBP full-time staff working in the Hazleton and Reading School Districts. The Assistant Director is expected to be living in or move to the Reading / Hazleton area. In addition, the Assistant Director will visit the schools weekly and work with students and UBP staff in the Hazleton and Reading School Districts.

The successful candidate works within a loosely structured framework consisting of several unique but interrelated programs with defined outcome objectives; considerable latitude is given in terms of how defined outcomes are met. Although the UBP Director sets priorities, the ideal candidate must be able to work independently and make critical decisions related to the scope of duties and responsibilities. The Assistant Director is responsible for establishing positive rapport and good lines of communication with program staff, university staff and faculty, target schoolteachers and administrators, parents, and members of the local community. This position will also take a leadership role in all areas of program assessment and evaluation including facilitating the collection of outcome results for several federal annual performance reports.

Competencies critical to success include :

• Outstanding interpersonal verbal and written communications
• Effective analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Evidence of effective personnel management and leadership
• History of successful grant writing
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• The ability to handle multiple complex tasks and meet deadlines

Under the supervision of the UBP Director, the ideal candidate will have experience applicable to the following areas of responsibility covered by this position :

Education and Experience :

Minimally requires a Master's Degree and six (6) years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. We are seeking someone with experience planning, coordinating, and supervising instructional services and developing curriculum at the high school or college level; qualitative & quantitative evaluation; UB or similar equity program; with Excel, database and social media platforms; and communicating / collaborating with individuals from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and ages. Experience working with federally funded TRIO Programs is preferred but not required.

Schedule or Travel Requirements :

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

This position requires the following clearances :

PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to clearances.

This is a term appointment funded for one year from the start date with an excellent opportunity for renewal.

Additional Information :

Applicants should expect that while some remote work is possible, their presence will be required in University Park on a regular basis.

Application instructions :

Please submit a resume and cover letter to apply. Candidates who do not submit a cover letter will not be considered.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is : $51,000.00 - $74,000.00 Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.