Interim Student Bridges Program Director

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Under general direction, from the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advocacy, Inclusion & Support Programs (AISP), this position provides program and operational leadership and oversight for the Student Bridges Program. Serves as a key leader in the AISP collaborative, and as the primary liaison to Student Bridges Faculty Advisor, community partners/agencies and campus partners. This is an interim one (1) year position.

Essential Functions

• Provides direction and leadership for outcomes-based programs and services supporting student success and the student experience; includes defining and operationalizing department priorities and corresponding allocations of financial, staff and space resources to ensure successful completion of goals.
• Designs course syllabus, plans and teaches two service-learning seminars. Evaluates and documents class sessions, student experience and learning in the classroom. Manages student's community service-learning placements and attends meetings with community partner sites.
• Builds and sustains a positive and effective staff able to consistently meet or exceed programmatic goals and objectives. Establishes and sustains a culture of data-informed and consensus-led decision making.
• Supervises Student Bridges staff members and volunteers.
• Implements assessment efforts that measure the impacts and effectiveness of this program. Uses assessment results to inform future program emphases.
• Prepares reports summarizing the scope and impact of Student Bridges programs and services. Implements and utilize ongoing assessment strategies to evaluate and inform Student Bridges programs and services. Provides reports and necessary programmatic information to Student Government Association (SGA) to support annual funding requests from SGA funds.
• Financial responsibilities include:




• Oversees accuracy of recorded data using analytical reports and reconciliations.
• Utilizes financial databases and systems to manipulate and analyze financial data for internal and external reporting and decision making.
• Develops and implements short-term and long-term strategic plans and ongoing operations.




• Budget responsibilities include:




• Develops budget to include forecasting; monitors and reports variances/problems and recommend solutions.
• Has signature authority to implement solutions and release funds. Accepts an institutional responsibility for the university funds assigned.

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
• Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.
• Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master's degree in a related field, including but not limited to Higher Education Administration, Social Justice, or Sociology.
• Three (3) years of related work experience with demonstrated progression of greater responsibility in providing academic, developmental, and related programs and services for multicultural and otherwise diverse student populations in a university setting.
• Driver's license required for travel to work-related sites.
• Proven ability to design, plan, teach and evaluate community service-learning course.
• Contemporary knowledge of theory and best practices related to promoting, establishing, and sustaining positive, inclusive communities.
• Highly cultivated cultural competency, coupled with demonstrated ability to effectively relate to and support diverse, underrepresented and/or underserved populations; contemporary knowledge and understanding of issues and corresponding effective intervention strategies impacting underrepresented and underserved college student populations.
• Superior intercultural communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with community partners and agencies.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Doctoral/terminal degree in a related field, including but not limited to Higher Education, Administration, Social Justice, or Sociology; with one (1) year of related work experience with demonstrated progression of greater responsibility in providing academic, developmental, and related programs and services for multicultural and otherwise diverse student populations in a university setting.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office and classroom environment.

Work Schedule

• 37.5 hours per week.
• Required to work some nights and some weekends.
• Interim one (1) year position.

Salary Information

Level 27

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your resume and cover letter, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

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 pregnancy-related 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.