Director, SSSP/Advantage Grant Program at Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Application Instructions

Send a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references from previous supervisors, and one (1) professional reference from a colleague, to resumes@racc.edu

Please indicate the job code DSSSP-AP in the subject line of your email.

After sending in your documents, please fill out the online Job Applicant Identifier form. RACC is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with government regulations we are required to record numbers of job applicants by sex and ethnic category. We ask that you indicate your race or national origin and sex, but you are not required to provide this information. This information will not be kept with your application and will be used only in accordance with state and federal regulations.

Background Check

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Job Details Title:Director, SSSP/Advantage Grant ProgramAnnounce date:02/19/2025Apply by date:03/05/2025 preferredApplication status:Accepting ApplicationsPosition type: Full-time Salary:$52,000- $62,000 per year

The position is contingent upon continued grant funding.This position is an exempt position under state and federal law. This document does not create a contract or any other obligation and employee status remains that of "at will".

Working Hours:

Working hours for this position consist of a 7.5 hour period exclusive of a 1/2 or 1 hour lunch. Specific work hours to be agreed upon by the supervisor and employee prior to the onset of employment.

Summary:

The Advantage Program at RACC is a federal TRIO Program - SSSP (Student Support Services Program) grant that is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The Advantage Program is a comprehensive academic support program that serves a diverse group of students that are low-income, first-generation college students and/or are students with disabilities with the goal of helping them to be successful in College and complete their degree.

The TRIO SSSP/Advantage Director is responsible for the effective development, implementation and annual renewal of a five-year, federally funded program aimed at helping students graduate.

As a member of the Student Affairs leadership team, the TRIO SSSP/Advantage Director will implement Advantage program in collaboration with other College offices and advocate for the program and the students that are served to ensure that students fully integrate into the college setting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Meets and monitors progress toward goals established for the program that is in conjunction with RACC's Strategic Plan for retention and student success. Provide regular reports on progress made by the program.


2. Oversees strategic planning, program development and data management for the grant.


3. Collaborates with the Advantage program staff to market the program, recruit eligible students and develop a plan for student success.


4. Confirms eligibility of participating students and monitors the cohorts' overall characteristics related to income, first-generation and disability status to maintain compliance with grant requirements.


5. Collaborates with the program staff to review program data; utilizes these results to establish program goals.


6. Oversee the development of individual education plans for program students. Consults with individual students and refers them to appropriate college and community resources to help them overcome academic, financial, socio-emotional and professional challenges.


7. Coordinates and directs regular meetings with representatives from other college offices to provide student support and implement effective programs, services and events.


8. Tracks all interactions with program students and their outcomes utilizing appropriate student information systems and grant reporting tools.


9. Facilitate individual and group sessions and workshops on topics related to financial management, academic, personal and professional success for program students.


10. Attends professional development and promotes program relevance by participating in national conferences and other opportunities related to serving low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.


11. Implements and complies with grant administration requirements; maintains knowledge of RACC's policies and procedures related to graduation requirements, performance expectations, student records, conduct, financial aid, academic and career counseling, and other College practices.


12. Motivates students to establish ambitious and attainable goals and standards, and supports students in achieving their goals


13. Participates in meetings and collaborates with other college departments as required; represents the SSS/Advantage program internally and externally


14. Administers the program budget and consults with various internal college departments to develop budgets and grant proposals for annual renewals; submit annual program data and reports to the US Department of Education.


15. Develops and implements communication plans to use with program staff and program students.


16. Promotes an inclusive college and program environment


17. Hires, trains and supervises the department staff, facilitating professional opportunities to improve individual capability and managing performance against job accountabilities, department goals and the college's strategic plan


18. Develop student learning outcomes for the program that support the College's strategic plan. Conduct periodic assessment of these student learning outcomes and make recommendations for improvement. Submit end of semester reports and annual unit reports to document program changes and process improvements.


19. Performs other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervises the department staff.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Master's degree preferably in education, student affairs, guidance counseling, social work, psychology or a related field of study


• Experience in project management


• Three years of supervisory experience


• Knowledge of and commitment to serving bilingual/bicultural student populations and others traditionally underrepresented in higher education


• Attendance on Campus

Preferred:

1. Community College experience


2. Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred

Other Skills and Abilities:

1. Excellent communication and public speaking skills


2. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with people


3. Excellent written communication skills especially in the areas of report writing and business correspondence

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Internet skills. Knowledge of Ellucian Colleague or other administrative software a plus.

Communication Skills:

Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, to sit and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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