Veterans Upward Bound Director (Senior Student Services Program Administrator)

JOB SUMMARY

The Veterans Upward Bound Director administers and oversees the Veterans Upward Bound Program based at UConn, which focuses on increasing college enrollment and completion among low-income, first-generation veterans and their families by delivering personalized, knowledgeable guidance on college admissions, financial aid, and enrollment. The Veterans Upward Bound Director engages in outreach activities with military and Veterans organizations and other stakeholders and ensures that the program meets the guidelines for the Veterans Upward Bound program, including assessment, data management, and other related requirements.

Under the direction of the Director of the Office of Veterans Affairs and Military Programs, this position oversees the Veterans Upward Bound Program based at UConn. Responsible for coordination and delivery of the goals and objectives of the Veterans Upward Bound Program.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in planning, and administers day-to-day operations and delivery of the Veterans Upward Bound Program and monitors compliance with program requirements.
• Leads program to achieve goals aligned with increasing college and persistence and proven post-secondary outcomes for veterans and their families.
• Provides program administrative duties; including recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising staff; assigning, reviewing work, and evaluating Veterans Upward Bound Advisors and other staff for the program.
• Monitors approved grant budget, prepares budget reports and projections, and coordinates grant project deliverables and reports to the appropriate grant agency.
• Assures compliance with University, Veterans Upward Bound, state, federal, fiscal, and grant requirements, and prepares necessary reports.
• Engages, plans, and organizes outreach activities with local/state military and veterans organizations to ensure program promotion, college access and opportunities for veterans and families from underrepresented backgrounds, and meeting program metrics.
• Provides support and services to veterans/families to ensure financial aid completion and college transition for students.
• Participates in evaluation and assessment efforts of the program, including data collection and analysis of program outcomes, identifying problems and/or opportunities, and coordinating and implementing assessment outcomes.
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with University stakeholders, community members, and military and veterans organizations.
• Researches and assists in development initiatives, including writing proposals for federal, state, and private agencies and fundraising efforts to secure resources to support the delivery of services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, or a related field.
• Four years of related experience with at least three years of experience working with students who are first-generation to college, from low-income backgrounds, veterans/military, and/or populations underrepresented in higher education.
• Knowledge of and experience with college access and preparation and guidance efforts with veterans/military and/or with underrepresented populations in higher education.
• Experience in leading professional development training.
• Ability to identify and solve problems independently.
• Demonstrated strength in oral, written, and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of higher education and the challenges faced by students who are veterans/military, who are first-generation to college, from low-income backgrounds, and/or populations underrepresented in higher education.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong demonstrated administrative abilities in strategic planning, budgeting, resource management, and staff supervision.
• Experience with writing reports for state, federal, or school-based nonprofit organizations, and program evaluation.
• Grant writing and/or grant management experience.
• Familiarity with the full range of state and federal veteran benefits including, but not limited to educational benefits.
• Experience overcoming barriers similar to those confronting the project’s participants.
• Prior Uniformed Services experience.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time (35-hour per week) grant-funded, end-dated position, with the possibility for annual renewal. The grant is in year 1 of a 5-year grant cycle. The University offers a competitive salary, outstanding benefits including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. Due to grant funding limitations, the maximum target hiring salary is $70,000 per year. Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs , Staff Positions, Search #496902 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on October 31, 2022. 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp .

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.