Gear UP Assistant Director

The GEAR UP Program Assistant Director assists the GEAR UP Program Director in the overall management and leadership required to meet legislative mandates, university goals, and local campus and strategic objectives for GEAR UP student-centered initiatives and provides oversight with school centered initiatives in GEAR UP schools. Responsibilities include assisting the program director with supervising program staff, managing an annually assigned operation and personal budget and collaborating with College and Career OPTIONS partners in the planning and coordination of information sessions and special events in the community. The assistant director will collaborate with the program director to organize and direct the GEAR UO and College and Career OPTIONS program’s educational outreach services including counseling, mentoring, matriculation assistance, special classes, college visitations, parent and child college planning classes and programs, developing departmental strategic plans and policies. Additional responsibilities include preparing written reports outlining the program’s outcomes and effectiveness and writing the annual report for submission to the U.S Department of Education.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Masters Degree preferred
• Must maintain a valid CA driver’s license
• Prior experience with federal TRiO or GEAR UP programs preferred
• Experience with program development and management expertise to design, implement, and evaluate initiatives serving diverse communities
• Experience recruiting, supervising, and motivating staff
• Knowledge of all levels of education, including K-12 and higher education
• Personal or professional experience to assist with outreach efforts to increase the educational achievement, specifically among students from diverse populations and language backgrounds
• Prior experience and existing skills to understand, analyze, interpret, evaluate, and apply federal/state/university rules regulations, policies and reporting
• Proven leadership and decision-making skills to evaluate program/student needs, problem-solve, chair meetings/committees, and train other staff
• Prior budget management experience, accessing budgetary needs and overseeing budgetary allocations
• Interpersonal and leadership skills to interact with individuals of varying backgrounds to establish and maintain collaborative relationships
• Communication skills to prepare written reports, proposals, correspondence, assessments, email and other materials for a variety of audiences
• Ability to competently use various technology tools
• Experience planning, preparing, and monitoring complex education budgets by integrating program goals, projects, plans, staffing needs and statistical data
• Ability to represent Simpson University well in a variety of professional settings

General Expectations:

• Personal relationship with Jesus, a vibrant Christian faith, and a commitment to Christian community; capable of sharing faith and engaging in conversations about Christ.
• Demonstrate Simpson University Values in the performance of all duties.
• Maintain lifestyle in accordance with Simpson University Lifestyle Policy in Staff Handbook
• Maintain the confidentiality of information, data and records. Properly use tact, diplomacy, discretion and judgment
• Demonstrate strong customer service skills in the performance of job duties.
• Demonstrate good organizational and communication skills in the performance of job duties.
• Supervises employees in accordance with Simpson University policies and procedures (for supervisory positions)
• Support the overflow needs of other departments within the respective university area.
• Perform other duties in accordance with this position as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.

Essential Functions:

• Perform various administrative duties, including but not limited to data entry, file management, scheduling appointments, and providing general office support to ensure efficient operations
• Assist director with implementing, administering, and managing all activities of GEAR UP
• Assist director to hire, train, supervise, and evaluate GEAR UP staff
• Assist director with the development and management of annual program budget, approval and control all fiscal expenditures, and ensure compliance with federal regulations
• Prepare statistical and narrative evaluation reports or program activities and services as required by the U.S. Department of Education
• Direct services to motivate and prepare participants for post-secondary education
• Establish relationships and coordinate program services and activities with school personnel, other public agencies and other outreach programs to create new and strengthen existing programs
• Assess student needs, develop strategies and resources to meet them, and conduct regular review to ensure student progress
• Provide counsel and support to participants
• Develop and direct data gathering techniques to evaluate program services and activities
• Assess project needs and develop short and long-range goals
• Determine workload priorities and delegate work assignments to meet objectives and goals
• Collaborate with other federal, state, and community educational access and financial service programs
• Write and submit to the Department of Education a new GEAR UP grant to maintain the continuity of GU services through Simpson University

Related Responsibilities:

• Represent Simpson University GEAR UP at campus information/training programs.
• Serve on various committees and advisory groups to set policy, strategy, and direction for programs to improve opportunities for students served.
• Collaborate with other department outreach programs and services

Physical Requirements:

Analysis of Physical Demands to Perform Essential Functions:

Key (Based on typical week):

N=Never
R=Rarely (Less than 1 hour per week)
O=Occasional (1%-33% of time)

F=Frequent (34%-66% of time)
C=Constant (over 66% of time)

Rate: $28.85 hourly