Program Coordinator II (Visual Studies Program)

General Summary:

The Program Coordinator, within the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD), will provide leadership in supporting and expanding the existing Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) program from a regional model to one that will support applicants nationally and internationally. The incumbent will work closely with the Vision Studies Program Director to maintain the high standards through growth and development of the VRT program. The incumbent will provide program implementation and will review applications, conduct interviews, provide advising and support pre-practicum and preparation for practicum. The incumbent will maintain the program database, as well as participate in accreditation activities; and will participate in state and federal data collection, as required. S/he will conduct outreach and build partnerships with a wide range of state agencies and community organizations; will work with the Vision Studies team to develop best practices and products which will be disseminated locally and nationally addressing the issues related to the preparation of highly qualified professionals in visual impairment; and will teach the VRT area coursework. The incumbent will be required to travel throughout the state, and national travel may also be required based on project assignments.

Examples of Duties:

• Review applications, conduct candidate interviews and develop Programs of Study for accepted candidates in the Vision Studies Program; provide advising through the program and mentoring beyond graduation as indicated in state and federal projects; provide course development and support of adjunct faculty training;
• Maintain program database and student files; manage programmatic, local licensing and national certification paperwork; assist the PI in managing information required for state and federal grants;
• Provide leadership, area expertise and oversight to support the expansion of an effective distance education curricula in the area of specialization, including new graduate certificates to meet the needs of the profession;
• Conduct outreach activities in order to build partnerships and collaborations locally, regionally and nationally to address project goals and to develop new business opportunities. Work with State Liaisons and others in the profession to network regionally and nationally to assist with practicum observations;
• Develop and maintain current products such as the manuals/handbooks, training materials, journal articles, web-based and other materials;
• Work in collaboration with Vision Studies team to develop and integrate the specialty area into an effective, current, overall program. Collect and analyze data that will inform future curricula and development activities;
• Provide leadership in the specific area and work collaboratively across the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD) work groups and departments;
• Develop and implement strategies and products that are accessible and responsive to a wide range of audiences including individuals with disabilities, individuals from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds and family members of individuals with disabilities;
• Stay abreast of any changes in the field related to visual impairment services and supports for individuals with disabilities;
• Serve on SGISD committees and participate in activities that support the continued growth and progress of the program;
• Teach the area specific coursework;
• Participate in the registration process by keeping the database current for the financial memos and communicate with students to about registration information each semester;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Master's Degree in Rehabilitation, Special Education, or a closely related field with a concentration in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy and a minimum of three-five (3-5) years of experience teaching as a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT). All candidates must have and maintain throughout the duration of employment in the position a VRT national professional certification from the Academy for the Certification Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals. Experience with training staff, consumers, community organizations, parents or others in the area of visual impairment is required. Local and regional travel is required. National or international travel may also be required, based on project assignments.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
• Ability to provide empathy in difficult interpersonal situations;
• Ability to work on numerous projects simultaneously;
• Ability to effectively and efficiently work in a team capacity with a broad range of SGISD personnel to accomplish goals related to project work;
• Ability to collaborate across projects to enhance overall SGISD capacity;
• Strong analytical skills to collect information from diverse sources, apply professional principles in performing various analyses and summarize the information and data in order to solve problems or offer insights into program impacts;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link:

Grade: 32

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position. This is a grant funded position with a current end date of September 30, 2026, subject to renewal contingent on funding and university needs.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.