Position Function:
The Director for Pre-College & Opportunity Programs provides leadership, strategic vision, program design, and supervision for the operation of pre-college and opportunity programs at Mississippi State University. This individual is responsible for facilitating academic enrichment activities and coordinating pre-college programs across the University. Additionally, this position plays an integral role in increasing the number of students who are admitted and retained in pursuit of an undergraduate degree.
Salary Grade: 17
Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Engage and build relationships with local and regional educational leaders to identify critical needs, develop new and improve existing pre-college programs
2. Serves as the primary liaison to departments who offer Pre-College programs, ensuring they deliver an exceptional education experience in a manner consistent with institutional goals
3. Convene representatives from units hosting pre-college programs and other units such as Housing and Residence Life, Dining Services, Admissions & Scholarships, Student Activities, and other campus partners to coordinate, communicate, and share best practices for summer pre-college programs
4. Conduct regular assessments of pre-college programs across the institution
5. Maintain positive relationships with high school and K-12 district partners
6. Build a recruitment and retention strategy that focuses on converting pre-collegiate students to degree-seeking students at Mississippi State University
7. Oversees budgetary planning and management
8. Serve on divisional, university, and community committees as assigned or required
9. Performs related duties as required.
Supervision:
Received: Receives supervision from Vice President for Access, Opportunity, and Success
Given: Associate Director, Coordinators, Graduate Assistants, and Student (Graduate/Undergraduate) Interns
Minimum Qualifications:
Master’s degree or minimum of five to eight years of work experience in K-12 or higher education. Experience in budgeting, and staff selection and training; and must possess strong organizational, interpersonal, and management skills.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to lead high initiatives from conception to implementation
• Ability to travel to area high schools, participate in meetings, conferences, and other activities related to operations of pre-college and opportunity program initiatives
• Ability to plan, organize and implement assigned responsibilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to oversee and direct staff
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and advising skills.
• Sound judgement.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• No unusual physical requirements. Requires limited lifting of files and records and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.
• Frequent- External imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficulty to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotion issues or stress on a regular basis
• Ability to work weekends and long hours
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu and attach a cover letter and resume.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
