Upward Bound Math/Science Project Director

SALARY:

$48,890.00

POSITION TITLE:

Upward Bound Math/Science Project Director

DEPARTMENT:

TRIO

JOB DESCRIPTION:

EMPLOYMENT TERMS: Full-time, 12 months

PRIMARY DUTY:

The primary duties of this position include providing leadership and oversight for Northwest’s Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program to ensure effective program operations, student engagement and success, and compliance with federal TRIO regulations and grant objectives. UBMS supports 71 high school students from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska who demonstrate academic need and are first-generation and/or low-income. Responsibilities include program operations, student recruitment and success, academic and STEM programming, staff supervision, grant compliance, data and reporting, and coordination of academic-year and summer residential programming.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide leadership for the Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program to ensure strong student engagement, effective program services, and progress toward program outcomes.
• Identify and actively recruit the required number of eligible high school students to participate in the grant project each year.
• Design and implement an engaging, STEM-focused academic curriculum for the UBMS summer residential program that promotes academic preparation, college readiness, career exploration, and student success.
• Hire, train, and supervise UBMS professional staff, academic staff, and student assistants for the summer residential programs.
•  Oversee Academic Year school-based mentors and academic year STEM projects and activities.
•  Assist the Coordinator of Counseling in designing and implementing a positive residential and/or virtual programming experience for the students.
• Develop and maintain program marketing materials and promotional content.
• Maintain Project Database and ensure timely, accurate submission of compliance reports to the Department of Education, including documentation of student participation and budget expenditures, in full accordance with federal requirements.
• Work with the TRIO Specialist to develop and manage the program budget to ensure compliant, effective use of federal funds. Monitor expenditures, coordinate procurement, prepare financial documentation, and maintain financial records in accordance with federal and institutional requirements. 
• Assist with developing and submitting grant proposals to secure continued program funding.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education:  Master’s degree in Education, Student Development, Counseling or Administration.

Experience:  Minimum three years of experience working with disadvantaged students or students in a high school aged educational setting.  Experience required with designing challenging academic curriculums, assessing student needs and supervising others.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position will work in an office style setting from the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with an hour lunch break and occasional nights and weekends. Some conference and program travel is required. Attendance at eight Saturday Academies is also required. This position is identified as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). The CSA will attend required CSA training and is an official of the University who has significant responsibility for students and campus activities and the authority to take action for the University.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervise Coordinator of Counseling, seven Field Tutors during academic year, and 15-20 part time employees during the summer component of the program

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: Computer and presentation materials

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift up to 20 pounds

COMMUNITY:

Northwest Missouri State University located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY:

With an enrollment of more than 8,500 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their university experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.

Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 98 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data. 

Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.

Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area,  a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.

The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. 

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.