Trio Programs - Assistant Director

Job Summary: Our Assistant Director for the Upward Bound Program works with first-generation low-income high school students in Tarrant & Dallas counties. The Assistant Director supervises a team that recruits students from target area high schools, provides onsite after-school college readiness services, plans field trips and events, and facilitates a six-week college readiness summer program. The Assistant Director strives every day to ensure program participants complete high school, and enroll in a program of postsecondary education.
Anticipated Start Date: May 13, 2024
Assistant Directors will office in the Cleburne office half the day, and then will attend onsite after-school college readiness programs at Venus HS in Venus, TX (approx. 2 days/week) and Alvarado HS in Alvarado, TX (approx. 2 days/week). Also, Assistant Directors will be attending all field trips, required in-person team meetings, and other events. Reliable transportation is required.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Administrative

• Provide oversight of daily operations of the team, ensuring all programming and team members work cooperatively to meet program objectives
• Lead team meetings as needed
• Assist with expense tracking and budget expenditures in coordination with Program Director
• Support the program in meeting all grant objectives by accurately collecting and tracking critical datasets for program participants, and supporting the submission of the Annual Performance Report
• Ensure all programming, external communications, and team members reflect positively on the organization, including branding, grammar, spelling, tone, professionalism, etc.
• Willingness to create and maintain epic partnerships with community partners and target school key personnel
• Maintain clean data in the student database, support grant recordkeeping, including participant files, and produce reports as needed
• Accurately track and report time and effort for self and all team members
• Knowledge of ORS internal policies, procedures and systems, and ensure all team members are in compliance
• Knowledge of TRIO regulations, and ensure the programs are in compliance
• Train and supervise team members, including College Access Advisors, Office Assistants, Summer Staff members, and Program Coordinators

Student Development

• Provide daily oversight for the onsite After School Program, ensuring high-quality service delivery
• Lead the development of field trips to colleges, universities, cultural sites, and hands-on STEM activities
• Ensure successful matriculation of graduating students, by providing one-on-one assistance with FAFSA, College Applications, Scholarship applications

Programming

• Provide direction and coordination of participant recruitment at target schools
• Review student applications and select students for approval by Project Director
• Ensure program evaluation data is collected for field trips, events, and other services
• Assist in yearly calendar planning, including Summer & Academic Year programming

ORS Team Member Expectations

• Contribute to the organization beyond programming by participating in committees, fundraisers, and general promotion
• Support the programs and organization by capturing success stories and pictures
• Communicate clearly and consistently with team members using calendar, Slack, Google Meets, email, and other appropriate systems

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in education, social work, or other related field; work experience in pre-college TRIO Programs or similar; and significant experience working with disadvantaged youth in educational environments. Candidates must have proficient knowledge of college entry (FAFSA, scholarship essay writing, and degree planning), the ability to manage details and effectively plan program events, a passion for educational outreach and working with youth. Must be highly adept in the use of technology including social media. Candidates must have the ability to manage complex tasks and track details. Candidates must have project management and personnel supervision experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in education, counseling, or other related field; excellent written and oral presentation skills, the ability to work independently in a results-oriented environment, knowledge of Upward Bound regulations, and personal experience overcoming barriers similar to those confronting the project's target population. Experience working in higher education is preferred.
Travel Requirements: Candidates must be willing to travel with students on events, including overnight. In a typical year, Upward Bound staff will facilitate six field trips during the academic school year, and six field trips during the six-week summer program. One of the trips during the summer is a multiday event often requiring travel out of state. The overall percent of work that includes travel is estimated at 25%.
Physical Demands: Must be able to lift and carry 40 lbs., to stand and walk for long periods of time, to endure strong heat and cold, to climb stairs and to fly on airplane. Must be able to project voice and speak publicly. Must be able to drive a vehicle, read road signs, judge distance, and spend extensive hours in front of a computer screen. Must be able to listen carefully to others on the telephone.
Reports to: Program Director
Opportunity Resource Services is committed to a policy of providing employment opportunities to all qualified people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.