Assistant Director of Step UP

Howard Community College ( HCC) is an exciting place to work, learn, and grow! We are proud to have received the Great Colleges to Work For honor for 12 consecutive years, 2009-2020.

Howard Community College values diversity among its faculty, staff and student population. We are an innovative institution that is committed to responding to the ever-changing needs and interests of a diverse and dynamic community. No matter where you want to go in your career, you can get there from here!

The assistant director of the Step UP program is responsible for the leadership, vision, and direction of this high impact program that offers coaching services to HCC students to ensure course success and overall persistence. The incumbent is responsible for staff supervision, budget management, and the continued growth and sustainability of the program. The assistant director collaborates with the director of the Silas Craft Collegians Program to lead joint initiatives supporting integrated learning and wrap-around support to students in specified courses. The assistant director leads the collection and analysis of data to assess program quality and institutional impact. The assistant director guides the Step UP leadership team and acts as a liaison and program advocate to the Associate Vice President of Learning Engagement for all actionable items. The assistant director collaborates with faculty and staff in support of this program and its students. Due to the cross-functional nature of the program, the assistant director is a vital decision maker and leader who must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills.

This position requires an experienced leader with the ability to work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders collaboratively and effectively. In addition, the assistant director must possess current knowledge of best practices and trends in student retention and success initiatives for diverse populations. The assistant director also collaborates with various college communities and corresponds with other institutions seeking program information and best practices.

* Oversee day-to-day program operations to ensure appropriate and timely coaching takes place between coaches and students, and immediately intervene to resolve issues regarding specific coaching challenges, including occasional crisis management.

* Ensure that program operations are in compliance with all policies and procedures including FERPA, Title IX, and other regulations to minimize risk. Serve as first line of institutional response to Step UP students and other constituencies in times of crisis.

* Train, supervise, and support program coaches, including onboarding of all new coaches and evaluating eligibility and sustainability of student/coach matches. Support and lead the professional development of program staff to ensure culturally relevant and timely training of coaches in keeping with best practices and to deliver equitable support to all Step UP students.

* Collaborate with the Director of the Silas Craft Collegians Program to lead joint initiatives supporting integrated learning and wrap-around support to students in specified courses.

* Lead program marketing and outreach activities, recruitment, enrollment, strategic planning, and ongoing effort to gather data and access program impact and success. Oversee periodic data requests from college leadership.

* Foster strategic partnerships with other academic areas within Teaching and Learning and Student Success, to increase program awareness, coach participation, and bolster course success and completion. Routinely collaborate with the Associate Vice President of Learning Engagement to develop and evaluate long-range goals for the Step UP program.

* Initiate contact with Step UP student non-completers or non-responders to triage and gather program improvement ideas from student stakeholders. Investigate and deliver continuous program improvements through research and implementation of new initiatives to enhance program growth, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

* Regularly review policies and administrative procedures to ensure optimal levels of workflow efficiency, program transparency, and risk mitigation.

* Develop and responsibly manage the program budget in compliance with all college policies including vendor transactions, trainer/facilitator payments, event purchases and meal disbursement for initial student/coach meetings.

* Direct Step UP scholarship selection, award disbursement and tracking for Step UP scholarships each semester.

* Lead the collection, management, and evaluation of critical data and longitudinal tracking of Step UP cohort, for end of term analyses and completion.

* Oversee maintenance of internal and external online communication tools.

* Bachelor's degree required and three years of administrative experience, encompassing budget management and grant reporting, personnel supervision, and strategic planning.

* Operational knowledge of computer software including Office 365 and database software.

* Experience with program evaluation and assessment.

* Operational knowledge of institutional technology including student information systems and learning management systems.
* Excellent organizational and planning skills with ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously without supervision.

* Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships across the institution.

* Possess high level analytical skills to accurately collect, evaluate, and interpret data; and must be able to continuously adapt to technology needs of the institution.

* Regular attendance is required.

* Creativity, problem-solving and research skills required

* Excellent project management skills including precise and accurate attention to detail.

* Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgement under pressure to resolve sensitive issues creatively and resourcefully with minimal supervision.

* Performs all duties while considering the impact of any actions on the college's sustainability initiatives in the areas of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.

Work in a typical office environment with moderate level of noise and distraction.

Must be able to work without direct supervision.

Howard Community College offers competitive salaries, excellent medical and dental selections, tuition reimbursement and paid leave programs. As a participating member of the Maryland Retirement and Pension System, HCC offers two retirement options: The Pension, which requires a 7% employee contribution and The ORP, a 403(b) with a 7.25% employer contribution only. Employees in positions that do not require a bachelor's degree must participate in The Pension. Employees that possess a bachelor's degree and hold professional positions that require a bachelor's degree may choose to participate in either The Pension or The ORP.

*Pre-employment criminal background investigation is a condition of employment.

HCC is interested in all qualified applicants who are eligible to work in the United States. However, HCC will generally not sponsor applicants for work visas. Due to HCC policy, only employees living in states contiguous to Maryland are eligible for work at HCC and include Virginia, West Virginia, Washington DC, Pennsylvania. Candidates must live in the commutable area or willing to relocate at their own expense if offered the position because HCC does not offer relocation benefits.

Please complete the entire HCC Employment Application (Candidates will be evaluated on completing the college's application in full).

Howard Community College ( HCC) is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action employer & values diversity within its faculty, staff & student population. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
HCC understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance with the job application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 443-518-1100.