Edtech.com's Summary

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is hiring a Director of Upward Bound to oversee all aspects of the Upward Bound Program. The director will manage program planning, budgeting, staff supervision, student recruitment, academic support, and ensure compliance with institutional and grant regulations, focusing on preparing disadvantaged high school students for postsecondary education.

Highlights

Supervise and evaluate staff across multiple locations including satellite sites.
Develop and manage the program budget, ensuring compliance with grant and institutional guidelines.
Create and oversee a college preparatory curriculum including advisement, academic support, and college planning.
Prepare grant applications for funding through the U.S. Department of Education and other sources.
Recruit, train, and evaluate project staff and student participants from target schools and communities.
Maintain accurate records related to budget, enrollments, academic performance, and postsecondary outcomes.
Master’s degree required; experience in educational program administration and grant writing essential.
Preferred candidate holds an earned doctorate and has strong knowledge of educational and socio-economic issues affecting disadvantaged students.
Salary range is $77,500 - $91,000 with benefits including employer-paid health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
Must be available for some evening, weekend work, and travel; experience working with culturally diverse student populations required.

Director Upward Bound Full Description

POSITION TITLE: Director of Upward Bound

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: ESU, Cat. 16

EEO STATUS: 3.2

JOB CODE: 023

SUPERVISES: The Director is responsible for the supervision and evaluation of staff assigned to the Upward Bound Program, both on and off campus and at the Program's satellite sites.

SUMMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION: Responsible for administration and supervision of all aspects of the Upward Bound Program including, planning; budgeting; record keeping and program performance reporting; development of policies and procedures; recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of staff; outreach activities to target schools and local community; recruitment of student participants; and fostering parent and program relations. An essential function of the Director will be to formulate and manage the budget of the program, ensuring that expenditures are in accordance with institutional and grant source stipulations and regulations. The Director will also oversee the development of curriculum; advisement; academic support services; college exploration and planning activities; college finance awareness; and student development.

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develops and oversees the plan of operations for the Academic Year component and the six weeks residential Summer Program component of the project.
Develops and manages Program budget, authorizes and monitors project expenditures, ensuring compliance with institutional and grant source stipulations and regulations.
Develops and supervises a college preparatory program including instruction, academic support, student development, advisement and college awareness designed to prepare disadvantaged high school students for postsecondary education.
Directs all activities, including a college preparatory tutorial and/or supplemental instruction program in established target school site.
Prepares grant application for funding from U.S. Dept. of Education for each five-year funding cycle and develops proposals for funding from federal and state government entities, UMD campus, foundations and other external sources.
Recruits, trains, supervises and evaluates project staff.
Develops project policies and procedures consistent with relevant federal, state, and campus laws, regulations and guidelines.
Maintains awareness of all relevant campus collective bargaining agreements as well as all relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines of the U.S. Dept of Education.
Oversees the design and implementation of instructional curriculum and academic support services.
Oversees the development of the plan of recruitment for students and supervises the recruitment and enrollment effort for project participants and engages is outreach to local target schools and communities to promote the Program and support recruitment.
Ensures that all appropriate records and information are properly generated, maintained, and stored, including but not limited to records pertaining to budget and financial activities, project enrollments, student academic performance, and participant postsecondary enrollment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Master’s degree in a field relevant to the Program's mission and goals.

EXPERIENCE: Demonstrated experience in the administration of educational service programs.

Working experience with grant proposal writing, administration of grant-funded programs, and budget development and management.

OTHER: Successful experience working with students from disadvantaged and culturally diverse backgrounds. Must be available for occasional evening and weekend work hours. Some travel required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Earned doctorate

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Demonstrated ability to manage a multi-faceted educational services program.
Demonstrated skill in developing and managing a program budget.
Knowledge of college preparatory requirements.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with local public secondary schools.
Knowledge of, and sensitivity to educational and socio-economic issues affecting disadvantaged high school students.
Successful supervisory experience with professional staff.
Strong organizational skills.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to develop successful proposals for grant funding.
Ability to manage and supervise staff within the constraints of collective bargaining agreements.

SALARY: $77,500-$91,000

UMass Dartmouth offers exciting benefits such as:

75% Employer-Paid Health Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Life Insurance
Long Term Disability
State Pension Retirement Plan
Optional Retirement Savings Plans
Tuition Credit (Employee, Spouse, & Dependents)
Twelve (12) paid holidays
Paid personal, vacation, and sick time
And More!

Benefits for ESU Union: ESU

Applicants must be authorized for employment in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.

To apply please submit a letter of interest, a current resume and the contact information for three professional references.

The deadline for internal ESU applicants is November 20, 2025.

The review of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled.

Original Job Description