Assistant Director -Student Support Services Program (A00733)

Job Summary

This position assists the Director of TRIO-Student Support Services Program (SSSP) with the overall SSSP grant goals and objectives at Mercy University, at all campuses.

Administrative/Technical/Service

• Ensure that opportunity grant counseling services funded by SSSP are provided to eligible students.
• Work directly with counselors developing and implementing a student success plan.
• Promote retention and graduation strategies by making sure project objectives are satisfied and services are being provided as described in the grant.
• Aid director with the planning and implementation of the recruitment process, interviewing students, determining student eligibility, monitor grant admission materials and make recommendations.
• Cook with financial aid counselors in the collection, processing, and distribution of grant financial aid documentation and packaging.
• Provide reports to the director regarding program activities and outcomes.
• Utilize university data systems to track student information for academic progress and grant reports using Degree Works, Banner, Xtender, Argos, USDOE reporting tools.
• Aid program director with university requirements including: middle states requirements, competency, course sequencing, and curriculum development appropriate for SSSP students.
• Work one-on-one with students and counselors in developing electronic portfolio activities.
• Maintain and coordinate with counselors the summer courses for continuing students.
• Organize summer cohort class scheduling.
• Collect all data necessary for the mid and final year reports needed for the USDOE and work with the director on fiscal information and annual reports.
• Perform other duties/projects as assigned.

Organizational/Managerial

• Develops and implements initiatives to build the team, engage the department in the University community as a team member and build positive morale in the department.
• Provides employees with clear expectations regarding organizational values and desired results, clear and honest performance feedback, suggestions for training and self development and timely evaluations.
• Conducts regular staff meetings and provides training to staff on a regular basis.
• Develops goals and holds employees accountable for productivity goals and facilitates their development to meet those goals. Provides mentoring, coaching and training for employees to improve productivity.
• Manages time and other resources to meet established short and long term goals within the agreed upon time frames.
• Affirms departmental operations and policies to ensure optimal productivity and efficiency continuously.
• Manages time and attendance of all employees.
• Ensures clear, timely communications to others (both oral and written), particularly to those who will be affected by change.
• Listens to others carefully and attentively and encourages collaboration.
• Buils effective formal and informal communication channels.
• Maintains confidentiality in the management of information.
• Demonstrates written and oral ability to deal with “customers, supervisors, peers and subordinates as needed to do the job and resolve difficult situations.
• Initiates actions that foster acceptance of organizational change and that build commitment to Department and University objectives.
• Gathers and analyzes appropriate information and appropriately uses the information as improvement benchmarks/metrics.
• Demonstrates flexibility in the acceptance and completion of work assignments.

Service Orientation

• Maintains employee productivity and customer service delivery of all staff and ensures that excellence is demonstrated in this area.
• Answers telephones and emails in an appropriate, professional manner, and resolves problems in a reasonable time frame.
• Demonstrates a professional, courteous, and respectful attitude in dealing with clients, staff and other members of the Mercy University community.
• Manages the environment: Maintains a work environment that is marked by respect for others; that values inclusiveness and builds workforce diversity; and that fosters cooperation and teamwork.
• Maintains punctuality and maintains a satisfactory attendance record.
• Maintains appropriate attire for the office.
• Develops and maintains a cooperative, friendly and mutually supportive work environment for all staff.
• Uses resources wisely and effectively.
• Collaborates and cooperates with other managers and departments.
• Manages departmental budgets appropriately.
• Identifies and initiates actions independently to support the vision, mission and objectives, and to resolve or avoid problems.
• Effective in taking action without being told.
• Takes initiative in troubleshooting and completing tasks.

Education/Professional Development

• Identifies learning strengths and needs.
• Seeks to learn and continuously develop self by utilizing learning resources.
• Provides training for staff as appropriate.

Policies and Procedures Compliance

• Complies with policies and procedures of the Department and the University including but not limited to the Universities Code of Conduct.
• Identifies and reports gaps in policies and procedures to management.
• Complies with all required training.
• Ensures that employees complete all required training.

Education Required

• Master’s degree in Counseling or related field required.

Experiences And/Or Skills Required

• Minimum one to three years of counseling experience.
• Interact professionally with all levels of the Mercy University Community.
• Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, written and oral communication, problem-solving, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office, Outlook, Degree Works, Argos, Xtender and Banner required.
• Bilingual helpful.
• Demonstrated evidence of detail-orientation, customer service orientation, ability to work independently, ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, and great levels of responsibility required.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evening hours.
• Ability to travel between locations required.