Odyssey Beyond Bars Program Manager

About the role

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public, land-grant institution that exemplifies the “Wisconsin Idea”—the principle that the resources of the university should benefit all the citizens of the state. The Division of Continuing Studies provides and supports high-quality continuing education, outreach, service, and scholarship related to personal enrichment and professional development.

Under the general direction of the Odyssey Beyond Bars Director and in coordination with staff and faculty of the UW Odyssey Project and the Prison Education Initiative, the Program Manager develops and administers the Odyssey Beyond Bars academic program, with emphasis on communications with UW-Madison units involved in prison-based education, Department of Corrections staff, and other partners. Odyssey Beyond Bars offers UW-Madison courses and advising to students incarcerated in Wisconsin prisons.

Responsibilities

• Liaise with prison-specific Department of Corrections staff
• Collaborate with the Prison Education Initiative to plan and coordinate academic offerings
• Develop processes to support instructors in a rapidly expanding higher-education landscape
• Develop and maintain tutor, volunteer, and intern support systems
• Orient new students each semester
• Create mechanisms to support program alumni and track program metrics
• Identify, propose, and implement new or revised unit operational policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and academic program objectives
• Lead the development and implementation of academic program initiatives
• Support non-traditional student populations and students with disabilities by addressing structural barriers and designing accessibility into every facet of the student experience
• Serve as the liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups to identify and maintain academic program-related partnerships
• Manage degree programs and/or certificates, high-impact practice programming and events, and curriculum development and implementation
• Exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees
• Provide full-service advising resources and services; provide information about educational options and academic requirements; communicate directly with students regarding all aspects of the advising process
• Assist stakeholders with preparing and/or maintaining documentation, financial management, and/or reporting requirements related to sponsored grants, contracts, or agreements
• Manage the unit budget and approve unit expenditures
• Evaluate existing academic program strategy and make recommendations to unit leadership for program enhancement
• Plan, manage, and market events

Requirements

• Excellent problem-solving and independent decision-making skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Adaptable interpersonal skills
• Proficiency working in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook), Google Docs/Sheets, Salesforce or a similar CRM, Blackboard or a similar LMS, WordPress, and the Adobe Suite

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one year of experience managing an academic program in prison
• Professional experience in developing teams—leading professional development opportunities, coordinating/facilitating team-building activities, etc.
• Student services background—experience with providing academic support and training volunteers and student workers
• Knowledge of college-level tutoring and teaching methods, including evaluation and assessment
• Background handling logistical coordination and communications with multiple entities regarding a variety of work streams, including academic units and the Department of Corrections
• Familiarity with ACPA/NASPA competencies for higher-education program design and student affairs

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred

Compensation

Minimum $62,419 annually