Associate Program Director - College Academy (Mississippi)

Associate Program Director - Mississippi

Overview

Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc. (IYT) is a college access and completion organization focused on increasing the number of young men of color to attend and graduate from colleges and universities. IYT’s vision is a nation where young men of color are overrepresented in higher education, underrepresented in the criminal justice system and are leaders in their communities. IYT is an AmeriCorps partner organization serving over 3,500 members across more than 60 sites in Sacramento County, Humboldt County, Yolo County, Central Valley, Bay Area and college students across the nation. 

Position Overview

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Associate Program Director will serve in a dual capacity, overseeing program sites and a team of AmeriCorps members while directly managing program implementation at assigned school sites. This individual is responsible for student impact, building and sustaining strong school partnerships, and ensuring an impactful AmeriCorps member experience. They will have direct accountability for meeting the organization’s bottom-line goals in the following areas: academic readiness, GPA, college eligibility, college retention, attendance, and student engagement.

The Associate Program Director will also build and manage partnerships in the Hinds County/Jackson Mississippi area and surrounding areas, while ensuring the successful implementation of core services, staff development, and program fidelity across all sites.

Responsibilities:

Program Management & Student Impact

• Responsible for meeting the program’s annual goals, including GPA, college attendance, retention, college graduation, A-G completion, and overall program engagement.
• Directly oversee the implementation of IYT core services across multiple school sites.
• Serve as the primary program lead at assigned school sites while also providing oversight and support to additional locations.
• Ensure site accountability to program expectations and district Memorandums of Understanding.
• Oversee program data tracking through Salesforce.
• Responsible for financial operations at both the site and regional levels, including tracking and managing expenses.
• Develop an effective plan of action for running programs from inception to completion.
• Set goals for the program and track progress, setbacks, and overall performance.
• Contribute to building a culture of philanthropy at IYT by assisting with fundraising activities.
• Create and manage the program calendar.
• Other projects and responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor.

School Partnership

• Build and maintain strong relationships with school site key stakeholders, including principals, assistant principals, teachers, and other school staff.
• Meet monthly/biweekly/weekly with school site leaders to ensure program success and alignment with school priorities.
• Administer and oversee student site councils and parent site councils.
• Participate in school site meetings and special events, including but not limited to staff meetings, sporting events, potlucks, and other school activities.
• Facilitate structured site visits with policymakers and program supporters at key IYT schools to educate interested parties on the program model.
• Ensure the region has a thriving IYT presence along with strong student outcomes at program sites.

AmeriCorps Member & Staff Development

• Oversee 5-10 full and half-time AmeriCorps members serving as academic mentors, program assistants, and college advisors.
• Ensure proper training, supervision, and development of IYT Staff and Mentor Fellows.
• Implement strategies to develop and retain employees.
• Document and report on employee performance.
• Assist the AmeriCorps Director in meeting grant expectations and reporting requirements.
• Participate in quarterly learning and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Believe in the mission, vision, and values of IYT
• Knows and can successfully articulate the organization and program mission, vision, and values to other stakeholders and collaborators;
• Must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Bay Area, preferably within the regions we serve
• Excellent communication skills and judgment with the ability to maintain privacy and confidentiality;
• Ability to operate with an appropriate, responsible level of transparency and vulnerability, engendering confidence and trust 
• Ability to self-motivate to achieve results  
• A multi-tasker with a solid ability to work under pressure
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results 
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional late nights

Education 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university. 
• Master's degree preferred; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience 

• At least 3 to 5 years of experience managing, coaching, training, and developing leaders in education and or similar field.
• Proven leadership skills and the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Adaptability and flexibility in the face of changing conditions; tolerance for adversity and uncertainty. 
• Experience in project management.
• Experience in relationship building with diverse key stakeholders; families, students, school administration, funders and community leaders.
• Experience working with young men of color in an academic setting (preferred).

Computer Skills 

• Familiarity with Salesforce, Microsoft Suite and Google applications

Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm, some weekends, evenings and organization-wide events are required.

Location

This position is based in the Hinds County/Jackson Mississippi area and requires frequent travel between school sites throughout. A valid driver's license and vehicle are required. Mileage is reimbursable. 

Compensation

This is a full-time, Exempt position with an annual salary of $47,000-$60,000/year DOE. Benefits include vision, health, dental, 403(b) retirement with 3% employer match after one year of employment, 2 weeks of accrued paid vacation and paid time off for school breaks. 

Requirement

Clearance from background checks is required for employment, with fingerprinting expenses covered by the employer.

IYT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Salary : $47,000 - $60,000