Director of College Partnerships
Director of College Partnerships Job Description April 2016
About One Million Degrees: In 2006, a group of social entrepreneurs came together to address the challenges facing a uniquely overlooked population – community college students. Recognizing that low degree completion rates and a lack of employability skills stacked the deck against these students, One Million Degrees' (OMD) founders developed a unique model based on providing the kind of personalized, sustained support that would make a meaningful difference. OMD empowers low-income, highly motivated community college students to succeed in school, in work, and in life. Our unique scholar development model combines mentoring, tutoring, academic advising, professionalism skills development, personal supports, and financial assistance to help OMD scholars graduate and successfully transition to four-year institutions or careers. Though about half of all college students in the nation are enrolled in community colleges, fewer than 30% will graduate within three years. In Illinois and across the country, the demand for skilled labor to fill middle-skills jobs – those requiring degrees and certificates from a community college – continues to grow. Yet these jobs go unfilled due to low community college graduation rates and lack of jobreadiness and employability skills in graduates. With comprehensive academic, professional, personal and financial support, One Million Degrees scholars are persisting and excelling in college, earning their degrees, and entering the workforce in high-demand occupations or transferring to four-year universities. They are filling the middle skills job gap, strengthening the economy, and contributing to a robust and diverse talent pool. Position Summary: One Million Degrees is seeking an energetic and dynamic leader to lead and manage OMD’s growing partnership with City Colleges of Chicago. The Director of College Partnerships will be responsible for building and developing collaborative working relationships with the leadership teams of our college partners, and for ensuring high-quality and responsive implementation of the One Million Degrees model and services at each of the seven City Colleges of Chicago. Reporting directly to the Chief Program Officer, the Director will manage and support the teams of Program Coordinators serving each college, build ongoing collaboration with college leadership to support recruitment and effective program service delivery, and build partnerships with community organizations and employers relevant to each college partner. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Capacity-Building and Performance Management
Lead and manage a high-performing team of Program Coordinators, each of whom supports 50+ scholars as they progress through their degree or credential programs and through the OMD program.
Build Program Coordinators’ capacity to be data-driven and to effectively use OMD methods and data systems to identify scholars in need of support and meet those needs in a timely manner.
Develop and implement regular use and analysis of scholar data and performance management metrics to support continuous reflection and improvement.
Provide continuous feedback and capacity-building to Program Coordinators and Sr. Program Coordinators to increase effectiveness and efficiency and to ensure that scholar interactions and community experiences are research-based and of the highest quality.
Guide and support Program Coordinators’ collaboration with each other and with other college faculty and staff to creatively and effectively meet scholar needs and drive persistence, completion, and continuous personal and professional development.
College Partnership Development and Management
Lead the effective and responsive implementation of the OMD model at each of our college partners within the City Colleges of Chicago. Work collaboratively with college leadership, faculty, and staff to ensure scholars’ needs are being met, and that both OMD’s and the college’s priorities and targets are met.
Develop and implement data-driven systems and protocols for collaborating with college partners, supporting scholars’ persistence and completion, leveraging the supports and initiatives at each college, and for adding value through OMD-specific program components.
Create networks of partnerships around each embedded campus model to support scholar and coach recruitment, referrals for additional scholar supports, career exploration and exposure opportunities, internships, and other extensions and components of the OMD model.
Create long-term plans for the growth and sustainability of the OMD presence and partnership at each college, seek input and feedback from college leadership and personnel to continuously improve the services and value-add to the college and scholars.
Seek and develop opportunities to share OMD best practices and methods with college leadership, advisors, faculty, and other staff as desired.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications: A minimum of five years of professional experience, with significant management and leadership experience in an education setting Bachelor's degree required; advanced degrees preferred Palpable passion for OMD's mission and the transformative power of education and opportunity Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to effectively build relationships with diverse audiences Experience expanding and cultivating relationships in the Chicago area highly preferred Appetite to actively contribute to OMD's friendly and diverse office culture
Desire to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment Ability to effectively design and manage multiple projects Results-orientation and a track record of operating as a highly organized self-starter Comfort and excitement around managing people and projects in an entrepreneurial setting
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Resume, cover letter and salary expectations should be emailed to Veronica Herrero at [email protected] with the subject line "Director of College Partnerships.” One Million Degrees is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, and evaluate all candidates based on merit.
About One Million Degrees: In 2006, a group of social entrepreneurs came together to address the challenges facing a uniquely overlooked population – community college students. Recognizing that low degree completion rates and a lack of employability skills stacked the deck against these students, One Million Degrees' (OMD) founders developed a unique model based on providing the kind of personalized, sustained support that would make a meaningful difference. OMD empowers low-income, highly motivated community college students to succeed in school, in work, and in life. Our unique scholar development model combines mentoring, tutoring, academic advising, professionalism skills development, personal supports, and financial assistance to help OMD scholars graduate and successfully transition to four-year institutions or careers. Though about half of all college students in the nation are enrolled in community colleges, fewer than 30% will graduate within three years. In Illinois and across the country, the demand for skilled labor to fill middle-skills jobs – those requiring degrees and certificates from a community college – continues to grow. Yet these jobs go unfilled due to low community college graduation rates and lack of jobreadiness and employability skills in graduates. With comprehensive academic, professional, personal and financial support, One Million Degrees scholars are persisting and excelling in college, earning their degrees, and entering the workforce in high-demand occupations or transferring to four-year universities. They are filling the middle skills job gap, strengthening the economy, and contributing to a robust and diverse talent pool. Position Summary: One Million Degrees is seeking an energetic and dynamic leader to lead and manage OMD’s growing partnership with City Colleges of Chicago. The Director of College Partnerships will be responsible for building and developing collaborative working relationships with the leadership teams of our college partners, and for ensuring high-quality and responsive implementation of the One Million Degrees model and services at each of the seven City Colleges of Chicago. Reporting directly to the Chief Program Officer, the Director will manage and support the teams of Program Coordinators serving each college, build ongoing collaboration with college leadership to support recruitment and effective program service delivery, and build partnerships with community organizations and employers relevant to each college partner. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Capacity-Building and Performance Management
Lead and manage a high-performing team of Program Coordinators, each of whom supports 50+ scholars as they progress through their degree or credential programs and through the OMD program.
Build Program Coordinators’ capacity to be data-driven and to effectively use OMD methods and data systems to identify scholars in need of support and meet those needs in a timely manner.
Develop and implement regular use and analysis of scholar data and performance management metrics to support continuous reflection and improvement.
Provide continuous feedback and capacity-building to Program Coordinators and Sr. Program Coordinators to increase effectiveness and efficiency and to ensure that scholar interactions and community experiences are research-based and of the highest quality.
Guide and support Program Coordinators’ collaboration with each other and with other college faculty and staff to creatively and effectively meet scholar needs and drive persistence, completion, and continuous personal and professional development.
College Partnership Development and Management
Lead the effective and responsive implementation of the OMD model at each of our college partners within the City Colleges of Chicago. Work collaboratively with college leadership, faculty, and staff to ensure scholars’ needs are being met, and that both OMD’s and the college’s priorities and targets are met.
Develop and implement data-driven systems and protocols for collaborating with college partners, supporting scholars’ persistence and completion, leveraging the supports and initiatives at each college, and for adding value through OMD-specific program components.
Create networks of partnerships around each embedded campus model to support scholar and coach recruitment, referrals for additional scholar supports, career exploration and exposure opportunities, internships, and other extensions and components of the OMD model.
Create long-term plans for the growth and sustainability of the OMD presence and partnership at each college, seek input and feedback from college leadership and personnel to continuously improve the services and value-add to the college and scholars.
Seek and develop opportunities to share OMD best practices and methods with college leadership, advisors, faculty, and other staff as desired.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications: A minimum of five years of professional experience, with significant management and leadership experience in an education setting Bachelor's degree required; advanced degrees preferred Palpable passion for OMD's mission and the transformative power of education and opportunity Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to effectively build relationships with diverse audiences Experience expanding and cultivating relationships in the Chicago area highly preferred Appetite to actively contribute to OMD's friendly and diverse office culture
Desire to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment Ability to effectively design and manage multiple projects Results-orientation and a track record of operating as a highly organized self-starter Comfort and excitement around managing people and projects in an entrepreneurial setting
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Resume, cover letter and salary expectations should be emailed to Veronica Herrero at [email protected] with the subject line "Director of College Partnerships.” One Million Degrees is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, and evaluate all candidates based on merit.
