Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Alliance Director
University of Illinois

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Alliance Director

Office of Public Engagement

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is seeking a Director for the Minority Serving Institutions Alliance (MSI Alliance) initiative. This initiative aims to increase the number of underrepresented students pursuing and obtaining doctoral degrees, leading to successful careers in academia and beyond. The Director is responsible for project/program planning, implementation, management, and oversight. This position serves as a liaison and primary point of contact between the university, MSI Alliance partners, faculty, staff, and students.

As a land-grant institution, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a special and unique responsibility for public engagement. Public engagement encompasses collaboration, education, and the privilege of service to the local community, the state, the country, and the world for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge, assets, and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The Public Engagement team works to advance the University's public engagement mission by fostering a culture of engagement and supporting mutually beneficial and collaborative University, community, corporate, and government partnerships to address critical societal issues.

Duties & Responsibilities

Program Management

• Oversee the MSI Alliance initiative and related projects, serving as the primary liaison between the university, minority-serving institutions (2 and 4 years), faculty, staff, students, internal and external stakeholders, and related campus programs/initiatives.

• Work with faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders to develop, implement, and manage academic year and summer activities, programs, and events that encourage and support undergraduates to pursue a doctoral degree.

• Collaborate with the advisory council to conceptualize, develop, and implement strategies for research, education, inter-institutional partnerships, and professional development within the program.

• Develop and lead undergraduate student recruitment activities for Alliance programs, including the Student Summer Research Experience, which could include conducting informational presentations virtually and at partner institutions and other outreach activities.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective and current student participants.

• Recruit, select, train, evaluate, and supervise undergraduate and graduate student hourly employees as needed.

• Travel to partner institutions may be necessary. Must be able to travel to various geographic locations in Illinois and out of state as required to conduct recruitment events and cultivate strong relationships with Alliance partners.

Project Management

• Lead the planning, development, and implementation of projects related to the MSI Alliance, which includes creating project plans and timelines.

• Monitor initiative progress, respond to stakeholder inquiries, and communicate updates effectively.

• Employ project management best practices to coordinate program implementation.

Evaluation and Assessment

• Develop and implement an assessment and evaluation plan for Alliance projects and activities.

• Ensure ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of recruiting efforts.

• Collect, analyze, and report on project performance data to inform decision-making.

Grant Development and Management

• Partner with Alliance partners and stakeholders to identify, develop, and submit grant proposals for sustainable funding.

• Provide administrative support for grant preparation, including budget development and justification.

Outreach and Communication

• Co-develop and manage the communications strategy with the Public Engagement Administration and Communications Manager to promote Alliance achievements, events, and student opportunities.

• Collaborate on the creation of content for various platforms, including websites, social media, presentations, reports, and publications.

Administrative

• Provide administrative oversight for the Alliance, ensuring timely completion of activities and addressing challenges.

• Plan and execute meetings, special events, and other types of engagement activities, including participant recruitment, logistics, and post-event evaluation.

• Support MSI Alliance councils, committees, and working groups.

• Build and cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Monitor budget and expenditures.

Position Qualifications

Required-

• Bachelor's degree.

• A total of three (3) years (36 months) in education, training and/or work experience in program management. (Note: Master's Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year of work experience.)

• Demonstrated experience interacting with undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, faculty, and/or administrators in a higher education environment.

Preferred-

• Master's degree in business or science.

• Three years of professional work experience that includes at least two (2) of the following areas: a.) Experience in higher education administration, b.) Experience in faculty exchanges and research experience or c.) Experience with student recruitment or outreach, including the creation of recruitment marketing and/or marketing content.

• Demonstrated ability to develop effective tools for assessment and use the assessment for improvement.

• Experience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or a similar higher education institution.

Successful candidates will have the following-

• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking.

• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Proven ability to effectively plan and manage events.

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with diverse, broad-based constituencies.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5003 - Program Director position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The salary range for this position is $90,000-$110,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment
of these elements. Work authorization sponsorship is not available for this position.

For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx .

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on October 10, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Jennifer Steiling at steiling@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .

Requisition ID: 1026604
Job Category: Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu