Associate Director of Student Success

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Who We Are:

Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to education and level the playing field for aspiring talent with meager financial means.

Today, Franklin Cummings Tech continues to build on that legacy by offering post-secondary education in high-demand technical and skilled trade fields that lead to excellent careers. Our majors intentionally focus on select industries connected to sustainability and the clean energy transition including electric vehicle technology, smart manufacturing, practical electricity, power engineering, heat pumps/HVAC, biotechnology, automation, construction management, and more.

With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, we offer a unique mix of certificate and degree-granting programs that appeal to enterprising students and respond to employer’s demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation.

Last year, Franklin Cummings Tech educated more than 1,000 learners across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education clients, and 3) high schoolers pursuing early college. As further evidence that our mission holds resonance, this year the college tracked a 25% year-over-year jump in fall new student enrollment and applications soared.

We seek team members who are optimistic, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and excited about the prospect of continuing to strategically increase student success outcomes and total enrollment from 1,000 learners today to at least 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work!

Position Summary:

The Associate Director of Student Success is a passionate advocate for students and actively leads and contributes to the institution-wide efforts to further improve graduation, retention and career placement rates of our student body. The Associate Director of Student Success will manage all aspects of the success coaching model and supervise the Student Success Coaches within Student Affairs. This is a key role in ensuring strategic direction, management of programs and services, and enhancing the quality of student success, retention and experience at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology. The Associate Director of Student Success reports to the Senior Director of Student Affairs, will collaborate with the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, and works closely with all members of the Student Affairs department. This role partners with the Special Programs department, Enrollment Services, Academic Affairs, Special Programs, Career and Co-op Services, and faculty.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise Student Success Coaches within the Student Affairs department, helping coaches develop advising and coaching skills; meeting regularly to review caseloads, assess goals, and problem-solve challenging situations.
• Lead weekly Students of Concern Committee to review student attendance, grades, student engagement, wellness, academic support needs and develop optimal outreach and tracking strategies.
• Develop and oversee student engagement and first year experience programming.
• Manage new student transition from Admissions to Student Affairs by working directly with Enrollment Services and utilizing the Student Information System, Jenzabar. Oversee advising and registration modules in Jenzabar.
• Set registration goals, improve strategies for student retention and work closely with College’s Data Analyst to produce data visualization reports.
• Oversee all aspects of New Student Orientation, including budget, activities and scheduling.
• Serve as co-lead or substitute for the following Student Affairs responsibilities, Judicial Board Chair, CARES Team Chair, Emergency Fund Committee, SAP Committee.
• Assist in policy implementation and compliance with university regulations. Review policies and operational practices, recommend changes with the goal of improving student experience.
• Work with Senior Director of Student Affairs to manage operational budgets connected to Student Success, tracking expenses and processing invoices.
• Work as hands-on advisor, mentor, and coach to a cohort of students by instilling a sense of excitement regarding student success, retention, career, and graduation.
• Be a highly motivated self-starter with the ability to collaborate, effectively and respectfully, with Student Affairs, staff, faculty, all other offices, as well as advocates.
• Keep current on all aspects of academic programs, student information and tracking systems, enrollment processes and procedures, college policies and mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree preferred, in student higher education administration, or related field. STEM education or experience is a plus.
• The equivalent of four to six years of progressively responsible student services advising experience within a college setting.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to work independently, determine priorities, and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A demonstrated sensitivity to understanding the needs and concerns of a diverse student population, many of whom are first generation college students.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong presentation skills with demonstrated ability to develop interpersonal and organizational relationships.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, student information and early alert systems, such as Jenzabar and Canvas.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced team-focused environment, the ability to multitask, and the ability to pay special attention to detail.

Application Process:

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names, titles, telephone numbers, and email addresses of two professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Franklin Cummings Tech is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on any grounds protected under federal, state, or local law, including race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, disability (including those related to pregnancy or childbirth), sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other characteristic or activity protected under federal, state or local law.