Director of Emerging Scholars Program

Location : Berea

Job Type: Full-Time

Division: Provost

Department: Student Success and Transition

Opening Date: 08/08/2024

FLSA: Exempt

Salary Grade: 10

Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.
Description

The Director of the Emerging Scholars Program is a key leadership position within the Academic Division in the Office of Student Success and Transition and reports directly to the Director of Student Success and Transition. The Director of Emerging Scholars Program provides strategic leadership, vision and monitoring to the financial, personnel, and operational functions of the TRIO Student Support Services grant and has a partial caseload of students.
Examples of Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge of:
•Budget planning, management, and reporting for federal grants
•Supervisory practices including hiring, training, supervision, and evaluation
•The barriers faced by low-income and first-generation students
•Academic and career advising principles, techniques, and procedures
•Academic policies and procedures
•The principles of liberal arts education
•The developmental process and challenges faced by college students and related student development theories
•Current best practices and literature in student services
•Federal legislation and regulations regarding TRIO programs and, in particular, the Student Support Services program, is preferred

Skills and Abilities to:
•Coordinate and supervise the design and/or delivery of academic activities and programs to project participants
•Develop partnerships with faculty, staff, and departments
•Effectively manage relationships with all levels of college staff
•Handle multiple responsibilities and meet multiple deadlines in an organized and detailed fashion
•Maintain confidential information
•Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of individuals and constituencies
•Synthesize and analyze information and data
•Develop, document, and implement standard procedures for completing advanced administrative tasks
•Design, document, and implement particular recruitment, identification, and selection plans
•Manage project timelines, priorities, and meet deadlines
•Supervise and train assigned staff including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments
•Perform program assessments using both qualitative and quantitative data to draw conclusions based on outcomes
•Prepare comprehensive project reports for diverse audiences and purposes
•Work as a team member and foster a cooperative work environment

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.

Typical Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:
•Master's Degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Educational Leadership or related field

Experience required to ensure success in this position:
•Two years of experience in administration in higher education, preferably assisting disadvantaged students.
•Preferred experience with federal grants, budgeting, reporting, grant writing, project implementation, and project evaluation.
Special Skills, knowledge and abilities:
•Excellent oral/written communication and superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting
•Strong organizational skills and capacity to set priorities. Attention to detail.
•Significant experience in program planning, coordination, and evaluation. Demonstrated aptitude for analyzing data and applying findings to direct the program, set goals, and make program projections
•Computer skills including data processing and financial spreadsheets
•Ability to maintain confidentiality

License, certification, or registration necessary:
•Valid driver's license
•Required background checks

Physical Requirements:
•Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds
•Ability to travel by car and/or plane
•Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.

Environmental conditions
•Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty
•Occasional travel required for meetings, conferences, etc.

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:
•Standard office equipment: computer, fax, phone, etc.
•Vehicle college vans/cars

Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 46 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them with a no-tuition promise, valued at more than $204,000. Berea's students excel in the College's supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only nine federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College is listed #20 in overall ranking in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse college rankings, 2023. The Washington Monthly ranks Berea College #2 Best Liberal Arts College and #1 in Social Mobility, 2023. Money Magazine ranks Berea #20 Best Overall College and #10 for Best in the South, 2023. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2023.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application

Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Membership, Staff Development Fund and Tuition Reimbursement.

Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time employees who work an average of 24 hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at

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