Assistant Director TRIO McNair

Assistant Director TRIO McNair

The Jeffries Center

Job Summary

The Assistant Director for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program is responsible for supporting the Director and the Associate Director for TRIO Programs in managing the program, ensuring compliance with federal guidelines, grant proposals, and relevant legislation. Oversees the daily operations and strategic execution of the McNair Scholars Program and provides comprehensive leadership in program recruitment, annual programming, program administration, teaching, advising and ensuring participants academic persistence, monitoring/reporting graduate school enrollment as assessments related to the grant's objectives, and staff supervision. Empowers first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students to achieve academic success and pursue Ph.D. studies.

Duties and Responsibilities

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Develop, organize and implement the annual program calendar.
• Coordinate and supervise travel for staff and students. These responsibilities may encompass but are not limited to completing requests for funds and/or travel requests for funds and completing the subsequent reconciliation process.
• Coordinate and supervise graduate school visits, attendance at McNair & other conferences, and cultural events.
• Develop, plan and execute all classes as well as the Summer Research Institute.
• Design, plan and supervise graduate school visits, workshops and cultural activities.
• Design, plan and execute all major events (e.g. E.M.E.R.G.E., poster presentations, major speakers, graduate panels etc.).
• Coordinate with campus programs promoting undergraduate research and post-baccalaureate study.
• Assist the project directors in implementing the Plan of Operation and Evaluation for the approved TRIO McNair grant.
• Ensure, at least, 90% of program participants are served annually.
• Assist with the development, tracking and monitoring of the program’s budget.
• Participate in departmental, campus, and other meetings as assigned.
• Assist with creating and implementing programmatic policies and procedures.
• Host site visits, faculty mentor meetings and program-related meetings.
• Provide program content for biannual department newsletters and other various communication platforms.
• Conduct evening, weekend, and summer activities to ensure the participation and development of the McNair Scholars.
• Assist in meeting the program’s operational needs by performing other duties as assigned. including, but not be limited to writing, presenting, and advocating for resources to meet the program’s end goals.
• Assume additional related duties to further the mission of the unit.
  

TEACHING & ADVISING

• Teach the McNair Scholars orientation and introduction to research methods course.
• Guide scholars as they prepare research abstracts, proposals and portfolios for conference presentations.
• Review and provide feedback on scholar’s undergraduate research papers and projects.
• Conduct workshops and seminars related to the goals and intentions of the program.
• Develop and implement innovative, empirically grounded academic support services for McNair scholars.
• Provide purposeful advising that identifies McNair scholars’ academic strengths and challenges, gauges their adjustment to the academic and social life on campus, and provides guidance regarding the pathways that lead to enhanced student success.
• Design and implement workshops and individual counseling in areas such as financial aid and fellowship applications, tutoring, internships, research and graduate school exploration.
• Ensure that scholars remain on target for graduation, and graduate school enrollment by providing ongoing academic monitoring, mentoring, and by helping the scholars complete their graduate admissions, funding, and enrollment process.
• Help scholars navigate the academic policies and procedures that govern successful degree completion.
• Identify and develop proactive intervention strategies to assist participants experiencing academic difficulties.
• Partner with other units in Student Affairs and the broader campus to ensure seamless academic and student support services.

RECRUITMENT & OUTREACH

• Recruit, screen, and recommend eligible participants to the project director during annual acceptance screenings to Ronald E McNair.
• Cultivate relationships with prospective faculty mentors.
• Cultivate relationships with prospective students and the student organizations or activities likely to yield future TRIO McNair Scholars.
• Identify, recommend, and supervise participant travel to conferences, graduate fairs, and other programmatic events.
• Partner with other TRIO programs to provide coordinated service for participants.
• Participate in assigned state, regional, and national associations.

ASSESSMENT

• Coordinate assessment of students' interests, needs, and goals and develop meaningful curriculum and services to prepare participants for graduate school and meet program objectives.
• Complete the annual Interim Performance Reports (IPR) and/or Annual Performance Report (APR) and produce monthly and annual department reports on the effectiveness of the program’s service delivery.
• Develop, coordinate and execute evaluation of all McNair programing.
• Collect and analyze National Student Clearinghouse and alumni survey data to determine who has enrolled in a graduate program the fall after completion of degree.
• Collect and assess quantitative and qualitative data on attitudes toward and impact of participation in Summer Research Internship, research conferences, and other scholarly activities.
• Collect doctoral degree attainment data from alumni via annual survey, social media, and/or verification data from the National Student Clearinghouse.
• Collect, assess, and discuss outcome data (e.g., grades, participation in services, GRE scores, completion of applications).
• Remain abreast of trends and best practices in graduate admissions and for securing funding for graduate education.

SUPERVISION

• Conduct the recruitment, screening, onboarding, professional development, evaluation, and supervision of part-time graduate program staff.
• Responsible payroll approver for hourly staff.
• Recommend advising caseloads to the director or their designee for approval.
• Coordinate data entry, filing, and organization of student files and information.
• Serve as a coach to assist hourly staff in meeting performance goals.
  

Other General Duties

• Assist in general administrative planning and resource allocation.
• Participate in staff, committee, and other meetings as assigned.
• Participate in the annual new student recruiting and yielding activities.
• Perform evening, weekend and business/conference travel as requested.
• Assist with meeting the operational needs by performing other appropriate related duties.

Additional Physical Demands

This position involves a vast amount of computer work, verbal and written communication. Travel is required for in-person meetings, presentations, and other job-related activities. The position may be exposed to a variety of environmental factors to include, but not limited to, hot or cold weather, exposure to noise and allergens, and uneven ground in performing the functions of this position. Evening and weekend activities throughout the year are required to fulfill the duties and expectations of this position. There are occasions when the staff will have to transport program participants in a university approved vehicle.

Travel Requirements

50% To perform the functions of this position, the position will be required to perform work within the office, throughout campus and in a remote capacity at previously approved McNair sponsored events. The employee may be independently traveling to and performing work at different locations.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in education, psychology, counseling, or any discipline appropriate for administering a federal TRIO program through the US Department of Education.
  

Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional staff management and supervisory experience in an academic or not-for-profit setting.
• At least three (3) years of experience designing, managing or implementing student support programs concentrated on helping underrepresented segments of society.
• Evidence of strong organizational, planning, oral, and written communications skills.
• Possession of a valid State of Illinois driver’s license at the time of hire, which must be maintained throughout the duration of the employment period in the position.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Ph.D. from an accredited university.

Experience:

• Experience with managing budgets.
• Experience with grant writing.
• Experience in TRIO McNair, NSF, pre-doctoral readiness programs, SROP, or related student service programs is desired.
• Experience working with faculty.
• Program assessment and evaluation experience.
• Teaching experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications: with fluency in Excel.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of educational issues, trends, and research related to student success in graduate education.
• Ability to think clearly, creatively, and to solve problems proactively.
• Excellent communication and administrative skills.
• Ability to learn and disseminate detailed information.
• Ability to work effectively individually and collaboratively.
• Ability to manage competing priorities successfully.
• Ability to advise, mentor, and coach students successfully.
• Interpersonal skills that reflect student centered and service-oriented methodology.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after 10/15/2025. Salary is $62,000.00. Hybrid - Hybrid work options may be available for this position, with the ability to be on-site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as needed per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy . Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for these positions.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Friday, September 12, 2025 . Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through will not be considered. Complete applications will include a cover letter, detailed resume, and the name, affiliation, an contact information for at least 3 professional references. Incomplete applications may not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact [email protected]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits .

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. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. 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 [email protected] .

Requisition ID : 1032056
Job Category : Professional and Administrative
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