Project Director

Position Summary:

The ASPIRE Project Director provides leadership for all administrative functions under the US Department of Education funded project as well as leadership support for the Dean who serves as Executive Project Director and Principal Investigator on the project. This position assists the Principal Investigator with strategic program administration and oversight, budget administration, project management, and is the primary liaison between the University, partnership LEA, and community-based organizations. In areas that support the implementation of the grant, the Project Director also serves as liaison to SCOE department chair/faculty, Marketing, Finance, Student Services, Human Resources (HR), Office of Strategy and Innovation and Campus Operations. The scope of this role may include the following activities as assigned by the Dean: the development and implementation of Resident Intern recruitment process/procedures; development of procedures that support Co-teaching Residency model; engaging faculty in their development of professional development; creation and management of the grant’s Work Team, which will also need Work Team Chairs to be recruited and managed. The Project Director will work closely with the grant’s Management Team, and Governance Council. Direct supervisor for specific staff supporting the grant funded project.

Essential Functions

• Provides support to the Principal Investigator (PI) and assists with the development and implementation of the ASPIRE Project goals and objectives.
• Communicates frequently with the PI regarding the ASPIRE Project operation and progress.
• Directs administrative functions for grant in accordance with US Department of Education regulations, accreditation requirements, and University policies, in close coordination with Dean.
• Supports the development and tracking of the grant budget/expenses.
• Leads all project management for the grant.
• Suggests areas in need of improvement to Management Team and/or Governance Council and includes possible intervention strategies.
• Develops and manages Work Teams, including selection of Work Team Chairs.
• Assist the PI in MOU development with partner agencies, and contract management and approval when applicable.
• Develops and supports positive engagement with the Chula Vista school district and community partners, in coordination with key internal stakeholders, including management and oversight of grant funding activities.
• Liaises with Grants Accounting to manage the development of annual grant budget, budget tracking, and reconciliation.
• Liaises with Online Learning and Instructional Support (OLIS), Academic Affairs, Registrar’s office and other functional teams on strategic program development and manage various academic administrative functions.
• Liaises and coordinates with Marketing and Enrollment on SCOE web site content and program level marketing initiatives.
• Liaises and coordinates with other functional areas (e.g., IT, Facilities, Campus Operations) to ensure smooth and efficient grant project operations.
• Completes needed special projects and other duties as assigned by the Dean.

Leadership:

• Direct supervisor for staff roles, Work Team Chairs, and may serve as second level supervisor to full-time and/or part-time faculty supporting the grant project.
• Supervises staff, ensuring they are successfully following appropriate program operations, protocol, policies, and procedures. Consults with HR as needed on employee relations issues.
• Leads in the recruitment and selection of faculty/staff to support grant project goals/objectives.
• Supports teacher professional development strategy for the grant.
• Participates in the annual performance review, working with grant’s External Evaluators and Office of Sponsored Programs and Research.
• Responsible for the retention of faculty and staff.
• Develop when/where appropriate and work in concert with the Principal Investigator on a targeted research agenda to support the grant’s outcomes and dissemination of outcomes.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Screens applications, interviews candidates, and recommends individuals for hiring.
• Trains and assigns work to new and continuing employees.
• Delegates tasks and provides effective direction to team members to produce substantial business results.
• Independently conducts frequent performance feedback weekly, quarterly, and annually, to include annual performance evaluations.
• In conjunction with HR, determines corrective action as needed for direct reports.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Masters degree from a regionally accredited institution aligned with teacher education required.
• Higher education teaching experience.
• 5+ years of experience in K-12 teaching preferred.
• 5+ years of management experience with organizing, directing, evaluating, and planning in an operations or academic environment, preferred.
• Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution aligned with teacher education preferred.
• Bilingual, Spanish preferred.

Competencies / Technical / Functional Skills:

• Ability to participate as an active team member of the team and organization and work toward a common goal. Contributes fully to the team effort and plays an integral part in the smooth running of teams without necessarily taking the lead. Demonstrates an ability to participate as an active team member working toward common goals.
• Actively seeks opportunities to influence, build effective relationships and gain alignment with peers, functional partners and/or external partners to accomplish business objectives.
• Accepts personal accountability, proactively seeks resolution for personal limitations head-on; and supports honesty and respect towards others, the company and oneself.
• Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes. Ability to generate and/or recognize imaginative or creative solutions that generate successful outcomes.
• Working knowledge, principles, and practices of office management/systems within a higher education environment, preferred. Demonstrates an understanding of underlying organizational issues.
• Work independently and foster a cooperative spirit within a large and/or small team of diverse cultures, while working in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects, deadlines, and frequently changing priorities.
• Ability to drive towards achieving measurable and challenging goals to support organizational success. Demonstrates the ability to focus on achieving results consistent with the organization’s objectives. As a leader, develops goals based on the organization’s vision, mission, strategic goals, and objectives.
• Demonstrates an understanding of underlying organizational issues.
• Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
• Intermediate use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook.

Location : Hybrid

Travel : Frequent travel to Chula Vista will be required.

The National University System is committed to maintaining a high-quality, diverse workforce representative of the populations we serve. As a network of nonprofit educational institutions, the System employs more than 3,300 faculty and staff and serves over 41,000 students. We are united in our mission to meet the global education demands of the 21st Century and are dedicated to creating a supportive academic and work environment that allows for students, faculty and staff to develop their interests and talents while experiencing a sense of community and a commitment to diversity. With programs available both online and at our many campus locations, the National University System is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and meeting the needs of our diverse student population, including adult learners and working professionals.

National University offers an opportunity to work in an innovative environment that supports diversity.

National University (NU) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employee per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a diverse mix of highly talented, innovative and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University. We are focused on equality and believe deeply in diversity of race, color, ancestry, age, family care status, veteran status, marital status, creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and other legally protected group status.