McNair Scholars Program - Project Director

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Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes 14.94% of your gross salary, and you contribute 3.68%, totaling 18.62% toward your retirement plan.  

Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage: Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.  

Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.  

Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.  

Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs: Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.  

At the University of Wyoming, we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW’s Benefits Summary.  

Job Title:

McNair Scholars Program - Project Director

Job Purpose:

The McNair Project Director will manage the financial, personnel, operational, and participant services functions of the McNair Scholars Program in UW’s office of Student Educational Opportunity. This grant-funded program works with underrepresented UW undergraduates to prepare them to undertake research internships and to enroll and succeed in graduate school. Manage and implement program operations with the goal of meeting or exceeding McNair’s annual objectives for participant academic preparedness, success, and educational progress. Manage the program budget, personnel, and assessments effectively and in compliance with federal regulations and SEO policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with federal program legislation and regulations, including providing required and permissible services to eligible participants to achieve grant objectives. 

This position is grant funded and considered at-will employment. 

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Implement and manage appropriate and successful participant recruitment drives and provision of year-round services in order to achieve federally-mandated program objectives. 
• Provide holistic advising in individual and group settings as a means to facilitate participant academic success.
• Manage program budgets and operations in compliance with federal legislation and regulations, including conducting regular budget projections and preparing and submitting program budgets for federal review.
• Regularly monitor and manage program service and outcomes data in order to fulfill annual reporting functions. 
• Collaborate with UW and national partners to coordinate effective participant service provision.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate benefited and non-benefited staff, including oversight of services provided to participants throughout the academic year and during the summer research internship. 
• Understand the process of designing and conducting scientific research at all stages.
• Design and deliver course content related to successful scientific research planning and the graduate school planning and application process.
• Provide information and data in various formats for multiple audiences in a timely manner.
• Manage grant-writing processes. 
• Maintain a professional approach to problem-solving and act as a role model for staff management during unexpected or challenging circumstances.

Supplemental Functions:

• Participate in SEO administrative and student-centered activities and assist in the development of SEO policy and procedures. 
• Represent SEO at UW events and on university committees.
• Occasional evening/weekend hours and year-round, periodic overnight travel to professional conferences and trainings by air or car.

Competencies:

• Independence
• Individual Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Judgment
• Initiative
• Collaboration
• Developing Organizational Talent
• Work Prioritization & Management

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:  Master’s degree

Experience: 2 years work-related experience

Required licensure, certification, registration or other requirements: Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) that is compliant with the University Vehicle Use Policy.

Desired Qualifications:

• Understanding of the academic, financial, and personal/social barriers to educational achievement associated with the target population. 
• Experience managing grant-funded programs subject to federal compliance and ability to collect and analyze data and use proprietary databases to facilitate strategic planning, assess the success of the project in achieving its goals, and communicate with stakeholders.
• Ability to provide student support services and advising, as well as design and deliver workshops and course curriculum on research design and implementation to ensure participants’ academic success. 
• Well-developed time and task management skills to prioritize responsibilities and meet deadlines. 
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
• High level of proficiency using Microsoft software including Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as Google applications. 
• An individual who has experienced barriers to educational access and success similar to those of the population being served.
• Familiarity with writing competitive grant proposals. 
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of program operations to develop and implement new policies and procedures, as needed. 

Required Application Materials:

Please note: This is an at-will, grant-funded position.

Complete the online application. The department additionally requests candidates upload the following 1) cover letter, 2) resume specifically addressing the qualifications of the position, 3) contact information for three work-related references, and 4) a one-page or less statement that addresses the following question:

What are the barriers to successful preparation for, and enrollment in, graduate school among socioeconomically disadvantaged (low-income and first-generation) undergraduate students?

Applications that do not include all required materials will not be considered. 

*Due to a current system limitation, you may only be prompted to upload your resume/CV and a Cover Letter.  To ensure your application is complete, we recommend you put all of your application materials into one file with your cover letter.  However, if you're experiencing any issues in doing so, please send any additional application materials to recruit@uwyo.edu, and a recruiter will manually add them to your application packet. To help us process your application more efficiently, please include the 6-digit job ID number (located at the bottom of the job posting) in your email. 

Work Location:

This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work on campus. This position is eligible for partial remote work after six months.

Hiring Statement/Eeo:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu.   

About Laramie:

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website.  

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/