Careers

General Summary of Position:

The Program Coordinator for K-12 Early College Initiatives will develop comprehensive academic supports for high school students in transition with intellectual disabilities., to promote access to campus life and college coursework in an inclusive setting. The incumbent will oversee the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education (MAIPSE), a statewide initiative, promoting partnerships between institutes of higher education and local education agencies to offer students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity for college-based transition services (CBTS). The Program Coordinator will work closely with secondary school district partners and the state MAIPSE coordinator to coordinate all program activities. This includes outreach to schools, collaboration with special education and transition staff, students and families and departments within UML; co-facilitating person-centered planning and advising; collaborating with university departments including disability services, registration and student supports to facilitate students’ full inclusion into campus life. The position also requires facilitating ongoing communication and partnership meetings with school and community members to establish and program goals.

The Program Coordinator will also attend all scheduled MAIPSE Coordinator monthly meetings led by the state MAIPSE coordinator

The Program Coordinator must effectively and efficiently work in a team capacity with a broad range of university and school staff to accomplish goals related to project work. The incumbent is a key driver in the success of the MAIPSE partnership, in promoting inclusive college-based transition services.

Examples of Duties:

Coordinate UML MAIPSE Program activities, including orientation, open houses, trainings, and professional development workshops.

• Serve as the liaison to participating school districts. Attend district Team meetings as requested
• Facilitate bi-monthly partnership meetings and monthly email updates to partners.
• Communicate with identified UML faculty. Ensure faculty has the necessary supports to accommodate the diverse needs of the students supported by UML MAIPSE.
• Along with Education coaches and students, review documentation of disability and determine learning strengths and areas of development for individual students. Help students to identify and advocate for appropriate and individualized classroom accommodations with disability services staff
• Oversee academic advising to students enrolled in the UML MAIPSE Program through person-centered planning
• Along with Education coaches, assist students in identifying courses that align with personal interests and career goals
• Manage process of advising students on accommodations and protocols for meeting with faculty to discuss learning needs
• Manage programmatic support of Person-Centered Plans (PCPs) for enrolled students with Education Coaches
• Supervise Education Coaches as they assist students in accessing campus resources including Disability Services, Centers for Learning, Advising and Student Success, Library Services, Career Services, and the Campus Recreation Center.
• Collaborate closely with registration staff to ensure seamless non-degree student application process for incoming program students
• Collaborate closely with Registrar’s office to enroll program students in desired courses
• Collaborate closely with staff in the Disability Services Office to ensure program students have access to services provided
• Perform program administrative tasks, including processing applications, organizing student schedules, registering students for class, and maintaining student files  
• Assist the Principal Investigator in researching, developing, and implementing private-pay agreements
• Facilitate ongoing program evaluation
• Provide educational training for district Education Coaches to ensure students are receiving the appropriate supports to be successful in the college setting
• Coordinate and facilitate educational and disability awareness programming and support for UML MAIPSE partners: students, faculty, and staff through trainings and workshops regarding best practices for inclusion for UML MAIPSE partners

 Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, disability studies, public policy, human services, social work, or a closely related field 
• a minimum of three-five (3-5) years of professional experience in program coordination and/or project management, preferably in a special education, transition services, disability services or a related human services field, is required.
• Direct experience in transition and career development services and supports for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities is required
• Experience with communication strategies and technologies, including distance education and training is required
• Knowledge of higher education including accommodations and universal design is required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with state and federal transition services is preferred
• Experience with school-college partnerships and collaboration is preferred.
• Demonstrated competence in working with a range of families, institutes of higher education, local education agencies and disability agencies, particularly those involved in inclusive postsecondary education initiatives, and ability to establish community partnerships and collaborations strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of transition services, inclusive higher education and college-based transition services
• Strong knowledge of reasonable accommodation, related issues and supports
• Knowledge of and experience with program oversight and development
• Knowledge of strategies for communication to audiences within and external to the university
• Ability to anticipate needs, to take initiative and manage conflicting priorities in a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to lead projects and staff related to project development, implementation and evaluation
• Ability to work with a wide range of students and personnel having varying levels of organizational abilities
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and issues using a variety of communication tools and platforms, including email, newsletters, websites, other electronic media and social media;
• Proven follow-through on complex tasks to completion;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to address a range of audiences, including internal contacts, community agencies, funding sources, compliance organizations and other relevant outside constituents, Strong attention to detail;
• Strong organizational capacities;
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Supervision Received:

• The incumbent will report directly to the Principal Investigator; however, this position will take direction and prioritize requests from the state MAIPSE coordinator in accomplishing required tasks.

Supervision Exercised:

• The Program Coordinator will support and supervise interns and graduate research assistants and student employees.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only current UML Employees within the Grants & Contracts (MTA/GRACE) bargaining unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

This is a Grants & Contracts (MTA/GRACE) bargaining unit position, Grade P15.

Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.   

This position is contingent upon funding. The appointment is contingent upon productivity, successful performance and the availability of funding.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.