Assistant Director of Service Strategy

Job Title: Assistant Director of Service Strategy

Classification: Salaried: Exempt

Salary: $72,010

Reports to: Director of Service Strategy

Employment Type: Full-Time, In-Person (minimal in-state travel): 40 hours per week

Location: Lansing, Mich

Benefits: Full benefits package includes platinum health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Also includes education support program, employee development program, 403b retirement plan (with standard 4% employer contribution and up to an additional 3% match), 240 hours of PTO, 13 paid holidays, 6 weeks fully paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave, employee assistance program, downtown Lansing parking permit and cell phone reimbursement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Assistant Director will provide capacity to the department in support of the two AmeriCorps state programs (AdviseMI and College Completion Corps), the new AmeriCorps VISTA program, and national service workforce pathways. The role of the Assistant Director focuses on compliance and impact. This role will support the department goal of enabling more first-generation college-going, low-income, students of color in Michigan to earn a postsecondary degree or credential, using national service as a strategy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Assistant Director performs a wide range of duties including, but not limited to, the following:

Support to MCAN’s AmeriCorps Programs

• Seek to align practices between MCAN’s two AmeriCorps state programs, where applicable, to reduce redundancy and promote collaboration.
• Support HR processes including member onboarding systems, evaluation processes, exit processes and issue management for MCAN’s AmeriCorps members with the Program Assistant to ensure compliance with AmeriCorps regulations.
• With the Director of Service Strategy, provide program partners and stakeholders with ongoing and impactful communication and engagement opportunities.
• Be a part of the team to facilitate and deliver training to AmeriCorps members at orientation and on-going throughout the service term, particularly pertaining to compliance.
  • Utilize data tracking tools for each program, with an eye towards implementation fidelity, light data analysis, and data consistency, informing the data deep-dive of the program leadership to assess and improve impact.

AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordination

• Provide project coordination to MCAN’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program and act in the role of VISTA Project Coordinator for the AmeriCorps VISTA office, meeting all requirements therein, including attendance at regular meetings and participating in site visits and compliance visits.
• Stay up-to-date on FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information and changes, ensuring that information is appropriately communicated to program stakeholders. The goal of the AmeriCorps VISTA program is to build capacity in Michigan school districts to increase FAFSA completion rates.
• Provide training to AmeriCorps VISTA members and site supervisors, conduct site visits, and resolve member and site issues that could impact effectiveness.
• Work with the Director of Service Strategy to manage the AmeriCorps VISTA grant reporting and impact evaluation.
• Stay up-to-date on AmeriCorps VISTA policies and ensure that the MCAN program is adhering to policies and/or adapting to new policies.
• With the Director of Service Strategy, track and manage program funds to ensure their proper use.
• Serve as the liaison between MCAN and the AmeriCorps VISTA members and their host sites.

Support AmeriCorps Pathways Initiative

• With the Director of Service Strategy, facilitate the advancement of work to identify and codify service to career and service to education pipelines and pathways in Michigan.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to develop and disseminate information, resources and training.
• Develop and track deliverables and outputs related to pathway initiatives and contribute to grant reporting and evaluation.

Serve as a contributing member of the MCAN team

• Engage in continuous learning and improvement to stay up to date on resources and best practices in college access and success.
• Consistently utilize technology tools such as Google suite, Box, Microsoft Office, and AmeriCorps systems, and demonstrate comfort and ease in learning how to operate new technology tools to implement program administrative systems.
• Regularly communicate important and sensitive information to stakeholders while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Be an active member of the MCAN organization and the Service Strategy Department, including planning, evaluation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and sustainability.
• Perform other duties as needed to advance the mission of MCAN.

EDUCATION, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Have an ability to collaborate across programs and departments on multiple projects and timelines, and work independently with minimal management to effectively perform duties in a fast-paced environment.
• Have ability to think critically to solve problems, pay attention to detail, and follow through on tasks assigned through completion.
• Work efficiently and adhere to established deadlines.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Have a passion for working in the nonprofit and education sector, especially for postsecondary attainment.
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability for in-state and national travel and overnight stays.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education, public administration, or other related fields. Master’s degree preferred.
• Three to five years of experience working in education, nonprofit management or community-based organizations.
• Supervisory experience.
• AmeriCorps experience as a member or program staff is a bonus.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of working on a computer either in a sitting or standing position.
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds at times.
• Must be able to access and navigate organization’s office facilities.
• Must be able to travel in-state.