Careers

General Summary: 

The Early College Director plays a pivotal leadership role in advancing UMass Boston’s mission to promote equity, access, and college readiness through innovative and intentional college course enrollment opportunities for high school students at partner schools. Reporting to the Executive Director of Pathways & Student Success Programs, the Director oversees the design, implementation, and expansion of Early College programs currently serving students from Boston Public Schools (BPS), with an ambitious goal to scale to 1,000 students within five years.

Central to the role is the development and maintenance of strong partnerships—with BPS high schools such as, Ruth Batson Academy, Fenway, and New Mission, as well as internal university stakeholders—to ensure that Early College students are supported academically and socially. The Director leads with a commitment to educational equity and collaborative practice, helping students gain early exposure to college-level coursework, build confidence, and persist through higher education pathways.

Examples of Duties: 

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Lead the strategic planning and expansion of the Early College program, setting clear goals to increase participation to 1,000 students over five years.
• Align Early College objectives with university-wide goals related to access, equity, and student success.
• Collaborate with the Director of Data and Program Assessment to design and implement systems for continuous program improvement using data and stakeholder feedback.
• Support development of grant applications and fundraising efforts to expand and sustain programming.
  

Partnership Management & Collaboration

With Boston Public Schools (BPS):

• Serve as the primary liaison with partnering BPS high schools (e.g., Fenway, New Mission, Ruth Batson Academy, Margarita Muñiz Academy and TechBoston Academy).
• Collaborate with the Director of Curriculum at UMass Boston, high school administrators, counselors, and teachers to align Early College curricula and ensure seamless college enrollment processes as well as pathway implementation.
• Work with BPS partners to identify student needs and remove barriers to Early College access and success.
  
  

With On-Campus Stakeholders:

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with university departments including academic affairs, enrollment services, student advising, and faculty.
• Coordinate with academic departments to develop course offerings that align with student needs, high school graduation requirements, as well as transferability.
• Facilitate cross-departmental communication to support Early College students’ academic and social integration into the university environment.
• Coordinate collaborations with pre-college programs and develop opportunities for student support and family engagement within Early College pathways.

Program Operations & Student Support

• Oversee daily operations of the Early College program including course scheduling, student registration, transportation, and resource allocation.
• Supervise Early College staff and ensure effective training, performance management, and team development.
• Work with the Director of Advising & Student Engagement as well as the Associate Director for Program Operations to implement systems to support student advising, tutoring, and academic monitoring throughout the program.
• Work with the Ross Center for Disability Services to coordinate and streamline access and supports for eligible students
• Develop and enforce policies related to student eligibility, participation, grading, and college credit transfer.
  
  

Policy Development & Institutional Integration

• Collaborate with university leadership to establish and apply policies that facilitate Early College students' transition into postsecondary education.
• Work with internal governance bodies to ensure Early College programming is fully integrated into university structures and compliant with academic standards.
• Participate in policy-making discussions and decisions related to early college access, equity, and dual enrollment protocols.

Qualifications: 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and at least 5-7 years of higher education administration experience
• Experience working with college access youth programs, particularly those serving high school students and/or collegiate programs for students from diverse backgrounds
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with university and program software such as PeopleSoft, Salesforce, HelioCampus, Canvas, and other LMS platforms.
• Strong skills in assessment, data analysis, and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data for reporting and decision-making.
• Knowledge of institutional self-assessments and student outcomes assessment methods.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems, re-engineer operations, and implement effective strategies and procedures.
• Experience in integrated program planning, development, and administration in a public institution setting.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Proven organizational skills with attention to detail and alignment with institutional strategy.
• Technical leadership and supervisory experience with the ability to manage databases and motivate staff performance.

Application Instructions: 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date. 

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting.  All other candidates will be considered after that period. 

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link: 

Grade: 34             

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position. This is a grant funded position with a current end date of June 30, 2026, subject to renewal contingent on funding and university needs.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.