Associate Director for Student Facing Programs

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450 acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the university is part of the five colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the region's intellectual energy.

Job Summary

Working with the Berthiaume Center leadership and reporting to the Executive Director of the Berthiaume Center, the Associate Director of Student Facing Programs serves as a point person for student-facing programs and campus-wide entrepreneurial activities of UMass' Berthiaume Center. The position is responsible for increasing the on-campus presence of the Center and developing and implementing strategies to grow student-facing programs, including the Center's co-curricular entrepreneurship programs such as the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy, the Innovation Challenge, Boot Camps, Summer Accelerator, Residential Academic Programs (RAP & LLC), and other entrepreneurship showcases and mentoring sessions. The position creates and manages student engagement programming throughout the campus and oversees the daily operations of the Center and incubator space. It also supports co-curricular activities across campus, including iCorps programs and Berthiaume MBA Fellows.

The position also ensures that the center effectively and efficiently provides resources to students and their ventures to advance their development by providing them with the necessary guidance, tools, and oversight to launch, sustain, and advance their ventures. One key to success will be the candidate's ability to navigate deep technology, Social and Impact ventures, and work with undergraduate students and faculty engaged in transnational research.

Essential Functions

• Student-Facing Programs: Develop a strategy to raise the level of student-facing programs by creating, marketing, running, and improving Berthiaume Center programs. Promote programs to other colleges and organizations within the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem. Actively recruit and foster positive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds to participate in programs on campus and off in the Pioneer Valley and Commonwealth. Fosters positive relationships with students through individual and team meetings with ventures and provides coaching to student entrepreneurs in all phases of their development. Works collaboratively with the Berthiaume Center team, students, faculty, and staff to deliver programs designed to engage UMass students across the entire campus and help them become more effective entrepreneurs. Aids in data collection to monitor key success metrics for the center through its programs and activities.
• Berthiaume Center Campus Relations: Executes and manages Berthiaume Center student-facing relations and student engagement through class visits, on one venture meetings, club visits and meetings, tabling, etc. Manages all venture communication with students. Disseminates information campus-wide about the Berthiaume Center and its offerings, including collaborating with colleagues in similar positions at UMass, the Five-College Consortium, and the fourteen colleges and universities in the Valley and interfacing with organizations in the regional entrepreneurship community.
• Student Clubs: Creates and executes plans to build sustainable student clubs (including but not limited to the Entrepreneurship Club and the Social Entrepreneurship Division). As a liaison for all student organizations, identifying and delegating tasks to students, determining the viability of proposed student initiatives, and providing recommendations to students in organizing and holding events.
• Berthiaume Center Incubator: Manages the Berthiaume Center incubator and works with the center's office manager to procure necessary items for startups in the incubator and accelerator as well as for other activities and events.
• Physical Space: Ensures that the center's rooms are scheduled efficiently and works with the Center's office manager to procure necessary items for startups in the accelerator as well as for other activities and events rules and protocols regarding the space. Responsible for how new and existing students should interact within the space.

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.
• Understand responsibilities concerning Title IX and other compliance requirements.
• Demonstrates capacity, skill, and enthusiastic willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
• Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of Student Affairs and Campus Life.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree and at least three (3) years experience in student engagement, marketing, recruiting, or a similar field.
• Experience creating and implementing a variety of student clubs.
• Strong bias towards technology.
• Experience developing strategies to increase student-facing programs.
• Experience recruiting and fostering positive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds to participate in student-facing programs on a college campus or within the greater community.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a desire to work closely and collaboratively with students.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
• Required to work some nights and weekends and occasionally travel for local events and entrepreneurship conferences as business needs dictate.

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.