Associate Director, McNair Scholars Program

Associate Director, McNair Scholars Program

Job Category:
Administration

Requisition Number: ASSOC
003811

• Posted:
  November 24, 2025
• Closed:
  January 15, 2026
• Full-Time
• On-site

VTSU Castleton
62 Alumni Drive
Castleton, VT 05735, USA

Associate Director, McNair Scholars Program

BARGAINING UNIT: VSC-UP PAT
FLSA: EXEMPT
GRADE 12

To assist the Director with all aspects of administration of the McNair Program, which offers programs and services intended to increase the attainment of doctoral degrees by low-income undergraduates and those from groups underrepresented in doctoral study.

• Assist in planning, implementing, administering, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the various specific activities, functions, and services of the McNair Scholars Program, including operating policies and procedures. Participate in the development and modification of program goals, objectives, services, activities, and policies, in accordance with student needs, institutional objectives and resources, and funding agency requirements.
• Plan, develop and oversee the academic year and summer programs; work with faculty mentors to coordinate research projects and internships; provide support for faculty mentors; develop and conduct workshops; plan and participate in other program activities, including orientation, trips, and special events; serve as general liaison for summer programming.
• Organize and supervise students on graduate school visits and relevant academic conferences.
• Recruit faculty mentors; find, match, and monitor summer research and internship opportunities; implement summer activities, including campus visits, conferences, and symposia. Coordinate on-campus research symposia and work closely with residence life staff and other campus offices to deliver services.
• Play a key advisory role in a variety of key research and planning tasks associated with the program, typically involving developing program goals and specific plans for implementing goals, writing grant proposals, and the like.
• Monitor academic progress of students through regular contact with participants and faculty mentors, assessment tools, and academic counseling.
• Demonstrate inclusivity and provide excellent customer service in all modalities, including in-person, telephone, e-mail, video call and the like.
• Assist with a variety of on-going administrative tasks associated with program, such as designing and maintaining appropriate records systems, and preparing reports on program activities and status for funding agency.
• Compile and disseminate information to the public regarding program services. Write/edit various other educational and information materials.
• Assist in identifying, recruiting, and selecting eligible students for the program, including a coordinated outreach effort to faculty and other campus personnel for referrals.
• Provide graduate school and academic counseling for participants in the program.
• Provide assistance, counseling and guidance to participants throughout the graduate school application and financial aid application process.
• Create a more robust arm of McNair that helps create partnerships with external Research Experience for Undergraduates at R1 universities. This includes a digital presence that can be shared university wide.
• Create and then maintain a marketing and promotional image for the McNair Scholars Program that connects with the other 205 National McNair Programs.
• Foster partnerships with Ivy League universities that will have planned visitation days for VTSU McNair Scholars.
• Create community partnerships including the Rutland Pride Center, the NAACP, and the Rutland Homelessness Prevention Center to create volunteer opportunities for McNair Scholars.
• Continuously complete DEISJ trainings and opportunities, and stay relevant on current higher education laws and best practices.
• Attend relevant local, regional and national professional meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Direct supervision is received from the Director of McNair Scholars Program.

Supervision of student workers.

Master’s degree in a STEM field, liberal arts, or other appropriate discipline, plus two to four years of relevant counseling or teaching experience, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.

• Direct experience working with the program’s targeted constituency desirable.
• Understanding of the psychological and cultural characteristics of economically and educationally disadvantaged students, particularly in a rural setting.

• Excellent counseling skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong base of general knowledge and skills relevant to the program, such as counseling, educational program design, implementation and evaluation, understanding of postsecondary opportunities and admission policies/processes, and the like.
• Good planning,…