Human Resources

Summary

The Director of Thompson Scholarship Programs provides leadership and administration for the Thompson Working Families Scholarship, a large and robust scholarship program providing gift financial aid to students at Michigan Tech. This program serves 350 students on Michigan Tech’s campus and will grow to serve up to 700 students. Working as part of a core leadership team reporting up through Enrollment Management, the Director will serve as part of the core leadership enrollment team. This individual and their team works hand-in-hand with financial aid, admissions, and educational outreach to contribute to the strategic direction of enrollment at Michigan Tech.
The Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the program including strategic planning, managing all programming and support initiatives, and overseeing all daily operations of the program. This includes assisting financial aid as needed, contributing to enrollment management strategies for recruiting and identifying scholars, establishing practices and policies to monitor the academic progress and completion of scholarship requirements.

Responsibilities 

• Oversee all aspects of the Rollin A Jones and Jim Lindstrom Thompson Working Families scholarship including recruiting, application review, administration of funds, exhibit compilation, foundation stewardship, and internal management.
• Direct and cultivate a dynamic, engaged community of Thompson Scholars that embodies volunteerism, dedication, and fosters a culture of success for every member.
• Lead the direction of retention and community building related activities that contribute to the success of the Thompson Working Families students, and direct staff to focus on retaining and graduating all students involved with the program.
• Work hand in hand with the Director of Financial Aid to ensure that administration of the scholarship runs smoothly.
• Administer, support, and prioritize the ~$7 million in conditional annual funding from the Rollin A. Jones and James E. Lindstrom Working Families Scholarship program, funded by the Thompson Foundation and the Universities funding match.
• Manage the process associated with identifying eligible students for the Working Families Scholarship and collaborate with Advancement, Admissions, and Student Affairs departments to support and expand the cohorts.
• Oversee a staff of two individuals, providing strategic direction that generates efficient and compliant results of Michigan Tech’s execution of the Thompson Working Families scholarship.
• Annually lead the planning of foundation visits from the Thompson Working Families trustees.
• Act as the primary lead for the program at Michigan Tech, and appropriately build bridges with departments across Michigan Tech including the Dean of Students, the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success, admissions, financial aid, and educational outreach.
• Ensure all administrative aspects of the scholarship (including all exhibits) are completed in collaboration with Financial Aid in a timely and accurate fashion.
• Predict (and triage) upcoming challenges with the program, and appropriately set direction for team members to mitigate challenges.
• Meet with and be the lead contact with regular Thompson Working Families meetings and phone calls.
• Provide excellent customer service and demonstrate empathy, understanding, and care in all student and family interactions.
• Commit to understanding, and remaining current, on the needs analysis process of the financial aid information submitted by applicants which established federal, state and University standards and guidelines to determine financial need.
• Learn how financial aid is awarded and monitored, specifically how other aid programs affect the Working Families Scholarship - and vice versa.
• During critical times of year, provide support to financial aid to ensure the critical functions and deadlines for the institution are met (e.g. billing week, scholarship thank-you note completion).
• Present and provide coverage as needed for admissions events, local financial aid information sessions, counselor sessions, financial literacy presentations, and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) nights.
• Ensure the security and integrity of confidential student data.
• Other duties as assigned.

• SUPERVIORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Functional supervision is required for a staff of two professional staff members and may be exercised over student assistants.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

● Bachelor's Degree

Required Experience

● Seven years of commensurate experience in education, non-profit administration, or other service based industry.
● Demonstrated experience in project management and organizational effectiveness while maintaining strict attention to detail.
● Demonstrated experience to counsel, advise, and lead.
● Demonstrated excellence operating with excellent fiduciary acumen.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

● Master’s degree.
● Experience working with college aged students.
● Experience working with foundations.
● Experience delivering presentations to groups.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

● Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and written/oral communication skills.
● Demonstrated knowledge of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
● Demonstrated ability to explain and convey complex information.
● Demonstrated ability to lead.
● Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work assignments independently in a complex work environment.
● Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail.
● Demonstrated ability to use appropriate judgment when dealing with highly confidential information.
● Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a team environment.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

● Experience using Banner and/or Slate.
● Experience using Zoom for individual and large group virtual presentations.
● Demonstrated success in working with persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

   Some Evening and weekend work will be required.

    The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

    The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

    The work environment is that of a typical office setting.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

1.00

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Rate/Salary

Negotiable, No less than $60,000

Title of Position Supervisor

Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management

Posting Type

Dependent on Funding

Additional Information

HR Title: Associate Director of Thompson Scholars Program