Program Director

Note for Current UM Employees

Current employees must apply internally via ConnectU > connectu.olemiss.edu

The University of Mississippi

"The University of Mississippi — fondly referred to as Ole Miss — stands as a premier public research institution with a proud legacy of academic distinction. We are devoted to nurturing a vibrant, inclusive community where every member — student, faculty, and staff — can achieve their fullest potential.”

Department Summary

The Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction is housed within the School of Education. The CELI's vision is to enable Mississippi to be a national leader in supporting families, educators and communities to ensure that all children build strong foundations for lifelong success. The mission is to build family, educator and community capacity to strengthen children’s language, literacy and executive function development by assisting large-scale adoption of evidence-based programs and resources, enhancing individualized support in early learning settings, facilitating community engagement and partnership, and advocating for supportive policies and investments. CELI staff are passionate about the vision and mission statements and align all work on the statements. Projects within CELI exist to move these statements forward across the state and are interwoven so that staff can form a cohesive support system in communities.

Role Specifications

Below you will find classification and compensation information.  For additional details behind the University of Mississippi classification system please visit Human Resource Compensation Page

Family -  Administration 

Sub-Family - Program Coordination

Career Track / Level - P2

Grade - 7

Role Summary

Plans and coordinates day-to-day fiscal, administrative, and operational activities of a defined, program or set of funded activities. Programs are usually focused to a single purpose, may be scientific, research, educational, or service oriented, and may exist as a subset of an integrated funded program activity. Duties typically include assisting with grant planning and administration, fiscal, budgetary, and/or other associated transactions, program implementation and administration, internal and external operational/administrative liaison, program marketing, and reporting.

The individual in this position will support a project focused on building family engagement and support systems in Mississippi (MS) communities and will work closely with the MS Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Communities involved in the project select from an array of programming strategies for which this individual will provide technical assistance and support. Examples of programming strategies are Mind in the Making, Parent Academy, and Thirty Million Words. Important skills needed in this position include collaborating with an array of stakeholders, knowledge of early foundational skills including language and literacy that children need for academic and lifelong success, and providing professional development and/or supporting others who provide the professional development.

Examples of Work Performed

Types of tasks for this staff member include but are not limited to the following.

• Conducting and/or participating in community-specific meetings

• Conducting and/or supporting professional development sessions

• Completing reports as required for program evaluation

• Analyzing data for program evaluation

• Creating documents required for each community and required for UM processes and procedures

• Managing the grant budget

• Creating processes and procedures need for program implementation if those don't currently exist

• Providing technical assistance and support for community members/stakeholders in each project community to ensure that programmatic strategies are successful

• Managing materials and delivering those to communities for programmatic strategy implementation

Essential Functions

These essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following.  Additional essential functions may be identified and included by the hiring department.

1. Provides specialized  support in the development, implementation, and marketing of program function.
2. Serves as a central point of contact between students, faculty, staff, other departments, and/or external constituencies on day-to-day programmatic, operational, and administrative matters; assists with seminars, meetings, special projects, and/or general problem resolution.
3. Coordinates activities of support staff, consultants, faculty, and/or volunteers engaged in implementation and administration of program objectives.
4. Monitors and administers program/project revenues and expenses; may develop or participate in the development of funding proposals for the program.
5. Writes, edits, and coordinates development of course catalogs, promotional materials, educational materials, training manuals, newsletters, and/or brochures, as appropriate to the program.
6. Maintains program/project records, researches information and gathers and computes various data; prepares special and/or one-time reports, summaries, or replies to inquiries, selecting relevant data from a variety of sources.

Minimum Education/Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree

Experience:  (3) Three Years Experience

Preferred Qualifications

Please note that this position relies on external or grant funding and that this position requires extensive travel to project communities across the state.

Please provide a resume and cover letter.

EEO Statement

The University of Mississippi provides equal opportunity in any employment practice, education program, or education activity to all qualified persons. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding equal opportunity and affirmative action and does not unlawfully discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based upon race, color, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information.

Minimum Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements:  These physical requirements are not exhaustive, and additional job-related physical requirements may be added to these by individual agencies on an as needed basis. 

Corrective devices may be used to meet physical requirements.

Physical Exertion:  The incumbent may be required to lift up to approximately 10 pounds.

Vision:  Requirements of this job include close vision. Speaking/Hearing: Ability to give and receive information through speaking and listening.

Motor Coordination:  While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is frequently required to talk and hear; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The incumbent is periodically required to sit. The incumbent is occasionally required to stand; walk; and reach with hands and arms

Interview Requirements: Any candidate who is called for an interview must notify the Department of Equal Opportunity/Regulatory Compliance in writing of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

Background Check Statement

The University of Mississippi is committed to providing a safe campus community. UM conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.