Director, Rise Program

Yale Prison Education Initiative at Dwight Hall; Branchburg Township (NJ); On-site; USD 70,221 - 77,243; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The Yale Prison Education Initiative at Dwight Hall is seeking a Director for the RISE Program in Branchburg, NJ. This role involves strategic leadership of educational programs for returning and incarcerated students, collaborating with multiple stakeholders and advocating for prison education.

The ideal candidate will hold a Master’s Degree and have over three years of relevant experience. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience with higher-education programs for returning/ incarcerated students.
• Experience with database systems and diverse stakeholder collaboration.
• Ability to adapt to changing job requirements and find innovative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead academic and workforce programs in correctional facilities.
• Act as liaison with various governmental and educational bodies.
• Oversee curriculum and student services in a DOC environment.
• Manage departmental budget and grant funding for RISE program.

Skills

Student-centered services

Leadership

Effective communication skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Problem-solving skills

Education

Master’s Degree in a relevant field

Job description

Director of RISE Program

Location: Branchburg, NJ

Salary Range: $70,221.00 - $77,243.00

About Raritan Valley Community College

Raritan Valley Community College is a nationally recognized community college in New Jersey, serving residents of Somerset and Hunterdon County. It offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training and professional development courses.

Job Description

Reporting to the Interim Dean of Academic Partnerships, the Director of the RISE (Returning and Incarcerated Student Education) Program provides strategic leadership for all academic and workforce programs offered within New Jersey correctional facilities, while maintaining collaborative relationships with the New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons Consortium (NJ-STEP).

Essential Duties

• Manage and provide student-centered strategic leadership in the supervision of RISE operational, planning, and continuous quality improvement processes.
• Serve as the primary liaison with executive officials of STEP educational partners, the Department of Corrections, interested non‑profit entities, and NJ state departments such as HESA, the Department of Higher Education, the Department of Labor, the US Department of Justice, the US Department of Education, and others as appropriate regarding matters of prison education, partnerships, and funding.
• Advocate for the RVCC program and prison education at the local, state, and national level, testifying on related legislation and liaising with high ranking elected and appointed officials.
• Act as Academic and Operational Officer for a multi-campus program.
• Oversee master course schedule creation, academic instruction, course materials, advisement, and student support within the physical, technological, geographic, and custodial restrictions of DOC facilities, in collaboration with RVCC staff and offices as appropriate.
• Oversee enrollment services, registration, placement, accommodations, financial aid, and degree audits for RISE students.
• Oversee adjunct hiring, onboarding, and evaluation; maintain familiarity with curriculum and pedagogical strategies for all disciplines taught in facilities.
• Champion the College’s learning outcomes, program assessment, and continuous quality improvement programs.
• Provide innovative and entrepreneurial leadership for the development of new programs, the evaluation of existing programs, and the expansion of the program’s educational mission beyond transfer programs.
• Develop and manage the departmental budget.
• Research, seek, secure, and manage grant funding for the RISE program in collaboration with educational and/or governmental partners.
• Design and oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of data related to student and financial records for internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies.
• Supervise RISE program personnel.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in a field related to one of the disciplines taught in the RISE program.
• At least three (3) years’ experience working with higher‑education programs that serve returning and/or incarcerated students. Community college experience preferred.
• Eligibility for appropriate security clearance(s) for work inside DOC facilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of current practices and issues related to education of returning or incarcerated students.
• Ability to accept changes to job requirements, policies, workload, and new methods or procedures, and to find innovative solutions.
• Leadership that provides and supports student‑centered services with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience with integrated database systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Experience collaborating with multiple and diverse stakeholders to solve complex problems effectively.
• Effective verbal and written communication, presentation, and customer service skills.

Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, and a comprehensive benefits package.