Director of Leadership and Professional Development, Sapphire Leadership Academic Program

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Sapphire Leadership Academic Program is a premier undergraduate leadership and professional development program for competitively-selected, high-achieving students in the Smeal College of Business. The Director of Leadership and Professional Development (Academic Program Specialist) serves under the Faculty Director and alongside the Director of Academic Affairs and the Sapphire Program Coordinator to coordinate plans and activities specific to students' leadership and professional development. The Director serves as a mentor and oversees the planning and execution of programming by the student-led Leadership Development and Professional Development teams;assists with refinement of the Sapphire Four-Year Roadmap to enhance student development; designs and executes cohort-specific experiential learning activities to motivate students' leadership and professional development; manages the Sapphire Abroad (embedded study abroad) program in coordination with the Strickler Office of International Programs; coordinates strengths/emotional testing and develops four-year individual leadership development plans; assists with curriculum development for Sapphire second-year seminar and capstone courses; and provides academic advising services to Sapphire students.

Specific duties associated with this position include the following:

• Along with other members of the Sapphire Advising Team (SAT), refine the Sapphire Four-Year Roadmap to provide a robust plan for student leadership and professional development. Mentor and oversee the planning and execution of programming activities by the Leadership Development (LD) and Professional Development (PD) teams to ensure all LD and PD programming (e.g., Sourcing Sapphire and Leadership Symposium) aligns with the Four-Year Roadmap. Advise SAT and student teams on planning and execution of cohort-specific programming (e.g., First-Year Fundamentals program). Coordinate with the Director of Academic Affairs to ensure activities of the Smeal Relations, Sapphire Involvement, THON, and Community Service teams align with and support the Four-Year Roadmap.
• Design, plan, and execute experiential learning activities for each Sapphire cohort and the entire program. Ensure all experiential learning activities align with and support the Four-Year Roadmap and program objectives in the Sapphire Strategic Plan. Collect feedback to assess learning outcomes for and continuously improve experiential learning activities.
• Manage the Sapphire Abroad (embedded study abroad) program in coordination with the Strickler Office of International Programs. Design, plan, and execute international learning opportunities (e.g., Spring Break) that enhance the cultural awareness, leadership development, and servant-leadership of participating students. Coordinate pre-event preparatory activities and post-event reflection/feedback.
• Coordinate student strengths/emotional intelligence testing to support student development. Develop, execute, and monitor four-year individual leadership development plans that align with the Four-Year Roadmap. Coach students along development plans to strengthen leadership skills. Coordinate with the Business Career Center to host corporate associate sessions focused on skills development and improvement.
• Assist with curriculum development of Sapphire Capstone Course. Ensure course aligns with and supports the Four-Year Roadmap and Sapphire Strategic Plan. Advise instructor to ensure capstone course serves as appropriate substitute for BA 411 - Analyzing Business and Industry and transitions to permanent course.
• Assist with curriculum development of BA 297 - Issues in Business and Leadership. Ensure course aligns with and supports the Four-Year Roadmap and Sapphire Strategic Plan. Assist instructor with selection and scheduling of guest speakers. Advise instructor to ensure course transitions to permanent course.
• Provide direct and comprehensive academic advising for Sapphire students to ensure compliance with the program's policies and procedures. Maintain confidential records of these interactions. Oversee that each Sapphire student is in good standing in the program which includes: reviewing CGPA each semester (requirement for program is a CGPA = 3.50); sending out probation/dismissal emails each semester; meeting with students on probation; and supervising the completion of experiential leadership requirements (points system) each semester.

General duties associated with this position include the following:

The Academic Program Specialist develops, administers, and evaluates academic programs and processes including degree programs, internship and study abroad experiences, and faculty governance processes including accreditation and curriculum reviews; oversees academic program operations including enrollment and retention, student services, scheduling, data management, and marketing activities; and develops and maintains relationships with academic partners.

• Identify, evaluate, develop, implement, and provide ongoing oversight of an academic or degree related program
• Develop and manage cross-program components such as leadership immersion programs, student networking events, commencement, alumni engagement initiatives, and other program portfolio student-centered initiatives
• Design and administer internship, residency, or mentorship programs related to degree requirements; collaborate with faculty to establish meaningful student experiences and curriculum
• Direct and strategize the operations of an academic program including policy interpretation; procedures related to recruitment, enrollment, and retention; course scheduling; data management; review and award processes
• Manage the administration of academic processes including curriculum review, accreditation, and academic integrity processes; review and submit course proposals; consult with faculty on proposal process and guidelines; facilitate the course approval process
• Advise students through the selection of study abroad and other international engagement opportunities; collaborate with overseas partner institutions; manage the selection and preparation of study abroad participants
• Partner with faculty to develop and implement embedded course program itineraries, curriculums, and logistics; serve as a resource for international policy questions; develop and submit course proposals, serve as a liaison between the academic unit and central offices including Global Programs and Risk Management; deliver information sessions and workshops for embedded course leader
• Consult and advise academic program staff on compliance issues; interpret and apply academic policies to students, faculty, and staff
• Foster relationships with central offices and other units; develop and maintain working relationships with alumni, donors, University officials; collaborate with academic leadership and staff to identify needs and create solutions
• Develop and implement marketing plans; identify potential marketing opportunities and implement strategies for gaining student interest; create informational resources and materials that promote the academic program
• May provide program advising to students; guide students in course selection and scheduling; monitor academic progress
• Lead recruitment and retention activities; develop, implement, and evaluate student services
• Collect and analyze data; provide reports and make recommendations to faculty or assigned college
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

This position requires a bachelor's degree or higher, plus three years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

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