Assistant Director for Wood and UNC Scholars Programming

The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid works to ensure that qualified students have the opportunity to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill regardless of their ability to pay. The office serves students at all levels, including graduate and professional school students and coordinates all student financial support for the campus. The office assists in the recruitment, retention and success of students while maximizing available funds, exercising good stewardship of those funds, and performing related research, analysis and program evaluation in support of long-range enrollment and campus goals. In addition, the office provides academic and co-circular support services for scholarships, provides financial literacy and educational tools, and partners with faculty and other student success areas across campus to provide excellent service to low- and middle-income students and other scholarship recipients. The work of the office is public in nature and closely scrutinized by students and their families, lawmakers, faculty and staff at the University, and by the media (local, regional, and national).

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks innovative, energetic, and accomplished candidates for the position of Assistant Director for Wood Family and UNC Scholars Programming. The Assistant Director for Wood and UNC Scholars Programming is a key role in the department, contributing to the management of a large and complex program of both need-based and academic scholarships (over 1200 funds) intended to support institutional goals of access and excellence. In addition, the Assistant Director assists in the planning and implementation of programmatic features and high impact experiences and opportunities for those scholarships that comprise the UNC Scholars Program, which are meant to cultivate a sense of identity and engagement among recipients. This position serves as a point of contact for faculty mentors to ensure effective mentorship and running of other programmatic features.The Assistant Director has a fundamental role in working with campus partners to select and recruit talented students to the University. The Assistant Director facilitates the selection of scholarship recipients by working closely with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and other units to participate in the reading and evaluation of applications for selection purposes, committing University resources in the form of scholarships, notifying recipients, and co-organizing recruitment outreach efforts to successfully enroll candidates.The Assistant Director will work closely with Communications specialists to ensure effective news sharing, updates and outward-facing information that is relevant to current and prospective students (websites, social media platforms), and cultivating scholar profiles for occasional publicity, where appropriate.The Wood Family Scholars program, part of the UNC Scholars Program – is a distinctive academic scholarship program that emphasizes scholar cohesion and community. The Wood Family Scholars Program was created to help support the college careers of high-achieving students and to foster their professional and personal growth. Scholars are selected based upon leadership and entrepreneurial potential, personal character, academic achievement, and financial need. The selection process also includes a supplemental application. The program provides students with extraordinary support, experiences, and opportunities to help shape them into visionary leaders. An ideal cohort consists of 10 Wood Scholars in each incoming class.The Assistant Director will implement programs and systems of support for Wood and the UNC Scholar Program as envisioned by the donors and in consultation with the Senior Assistant Director for UNC Sholars and Programming, the Associate Director for Scholarships, and the Associate Provost and Director of the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid.The Assistant Director also performs other administrative duties as assigned by the Director and the Associate Director. This includes, and is not limited to providing data as needed, assisting with donor relations/stewardship when needed, providing input on proposed scholarship language/policies, and planning and coordinating the annual Johnston Trustee visit.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent educational or instructional activities associated with the delivery and/or management of student support functions, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and at least 1 year of relevant experience in substitution.

-Demonstrated ability and success in the coordination for student focused programs at a four-year institution and ability to execute programming initiatives.
-Experience building and cultivating partnerships with constituents across campus or outside the university.
-Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and connect with diverse student populations.
-Hours – Availability/flexibility to work some evenings and weekends.
-Excellent written and oral communication skills.
-The ability to manage complicated projects independently and exemplary work ethic
-A strong sense of initiative and the ability to think creatively and critically, and problem solve.

-Master’s degree in higher education or related field
-Experience coordinating recurring undergraduate student programs and events aligned with the academic calendar
-Financial Aid, Career and/or academic counseling
-Experience supporting cohorts of college students