Director, Colvin Center

About Le Moyne College:
Le Moyne College, located in Syracuse, N.Y., is an independent college established by the Jesuits in 1946 to provide students with a values-based, comprehensive academic program designed to foster intellectual excellence and preparation for a life of leadership and service. Today, Le Moyne has evolved into a nationally acclaimed college of liberal arts and sciences that draws students from across the U.S. and abroad.
Our Mission:
Le Moyne College is a diverse learning community that strives for academic excellence in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition through its comprehensive programs rooted in the liberal arts and sciences. Its emphasis is on education of the whole person and on the search for meaning and value as integral parts of the intellectual life. Le Moyne College seeks to prepare its members for leadership and service in their personal and professional lives to promote a more just society.
Le Moyne College aims to advance the values of diversity and inclusiveness at the college. To do this, Le Moyne seeks scholars and professionals who bring innovation, creativity, and impact to the campus, and who bring greater depth, breadth, and diversity to our campus community. Le Moyne College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, persons of color, and Jesuits to apply for employment.
The Ruth Colvin Adult Learning Center has been established to offer flexible, learner-centered programming that supports diverse goals, including foundational skill building, English language acquisition, workforce readiness, and digital literacy. This instruction will be delivered through a mix of classes, small-group learning, and one-on-one tutoring. The Center will also provide online remote GED instruction via consistent, data-driven small group tutoring that will allow for flexible scheduling to help learners strengthen reading and math skills while progressing toward GED attainment. Beyond instruction, the Center will function as a connector—linking learners to college pathways, workforce training, community organizations, and social supports.
ProLiteracy, the nation’s largest adult literacy and basic education organization, is providing strategic guidance and capacity-building support to help establish the Center and strengthen its leadership, operations, and programming as it evolves and broadens its reach.
Position Summary
The Ruth Colvin Center Director will develop and guide the Center’s mission of empowering adults by providing accessible, high-quality literacy instruction that opens pathways to further education, meaningful employment, and full participation in civic and community life. The Director will work to advance the Center’s long-term vision of building a community where every adult can read, write, and communicate with confidence, thus unlocking lifelong learning and economic opportunity.
The Director will be an effective, compassionate individual who is prepared to work with linguistically and culturally diverse client populations and adults with literacy challenges to lead the Center in achieving its goals.
This is a 12-month, full time position and may include evening and weekend hours based on operational needs.
Principal Duties and Essential Functions
Job duties specific to this position:
Direct the Center’s student services by providing design and oversight of the following areas:
Student recruitment and waitlist management (including collaborating with the Le Moyne Communication Office and the Bosch Academy Director as necessary to develop marketing materials, social media efforts, and in-person events to recruit students and developing relationships with referral organizations across the community)
Student intake (including designing and facilitating an intake process that includes assessment, data collection, and personalized learning plan development)
Instruction (including selecting curricula, purchasing instructional materials, maintaining learning area and facilities, and teaching classes and/or tutoring literacy as a substitute or back-up instructor as necessary)
Student progress (including collecting and monitoring student learning data and conducting oversight of student learning plans)
Student support (including managing the support services students need to overcome learning barriers such as transportation, child care, work schedules, etc.)
Student involvement (including developing ways for students to be active stakeholders in the Center)
Support the Center’s instructors by providing design and oversight of the following areas:
Instructor recruitment (including developing marketing materials, social media efforts, and in-person events as necessary to recruit instructors in collaboration with referral organizations across the community)
Instructor intake (including designing and facilitating an application and intake process that includes reviewing volunteer applicants, making decisions about volunteer viability, collecting data about scheduling availability and interest, and organizing schedules)
Instructor training (including initial/preservice training and ongoing/in-service professional development and support)
Instructor support and supervision (including and maintaining a system of monitoring, supporting, and evaluating instructors)
Provide organization and administrative oversight by:
Monitoring and assessing scope and effectiveness of existing services on a continuing basis
Making decisions about the Center’s staffing, curriculum, and direction
Making recommendations to Bosch Academy leadership regarding program changes
Overseeing the Center’s budget
Ordering supplies as necessary
Maintaining the Center’s learning area(s) and technological equipment
Submitting an annual report to Bosch Academy leadership and other interested parties
Establishing and maintaining community relationships to facilitate needed support for the organization: i.e., volunteers, students, community partners for recruitment purposes
Maintaining a positive and effective relationship with other literacy service providers in Syracuse and the surrounding area
Establishing relationships with state and national literacy organizations
Updating and maintaining web and social media presences
Promoting the Center through personal and media contacts
Maintaining effective working relationships with students, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders through technology or in person
Speaking to donors and community members
Planning and facilitating public relations events and publicity campaigns
Providing additional administrative support as necessary
Stay abreast of the latest trends and research in literacy education through ongoing professional development.
Job expectations for all Le Moyne College employees:
Demonstrates and role-models all of Le Moyne’s mission-based competencies (collaboration, communication, diversity, integrity, leadership and service) in every interaction with all community members and external parties.
Strengthen digital literacy skills through education and the application of digital technologies in order to effectively engage in information gathering, utilization and data management while promoting a security culture.
Supports cura personalis by treating all individuals with dignity, professionalism and kindness.
Promotes cura apostolica by aligning professional goals, objectives, and performance with college’s strategic goals.
Demonstrates excellent work attendance, reliability and work ethic.
Attends and actively participates in required meetings and training sessions.
Complies and adheres to all of Le Moyne’s established policies, procedures and codes of conduct at all times, including all health and safety requirements and regulations, to promote desired behavior and build awareness.
Must complete all required federal, state, institution and department trainings.
Engages in a planned program of professional development. Continually maintains skills and knowledge relative to the position and technology industry including best practice, evolving operational requirements, and industry trends.
Performs a variety of related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required:
Master’s Degree in adult education, nonprofit management, or other related field (applied linguistics, comparative or contrastive rhetoric, curriculum and instruction, education, second language acquisition, TESOL, etc.)
Minimum 3-5 years managerial experience in adult literacy education or similarly focused nonprofit organization
Proven commitment to understanding and responding to the needs of adult learners, especially related to Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Experience teaching literacy to English language learners and understanding the communication needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners
Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Our campus thrives on the energy, collaboration, and shared ideas of our