Assistant Director, Vassar After School Team; VAST

Assistant Director, Vassar After School Team (VAST) & VELLOP (Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program)

R

Poughkeepsie, NY

Department:
Vassar Education Collaboration VEC

Job Family:
Administrator

Vassar College is deeply committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees by promoting an environment of transparency and respect for differences. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who meet the qualifications of a posting. If you need to request an accommodation to fully participate in the search process, please contact careers.

The Office of Community-Engaged Learning (OCEL) aims to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations and schools in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and the greater Hudson Valley. By centering reciprocal partnerships, OCEL provides students with opportunities to learn alongside community partners and connect academic work to real-world issues.

One of OCEL’s core initiatives is the Vassar Education Collaboration (VEC), which strengthens school-based partnerships between Vassar College and the Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD). The VEC includes three programs designed to expand educational opportunity and access for K-12 students:
Exploring College (EC), the Vassar After School Team (VAST), and the Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program (VELLOP). VAST is a middle school after-school educational and enrichment program that fosters academic support, belonging, and leadership development for both participating scholars and Vassar student mentors. VELLOP is a school-based initiative that advances language access and educational equity for multilingual students in partnership with PCSD.

Working closely with the Director of Community-Engaged Learning, the Assistant Director provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for VAST and VELLOP. This role is responsible for building a strong and supportive learning community among youth participants and student mentors; supervising and mentoring Vassar student leaders; developing systems and structures that ensure program quality and accountability; and cultivating strong relationships with families, teachers, school administrators, and other K-12 serving community organizations.

The Assistant Director ensures that both programs reflect OCEL's commitments to educational equity, language justice, and reciprocal community engagement.

This is a two-year grant-funded position with the possibility of extension pending funding, with a target start date of August 2026. 11 months paid over 12 months (no July work).

• Provide leadership for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of VAST and VELLOP programming
• Develop, support, and refine lesson planning and curricular materials for after-school and in-school sessions
• Ensure programmatic coherence with NYS curriculum and responsiveness to teacher-identified needs
• Align both programs with OCEL's justice-centered, community-engaged learning framework and Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) priorities
• Develop and oversee short- and long-term program goals, timelines, and outcomes

• Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor Vassar student mentors and tutors
• Provide leadership and ongoing coaching to support mentors' personal, academic, and professional growth
• Facilitate reflective practice and leadership development opportunities for student mentors
• Foster a collaborative mentor team culture grounded in communication, accountability, and shared purpose
• Ensure all mentors are informed, prepared, and aligned around program expectations and goals

• Create and maintain effective systems, structures, and routines that support smooth program implementation
• Manage after-school and in-school learning environments to ensure safety, engagement, and positive youth development
• Oversee attendance, transportation, scheduling, and communication processes.
• Follow through consistently on operational details and program commitments