2544 Director Project Access-Autism Program Specialist

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Director Project Access-Autism Program Specialist

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2544

GRADE 45

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director, Project ACCESS

MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Dean, College of Education

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Director for Project ACCESS also serves as an Autism Program Specialist and is responsible for the coordination of activities and continued identification of program activities and project priorities and exercises managerial responsibilities for the Project ACCESS office. The Director, in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, develops the contract proposal which supports the continuation and funding of the Project ACCESS effort, develops programs for in-service training workshops for public school teachers and other related service providers, and provides consultation services to public school personnel regarding educational programs for students with autism. As the Autism Program Specialist, the Director serves as an advisor to the State of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding students with autism. This position is funded by state and federal funds administered through the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Special Education.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Master's degree is required, with an emphasis in Special Education or a closely related area preferred. An earned Doctorate is preferred.

Experience: At least four years of responsible experience in the public school system with an emphasis in Special Education or related services is required. Significant experience in working with students with autism, preferably gained in the public school system, is required. Teaching experience at the college/university level is preferred.

Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills are required. Strong interpersonal skills in working with teachers, parents, administrators and other constituencies are required. Organizational, supervisory/managerial skills are required. Public speaking skills are preferred.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensures that the University submits a viable option for the continuation of the Project ACCESS effort by determining (in coordination with the funding source) the project activities, developing a contract proposal which describes all proposed activities, staffing needs and associated funding requirements, preparing required forms and related documents, and submitting the formal contract proposal to the Project Director for review and endorsement.

2. Assists in providing appropriate educational programs for students with autism by consulting with public school administrators and teachers regarding the development of those programs.

3. Enhances the abilities of public school teachers and other related service providers to develop and manage educational programs for students with autism by planning, coordinating and conducting in-service training workshops.

4. Administers an educational program which allows participants to earn academic credit, in conjunction with in-service training workshops, by developing a curriculum, scheduling related activities, and serving as the professor for students enrolled in the prescribed college course.

5. Manages funds by planning and developing a project budget, exercising advisory authority regarding the expenditure of project funds, and providing reports of project activities that justifies project expenditures to University and state officials.

6. Develops an effective and efficient staff of professional and clerical personnel by hiring qualified candidates, providing appropriate training, supervising activities and evaluating performance.

7. Provides advice to the State of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as to appropriate strategies for educating students with autism by serving as a resource professional for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Section of Special Education.

8. Promotes an awareness of the services available through Project ACCESS by publicizing project activities and project services, presenting professional papers at state and national conferences, conducting educational/informational programs, writing public service announcements and news releases, and participating in media interviews.

9. Manages the daily operations of the Project ACCESS office by establishing activity priorities, goals and objectives, determining resource allocations, assigning activity responsibilities, developing policies and procedures regarding operational performances, and evaluating progress toward achievement of established goals and objectives.

10. Contributes to the overall success of Project ACCESS by performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Director reports to the Director of Project ACCESS and in turn supervises the professional and clerical staff of the Project ACCESS office.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JULY 2009

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 4.0 - 2300 Points: Knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, methods and techniques of an administrative, managerial, or professional field such as accounting or auditing, financial management, business administration, human resources, engineering, social sciences, communications, education, law, or medicine. Knowledge permits the employee to complete assignments by applying established methods to recurring types of projects/problems susceptible to well-documented precedents or to schedule, plan, and carry out precedented projects. Alternatively, knowledge at this level might also permit the employee to carry out precedented projects requiring considerable experience in specific areas within higher education. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in a specific technical or professional specialty along with significant related work experience. Alternatively, equivalent knowledge requirements at this level include a non-technical or general Bachelor's degree requirement with substantial work experience or a non-specific Master's degree requirement with substantial work experience. Knowledge requirements generally also include a significant amount of related work experience and may include administrative or supervisory experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 270 Points: Supervision of a limited number of (a) operative, administrative support, or paraprofessional employees who do not exercise a full range of supervisory responsibilities over other full-time employees, (b) a very small number of professional employees, or an equivalent combination of (a) and (b). The incumbent performs a full range of supervisory responsibilities including performance reviews of subordinates. The incumbent is generally responsible for training, planning, and directing the work of permanent employees, and provides major input into hiring decisions. Supervisory responsibilities consume moderate amounts of work time and may include general work planning tasks.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 4.0 - 1500 Points: Work involves the primary accountability for a smaller department, program, or process. Work activities involve managerial decisions that directly affect the efficiency, costs, reputation, and service quality of the department, program, or process. Work affects a limited range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University. Work activities have a direct and substantial impact on the department. While work activities do have some effect on the efficiency and reputation of the cost center, departments, programs, or processes at this level represent a relatively minor function within the cost center. Employees in jobs at this level may have responsibility for developing budgets, distributing budgeted funds, and exercising the primary control over a relatively small budget.