Job Details

Senior Special Programs Coordinator (Campus Title: MAIPSE Senior Coordinator)

Position Number: 6781767
Location: Gardner, MA
Position Type: Disability Services

Senior Special Programs Coordinator (Campus Title: MAIPSE Senior Coordinator)

Mount Wachusett Community College

About Mount Wachusett Community College:

Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) is a highly regarded educational institution located in Gardner, Massachusetts and accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Established in 1963, MWCC serves the educational needs of the communities of North Central Massachusetts with innovative undergraduate education, early college programs, workforce development, personal enrichment, and community service. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence, MWCC provides a supportive environment for individuals to pursue their educational goals, enhance professional skills, and seek personal growth. As a beacon of opportunity, Mount Wachusett Community College empowers individuals from all walks of life, fostering their development and transformation.

We hope you will consider applying for one of our open positions, and discover all that Mount Wachusett Community College and the North Central Massachusetts region have to offer.

http://mwcc.edu/about-mwcc/

Mount Wachusett Community College embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values and makes it our mission to proactively focus on improving racial equity in our college community. We value equity-minded individuals with commitment to serve student learners from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants who share our commitment and who understand the benefits of culturally relevant practices needed in an educational environment.

Job Description:

General Statement of Duties:

MWCC is searching for a skilled and experienced individual to coordinate the planning stage of the Massachusetts Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (MAIPSE) initiative, with implementation ideally set for Fall 2026. The Coordinator will oversee development and implementation of the MAIPSE Program. The program is a partnership among local school districts, service agencies, employer partners and MWCC to provide students with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities with access to higher education. The Coordinator will lead the program through an initial planning period, preparing for implementation for fall 2026. The Coordinator will establish and work with a planning and advisory team to implement the program and support students through coursework, academic skill development, career planning and employment, developing self-advocacy skills, connecting to campus resources and engagement opportunities, and navigating campus life. The Coordinator will serve as a liaison to faculty across disciplines, as well as other administrative offices to advance and promote MAIPSE initiatives across campus. The Coordinator will work closely with the Dean of K12 Partnerships & Civic Engagement and the Dean of Students to oversee a comprehensive MAIPSE program at MWCC.

Responsibilities:

Administrative

Develop full implementation plan by June 2026, working with Dean and the planning advisory team
Track program budget, including processing expenses, purchases, travel and projecting budget spending
Work with Student Financial Services to establish billing processes for students, in line with established policies and procedures within the office
Establish, and ensure compliance with, Memorandum of Understanding with external partners, providing annual updates as needed to each agreement
Support development of grant applications and, upon awarding of such grants, fulfill requirements for such
Create models for MAIPSE engagements with MWCC Academic Advising and Student Activities and Academic Affairs
Contribute to MWCC Strategic and Operational Planning

Partnership

Coordinates with local school districts and adult service agencies to maintain a partnership that supports students with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities, and their families to continue their education.
Provide assessment of program activities to campus and state leadership.
Act as a key stakeholder on the MAIPSE advisory team that is responsible for program oversight and implementation. This team includes representatives from Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, faculty, students, community agencies, workforce development providers, and local school districts.
Attends regular statewide meetings and conferences with other MAIPSE programs, and meetings with local organizations in alignment with the goals of the program.

Program Design & Implementation

Design and implement the application, registration, and orientation process for incoming MAIPSE students.
Coordination of course scheduling in partnership with the Academic Deans
Coordinate the recruitment, admission and orientation of incoming MAIPSE Students, to include: developing and updating program materials, coordinating orientation programs and campus visits.
Work with MWCC faculty and staff to support inclusive learning strategies, instructional universal design techniques and support the MAIPSE on campus
Monitor the progress of MAIPSE students in caseload with routine check-ins, scheduled meetings or proactive outreach and communication related to academic and other concerns, and respond to student and family questions, concerns, and needs.
Develop and facilitate faculty, staff, and peer mentor training and technical assistance to ensure they have the skills needed to provide inclusive opportunities for this student population.
Collaborate with Student Life to welcome participating students to social networks via campus-wide and community events.
Act as a liaison to Career Services to welcome participating students to career planning, vocational skill-building, and integrated employment opportunities.
Act as a liaison to the Brewer Center to integrate community service for participants in order to build vocational skills and experience, and to develop/implement student volunteer opportunities for Education and Human Services students who may be interested in working with this population of peers.
Assess the learning strengths and areas of development for individual students through student-centered planning.
Identify and work with faculty across departments and the office of Disability Resources to provide accommodation and learning plans for MAIPSE coursework.
Work with Disability Services in order to support the review and update of individualized accommodation plans detailing academic accommodations, assistive technology needs, and the development of appropriate learning strategies on campus and in the classroom. Assist students in the development of self-advocacy skills and the use of support materials, including assistive technology.
Other duties as assigned

For complete union specifications please click HERE

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology, Business Administration, Marketing, Education Administration, or other field related to area of assignment;
Three (3) years experience and/or training involving area of assignment, which may include business management, program/project management, grant administration, budget development, community relations, curriculum development, education, counseling, substance abuse, non-traditional student services, or public assistance programs; or
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Desired Qualifications:

Masters Degree in Special Education, Higher Ed Administration, Counseling, or related field Preferred
Experience working with students with intellectual disabilities and/or autism in an educational setting.
Proven strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with students, staff, and faculty both verbally and in writing.
Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives

Equivalency Statement
Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

Additional Information:

Campus Title : MAIPSE Senior Coordinator

Salary : $74,523.00 Grant Limitations

Grade: 5
Employee Status: Full Time Grant Funded Grant End Date 8/31/26
Benefits: Yes
Hours per Week: 37.5
Number of Weeks: Grant End 8/31/26

Mount Wachusett Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits Sex-Based Harassment. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, or retaliation shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action Officer and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

Application Instructions:

Candidates for employment should be aware that although the COVID 19 Vaccination Requirement Policy is no longer in effect, all Community College students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to be up to date with vaccination against COVID-19. For additional information related to the status of the COVID19 Vaccination Requirement Policy, please visit: https://mwcc.edu/covid/

The following documents are required:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Anticipated Effective Date: December 2025

This is a grant-funded, temporary full-time position through August 31, 2026, within the MCCC Union. Continuation beyond August 2026 is grant dependent. Annual salary for this position is $74,523, based on grant limitations.

Priority will be given to applications received prior to January 5, 2026.

Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Candidates may be subject to employment screening to include both a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) request and a Sexual Offender Registry Information (SORI).

To apply, visit https://mwcc.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=195463