Community Education Specialist
Purpose
Purpose:
The goal of the EducationalOpportunityCenter is to help economically-disadvantaged adults pursue a postsecondary education. This position requires advanced professional-level skills in community education, outreach, and promotion as well as knowledge of the higher education environment.
Essential Functions
Function 1:
The Community Education Specialist recruits eligible program participants and helps them to navigate the college admissions, financial aid, and career exploration processes. The result is for participants to enroll in college or university whose program best meets their needs. Each Specialist is a member of EOC staff with a caseload of 500+ participants annually and must meet weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual quantitative goals.
25% Time
Function 2:
The Community Education Specialist analyzes which agencies have similar client populations (low-income adults) and conducts targeted outreach to these groups. This involves developing promotional materials, cultivating professional relationships with agency representatives in order to gain access to their clients, and giving presentations about the services of the EOC.
25% Time
Function 3:
Recruits participants and verifies their eligibility for services according to TRIO/U.S. Department of Education regulations, provides services based on an individual service plan for each participant. This includes assessing career interests, identifying appropriate educational programs, conducting financial literacy inventories, and assisting with admissions, financial aid and scholarship applications. The goal for participants is to enroll in college, university, or vocational school.
25% Time
Function 4:
The Specialist tracks participants status and services received in a customized database and completes appropriate federal reporting requirements.
25% Time
Function 5:
% Time
Function 6:
% Time
Function 7:
% Time
Function 8:
% Time
Marginal/Incidental Functions
Marginal/Incidental Functions:
Other functions as assigned.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Bachelors degree from an accredited institution of higher education required (in student services, marketing/communications, social sciences, liberal arts, or related field). Minimum five years experience in an educational or counseling setting, preferably post-secondary; supervisory experience; experience working with people from disadvantaged backgrounds; delivery of presentations to small and large groups; excellent oral and written communications skills and computer skills; must be able to maintain confidentiality with regard to program information and records; ability and willingness to work as part of a team; previous TRIO experienced preferred; bilingual (Spanish-English) preferred. Applicants must include in their online resume the following information: 1) Employment history: name of company, period employed (from month/year to month/year), job title, summary of job duties and 2) Education: college or college degree, list school name, degree type, major, graduated or not, and hours completed if not graduated.
Preferred Qualifications:
Masters degree preferred. Minimum eight years professional experience working with low-income adults; minimum three years experience working in a non-profit agency or college/university setting; knowledge of postsecondary admissions and financial aid policies; previous TRIO or federal program experience helpful; familiarity with principles and practices of adult learning; documented experience making oral presentations to groups; evidence of excellent oral and written community skills; advanced conversational skills in Spanish preferred; ability to maintain confidentiality with regard to program information and records, documented experience working successfully as part of a team; ability to meet deadlines and reach quantitative federal outcomes.