Req #: 231175

Department: OFFICE OF MINORITY AFFAIRS & DIVERSITY

Posting Date: 02/27/2024

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $5,834 - $6,000 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf )

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

For over 55 years, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) has advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Washington, a campus that sits on tribal land. Through our programs and partnerships, we create pathways for diverse populations to access postsecondary opportunities, nurture and support their academic success, and cultivate a campus climate that enriches the educational experience for all. This legacy of work continues to drive excellence at UW and together, we help the university work toward its vision for becoming a more just and equitable campus community. More information about the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity is available at uw.edu/OMAD.

Within OMA&D is the College Access unit that implements programs focused on expanding access for underserved communities by partnering with K-12 school districts, two-year colleges, and community coalitions.

The University of Washington GEAR UP RISE UP Program (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) serves 8,000 students throughout Washington State with an annual operating budget of $4 million. The goal of the GEAR UP grant is to increase student college-going rates and preparedness by enhancing educational environments and creating sustainable programs at the middle school and high school grade levels. Focus is on interventions/activities that intentionally provide students with opportunities for acquiring intellectual and interpersonal skills that will increase their likelihood of success and retention at the post-secondary level. More information about GEAR UP RISE UP at: https://www.washington.edu/omad/rise-up-sky-gear-up/ The GEAR UP RISE UP program has an outstanding opportunity for a Program Operations Specialist.

The Program Operations Specialist (E S 7) will partner with all school districts served by the grant, community-based partners, independent consultants and other stakeholders to implement college access services including financial aid support, college knowledge workshops, worksite tours, summer college tours, annual events like GEAR UP Week and First Generation Day, and participation in regional projects.

The Program Operations Specialist of the GEAR UP RISE UP program will work with students, families, and k-12 schools to promote and develop strategies, activities, and resources to ensure college readiness in STEM fields and success of low-income first-generation students. This position requires the ability to collaborate with students, families, and schools to develop innovative college access events, parent academies, and summer programs that utilize best practices for supporting GEAR UP students who are motivated to pursue higher education in STEM fields. The Program Operations Specialist will increase communications and visibility of University of Washington to the GEAR UP RISE UP communities and contribute to higher applications and admittance of first generation and underrepresented minorities at UW and other postsecondary programs across the state and nation.

This position is located at the GEAR UP RISE UP office in Toppenish, WA and requires travel in Yakima, Grant and Skagit Valley counties, as well as occasional statewide and national travel. In addition, this program offers residential programming in the summer and overnight college visits throughout the year.

This position is a federal grant-funded position and continuation is contingent upon funding. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 35% - Data Informed College Access Education and Engagement (fin/aid literacy, admissions process, etc.)

• Plan, create and implement college access services and programming to all school district partners. Grade level specific programming for Middle School and High School. Such as College application campaigns, professional development, training and case management. College visit planning and program service implementation.

• Support the Associate Director (AD) with implementation of programs/services related to family engagement, college and career programming, college knowledge workshops, summer programming, affinity-based programming, financial aid, financial literacy and other-like program services.

• This position will support school-based coordinators and help AD facilitate monthly meetings, ongoing professional development, and management of program services to implement intentional and goal-focused programming.

• Support the AD and Director with the collection of cost share.

• Help recruit and identify coordinators (when there are vacancies) and contribute to the onboarding and training processes.25% - Planning and implementation of GEAR UP Week and First-Generation Day

• Planning and implementation of summer melt prevention programming (when in high school), camps and other like programs ensuring they are middle school and high school appropriate (STEAM related). Annual programming- planning and executing of events such as GU Week and summer camps/conferences.

• Plan and execute college, career, and cultural field trips during the academic year and summer. Work with community partners to organize large events in schools, community, and on college campuses such as Early Engineering Institute, summer camps, robotics competitions, GEAR UP Week, and STEM related programming.

• Plan and provide guidance to school partners to participate in the annual Youth Summit Leadership (YSL) for students and parents including development for other like opportunities for college and career skill development.

• Support the Associate Director to develop and implement a robust Site Coordinator Onboarding training during both the middle school and high school time periods.15% - Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate College Access Services, with a Focus on STEM Enrichment and Career Exploration

• STEM Enrichment/Careers events, content development for such events; development and implementation of GU objectives: such as but not limited to college and career fairs and cultural trips; work with faculty, staff and students to support academic success with our partner schools. Development of bilingual/multilingual curriculum. Work and Coordinate all STEM programing with STEM Curriculum and Program Manager.15% - Build Family Engagement Strategies

• Build family engagement strategies that provide multiple opportunities for parents to build skills and increase knowledge of navigating k-12 and postsecondary education, financial aid, financial literacy and college access with the support of the RISE UP central office. Support the development of multilingual and culturally appropriate curriculum, programs, and events for students, parents, and families including parent academies, family college visits, financial aid nights, and other college access events.5% - Work with community partners to organize events in the communities and schools to support grant objectives 5% - Other Duties as assigned Lead Responsibilities:

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems

• Combining, evaluating and reasoning with information and data to make decisions and solve problems.

• Providing consultation and expert advice to school-based site coordinators including programmatic design, project management, reporting, evaluation, and recommending next steps.

• Contribute adaptive and innovative strategies to support carrying out work procedures and activities with directions/instructions of management to implement, modify, integrate, or complete the GEAR UP program objectives.

• Communicating with persons outside the organization, representing the organization to schools, the public, government, and other external sources. Translating or explaining what program information means and how it can be understood or used.

• Originating, developing, designing, or creating new applications, information pathways, systems, or services, including curricula and technology.

• Provide adaptive solutions to achieve continuous improvement of program delivery and to ensure program goals are met.

• Promote and foster a healthy and creative team climate, based on cooperation, trust, pride and respect. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors' Degree and 2-3 years experience working in education, college access, K-12 education, or youth development

• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Experience working in a K-12 setting providing college access services for students and parents or experience working with large federal or state grants including GEAR UP, TRIO programs, CAMP or other like programs.

• 2-3 year experience working in education, college access, K-12 education, or youth development

• Effective program management skills include setting goals and communicating them to stakeholders, ongoing communication with stakeholders, relationship management, meeting reporting requirements, managing time effectively, prioritizing tasks, and meeting tight program deadlines.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and articulating ideas clearly in person and in writing required.

• Experience working with middle and high school students from historically excluded minority, low income or first-generation backgrounds and demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations required.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in education, Social Work, Public Administration or related field.

• Experience managing volunteers, tutors, or young professionals.

• Experience working with middle and high school students from historically excluded minority, low income or first-generation backgrounds and demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse populations.

• Experience working in Bilingual and/or bicultural environments and engaging students and families.

• Knowledge of Yakima, Grant, Kittitas and Skagit counties partners, schools, regional initiatives and communities.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint Information System and other cloud-based administration.

• Proficient in excel and PowerPoint, Teams, Microsoft forms, and social media platforms.

• Bilingual in written and oral. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.