~18-MONTH GRANT-FUNDED POSITION~

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:  This position is responsible for providing project management and technical assistance to the 20 North Carolina community colleges engaged in the System’s REACH (Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Higher Ed) Initiative. The project is focused on creating accessible degree pathways that have employer-validated non-degree credentials embedded within them and providing adult students of color with comprehensive supports that will increase the likelihood of completing a postsecondary credential.

This position will work with national, state, and agency experts to research, recommend, coordinate and deliver researched-based professional development for college faculty and staff in the areas of curriculum design, student services, and recruitment with a focus on improving the credential attainment of adult learners of color. This position will also provide overall project management for REACH project, including managing communications and activities with network colleges, organizing meetings (virtual and in-person) of the network, providing regular proactive communications, responding to questions or needs from network colleges, and tracking and reporting data, maintain the grant budget and preparing grant reports. As needed, this position will also identify policies and procedures that are barriers to achieving project goals and recommend changes to system and college leadership.

The position will report to the VP of Strategic Initiatives and work closely with the AVP for College & Career Readiness, and the Executive Director of the Student Success Center to ensure alignment and mutual support with other system office projects and activities. This position is an 18-month grant funded position with a possibility of extension if additional resources are identified. Some travel will be required for this position (following State, agency, and CDC guidelines).

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/AND ABILITIES:

• Experience managing grants, budgets, and projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to present ideas clearly and succinctly
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Exceptionally self-motivated and directed.
• Ability to set and manage priorities judiciously in a team environment.
• Knowledge of the NC Community College System and higher education in general.

• Considerable knowledge of current educational trends and developments, educational research, and basic principles and theories of education.
• Experience managing or collaborating with community college programs for workforce development, college transfer and adult education for academically underprepared students
• Specific knowledge about the needs of adult learners, both academically and other
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with college administrators, educators, educational organizations, curriculum and/or program specialists at local, state, or federal level, and the general public.
• Ability to analyze classroom, curriculum, program, or administrative problems and to recommend possible solutions; formulate and to express ideas on educational issues.
• Ability to provide training both in virtual and face-to-face environment to various levels of professionals in the field of education to which the position is assigned.
• Must be able to work independently; work well under pressure and be flexible to change work hours as required.

PREFERENCES: Preference will be given to applicants with knowledge of strategies to accelerate credential attainment for underserved communities and experience in creating policy, programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion and applying an equity lens to reducing educational attainment gaps.