Educational Advising and Retention Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY
Under the general direction of the Associate Director for Educational Talent Search, the Educational Advising and Retention Specialist serves as the project’s chief liaison to a target school, and the target area’s communities; participates in the development, coordination, and implementation of retention initiatives to ensure ETS graduates successfully enroll and persist in college. Remains current on trends and best practices dealing with student retention and tracking.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include. but are not limited to. the following:

Identify and recruit eligible program participants.
Follow up with ETS students after graduation (e.g. calls, e-mails, social media) to identify and problem-solve barriers to college matriculation and offer resources to students.
Develop a student alumni network that will support and keep students connected to the program.
Track post-secondary education for ETS graduates until degree/certificate completion.
Develop monthly reports on key post-secondary student data to track progress towards meeting performance measures.
Provide one-on-one or group academic and advising services to students at assigned target school.
Assist with planning, preparation, implementation of program events/activities.
Provide students with information about educational opportunities, financial aid/literacy, career exploration, motivation, and self-awareness through workshops, advising, and classroom presentations.
Assist Associate Director with the creation of programmatic procedures and policies.
Assist with data management, surveys, and program evaluation.
Participate in staff meetings, unit meetings, and target school meetings.
Maintain timely and accurate student program files/records, keeping contact log information current, accurate and confidential.
Must maintain current knowledge of College and University admission requirements.
Plan, organize and co-supervise student field trips, college visits, and cultural activities.
Assist Associate Director in hiring and supervising student staff.
Handle sensitive and/or confidential documents and information where judgment and discretion are essential.
Ensure confidentiality of all program records and other sensitive information.

OTHER FUNCTIONS
Performs other duties as assigned.
Attend workshops, conference as deemed necessary.
Promotes and maintains an atmosphere of excellent internal and external customer service.

PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to verbally communicate to exchange information.

WORK LOCATION
On-Site Position
Primary Work Location: North Monterey HS (13990 Castroville Blvd., Castroville)
Secondary Work Location: Ryan Ranch Office (8 Upper Ragsdale Drive, Monterey).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and handle potentially sensitive situations.
Demonstrated ability and skill in speaking to large groups.
Working knowledge of the principles, practices and strategies currently used in improving access to low-income and educationally disadvantaged students.
Knowledge of the basic principles, practices and major trends in advising/mentoring.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals, community agencies, universities and parents.
Ability to rapidly acquire a working knowledge of the specific objectives of Educational Talent Search, Early Outreach Programs Office and their relationships to the total campus; ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
Must be able to multi-task, prioritize, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
Ability to gather, report, evaluate and analyze data.
Ability to create spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
Ability to reason logically, draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
Ability to navigate databases and other basic computer systems, software, and internet skills.
Ability to work independently and to take direction effectively.
Ability to prepare oral and written reports and comments that are clear, comprehensive, and concise (Prezi, PowerPoint, etc.).

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:

BA degree, preferably in counseling, psychology, education, student support services, or related fields.
AND
Experience working with a diverse student population and/or a TRIO or pre-collegiate program.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
Demonstrate experience and knowledge of Federal TRIO programs.
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the CSUMB Vision Statement and the core values of mutual respect, collaboration and service orientation, multiculturalism and diversity, community service and institutional excellence.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The hourly hiring rate for this position is $24. Classification: Temporary. This is a non-exempt position and as such is eligible for the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.