| Position Summary | Reporting to the Senior Director for College Access Initiatives, this position provides leadership to Regional College Access Coordinators and support to the THEC Statewide Services Team for College Access and Outreach in addition to being responsible for collaborating with and convening stakeholders, college access organizations, and postsecondary institutions in Tennessee to align college access programming, resources, and initiatives across Tennessee. |
| Primary Duties and Responsibilities | - Lead the College Access and Outreach Bureau’s Statewide Services Team, which is focused on expanding a statewide culture of college-going within Tennessee high schools with particular emphasis placed on supporting the implementation of the Bureau’s Advise TN and GEAR UP TN initiatives and college access communications.
- Supervise the Coordinator of College Access Communications and the Coordinator of Statewide Services on resource development, college access communications and presentations, and website design and updates.
- Create, lead, and regularly convene the Tennessee College Access Advisory Committee which will be made up of the many stakeholders in college access in Tennessee.
- With the help of others at THEC and the Tennessee College Access Advisory Committee, create and lead an annual college access conference in Tennessee.
- As the TN FAFSA Frenzy project lead, the director will convene and update partner organizations on FAFSA completion efforts.
- Develop, lead, and promote training opportunities in college access across Tennessee through multiple methods, resources, and programs.
- Help to align the college access goals, strategies, and programs across Tennessee.
- Identify and regularly communicate with all the college access programs in Tennessee.
- Attend or lead all current meetings at THEC that involve external college access programs and initiatives.
- Identify the gaps in college access resources and services across Tennessee and work with other team members in the Access and Outreach Bureau to fill those needs.
- Manage and lead team; think critically and intentionally about each team member’s role and professional development/growth opportunities for each team member.
- Represent THEC and the Access and Outreach Bureau when engaging external parties as appropriate.
- Participate in national and statewide organizations and convenings as appropriate.
- Engage with external parties (i.e., SHEEO, NCAN, SREB, NCCEP, ACT, tnAchieves, TNDOE, Ayers · USDOE, SCORE) to discuss programs, policies, and best practices in public higher education and college access.
- Support the mission of THEC/TSAC by developing, piloting, and implementing policies, procedures, initiatives, programs, and resources that will increase college-going and degree attainment across the state of Tennessee.
- Serve as a collaborator and coordinator with other divisions within THEC/TSAC and to public higher education institutions throughout the state.
- Other duties as assigned
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| Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities | - Goal-oriented with strong organization skills.
- Strong commitment to a team approach.
- The ability to work independently.
- Ability to adapt quickly and with flexibility. .
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- The knowledge of different educational and cultural environments and the ability to work with groups from diverse backgrounds.
- Excellent project management and planning skills accompanied by a high level of creativity.
- Must demonstrate a clear knowledge of college admissions, recruitment, outreach and financial aid processes, and strategies used to improve postsecondary enrollment rates.
- Must demonstrate a firm belief that all students, regardless of their background, can access and succeed in higher education.
- Must possess a strong understanding of public education, college access, and higher education in Tennessee.
- Proficiency with computers, internet, and Microsoft Office software. WordPress experience is a plus.
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| Physical Requirements | - Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
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| Required Minimum Qualifications | - Master’s degree in public policy, higher education, education policy, counseling, management, public administration, or related fields.
- Minimum of ten (10) years recruitment, outreach, policy, communications, student support, education and/or school counseling experience to include a minimum of five (5 ) years of leadership/management/supervisory experience in one of the areas listed above.
- K – 12 and/or college access experience preferred.
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