Western Success Scholars Program Manager

Position Title Western Success Scholars Program Manager About the University Western Washington University, with nearly 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty.
The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range.
The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.
S.
News & World Report rankings.
Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity.
Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community.
Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive.
In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents.
Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.
About the Unit and Department The Student Success Initiatives (SSI) Unit supports WWU's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement.
We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
SSI is a unit within the Division of Enrollment and Student Services.
The Unit's mission is to maximize student retention, persistence and continued success through strong inclusive outreach and support programs.
Our vision is that every student graduates, prepared for a life of growth and purpose.
The Western Success Scholars (WSS) program is a part of the SSI Unit.
The unit also includes the Academic Advising and Student Achievement Center (AASAC), the Career Services Center (CSC), and the SSI Operations team that supports across the unit.
The program is committed to improving the educational outcomes for students who have experienced foster care or homelessness by providing services and support to meet their needs through transition, graduation, and post-graduate planning.
About the Position The Western Success Scholar (WSS) Program Manager provides overall leadership in managing, implementing and assessing WSS’s strategic program goals and carrying out its mission.
The Manager has complex fiscal management and reporting responsibilities that includes monitoring a cohort of students and meeting the reporting requirements requested by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), a state agency that provides significant financial support for the program.
Some evening and weekend work is required in this position.
The Manager’s responsibilities also include the following: Program Management Implement the program elements to support former foster youth or unaccompanied homeless students as outlined in the requirements associated with three different agency initiatives.
This includes funding from the state to support the Passport Scholars Program and any future grant or donor support for the program.
Maintain regular contact with funding agency to provide program updates.
Create and update student files associated with participation in the program in accordance with university policy.
Manage all confidential student records in accordance with university policy and applicable state and federal laws.
Develop, implement and maintain a method for tracking retention and graduation rates of student participants.
Foster an environment in which diversity and inclusivity are valued and promoted in WSS’s services and program.
Monitor and respond to legislative bills and/or policy recommendations that may impact the program and the students served by the program.
Maintain a departmental website with resources to promote program services and to educate students and campus members on how to access services.
Student Coaching and Advising Provide consistent, regular, holistic support for success in all dimensions of the college experience for student participants.
Meet with student participants to provide academic support and coaching, referrals to other institutional and local support services, and feedback and information related to college success.
Provide individual and group meetings as needed to facilitate student success and to build community among the cohort.
Act as a main point of contact to student participants to provide detailed support based on their individual needs and circumstances.
Collaboration with Internal and External Partners Attend state and regional meetings and conferences to promote Western’s work serving this student population, to network with others doing similar work, and to identify best practices.
Cultivate strong collaborative relationships with local and state agencies by outreaching to connect with foster-care and unaccompanied homeless youth service agencies statewide, as well as appropriate professional organizations and non-profits to inform and update them regularly about the program.
Assist in the recruitment of eligible students to WWU and WSS Collaborate with Admissions colleagues, partners in external agencies and schools, and others to ensure that eligible students are aware of the WSS program.
Budget Management Forecast, develop and monitor multiple program budgets.
Serve as a Budget Authority for WSS.
Monitor funds assigned to the program (state and foundation accounts).
Develop proposals to request additional funds, as needed.
Develop budget recommendations for fiscal planning in collaboration with the Executive Director.
Supervision of Employees Provide guidance and leadership to program and support staff.
Assist with the selection of Passport Navigators and peer mentors.
Support the professional development of staff.
Provide evaluation feedback to staff.
Address personnel matters and employee performance, as needed.
Ensure institutional and departmental policies and procedures are updated, well understood and adhered to by departmental staff.
Assessment Planning, Reporting & Analytics Write annual reports, grant reports, and assessment reports associated with the program.
Develop assessment activities and use the results of these activities to monitor outcomes and information program decisions and strategic planning.
Review and analyze the impact of programmatic services and intervention strategies on retention and academic success.
Adopt technologies that support and improve the program’s ability to reach students and serve them through various modalities.
Other Duties Serving on university committees.
Assisting with projects and other work-related tasks.
Required Qualifications Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
3 or more years of experience in human services or an educational setting.
Demonstrated experience successfully working with adolescents.
Demonstrated experience in establishing a welcoming and cooperative work environment that values accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusivity Strong professional judgment, discretion, and conflict resolution skills Ability to manage multiple priorities and delegate, as needed Three or more years of supervisory experience Demonstrated experience working in complex organization, including responsibility for understanding and interpreting multiple regulations and policies, and coordinating with many partners Fiscal management experience Strong oral and written communication skills Demonstrated skill in designing and presenting educational workshops and trainings Demonstrated experience with programmatic and outcome assessment Demonstrated understanding of and ability to apply relevant theories of student and human development Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Student Services/Higher Education, Education or terminal degree Work and/or lived experience with foster youth, homeless youth, or youth in care Experience with College Success Foundation, Washington Passport Program, or similar educational programs Grant administration experience Knowledge of higher education policy and setting Fluency in one or more languages Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire.
Please reach out to HR@wwu.
edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary The recruitment range for this position is $62,256 - $71,595.
The performance range for this position is starting salary to a maximum of $80,933 as available through annual increases.
Benefits Information Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.
Application Instructions Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.
A complete application includes the following: (1) A cover letter (not to exceed 3 pages) and resume addressing your experience related to the position responsibilities and each of the required and preferred qualifications.
(2) An Access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) statement: ADEI are core values at Western Washington University.
Attach a statement (500 words max) that includes examples of your demonstration and commitment to ADEI and how you will contribute to further implementation of these values at Western through your work as the Program Manager for the Western Success Scholars program.
(3) The names and contact information of 3 professional references.
Closing Date Notes Application review begins November 8, 2023; position is open until filled.
Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff.
Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs.
See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation.
Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.
650.
3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.
edu WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.
650.
3303 or 711 (Washington Relay).
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act").
It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.
The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters.
You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.
office@wwu.
edu.
The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.
S.
Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU.
A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.