Program Specialist

Description:

The Program Specialist will support a diverse portfolio of programs and advising services for Graduate Philadelphia. The Program Specialist is passionate about advising adult learners as they progress through their learning journey, including pre-enrollment and admissions in diverse certification and degree credentialing programs through to completion or graduation. The Program Specialist will also support and guide learners as they work towards completion of courses, professional development opportunities, workforce training, and industry-recognized credentials. The Program Specialist will help motivate adult learners to develop skills needed to be successful throughout their careers including navigating learning options, identifying employment opportunities, exploring career pathways, time management, and study skills. The Program Specialist will help to identify adult learner strengths and will support adult learners in working towards careers that fit their skills, competencies, talents and goals aligned with industry needs and the future of work. The Program Specialist will regularly communicate with individual advisees and with their selected group of adult learners to advise them on credentialing programs, the college admission processes, financial aid options, and training opportunities. The Program Specialist will partner with learning providers in gathering relevant adult learners’ information and provide adult learners with best fit options for their academic, learning, and professional development success, based on researched information.

The Program Specialist will also collaborate with external entities, including college counselors, community-based organizations, workforce providers and other partners to provide both adult learners and the partners with timely and relevant information, data, resources, and programming. The Program Specialist will also represent the organization at events, training sessions, and presentations aligned with the mission, vision, and goals of Graduate Philadelphia.

Please note, this role will be hybrid. Depending on the days/hours worked, applicants may be asked to come into the office for some of their hours, to work on collaborative tasks.

Requirements:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Implement programming and service strategies in alignment with partner agreements and special initiatives
• Enter, curate and report on data from multiple data sources.
• Represent Graduate Philadelphia at virtual, hybrid, and in-person recruitment events, information sessions, conferences, and meetings
• Support delivery of programs for special initiatives and for designated populations including faith-based, re-entry programs, justice involved individual’s referral programs, as well as higher education and community based referrals
• Conduct direct outreach and support marketing and communication goals in promoting Graduate Philadelphia and the services provided
• Develop relationships with and provide information about community and professional referrals to wraparound services
• Develop and cultivate relationships with higher education and learning providers geared towards supporting qualified leads and strong enrollment pipelines
• Coach adult learners in credentialing and degree completion through weekly, highly relational advising meetings, and ongoing touch points
• Monitor data and generate reports through Salesforce and other data management systems
• Provide comprehensive support through individualized learning plans that may include recommendations for tutoring, mentoring, and instruction on study skills and time management
• Aid in providing adult learners with information to address institutional back balances and federal loan default
• Discuss career and educational goals with adult learners per Graduate Philadelphia’s career integrated learner advising model
• Work with advisors and coaches to monitor and document progress of learners in the advising adult learner pool
• Build rapport with adult learners and be an extra source of support throughout the completion of their certificate, certification, training programs and/or degree programs
• Collaborate with staff to inform, develop and deliver robust programming for adult learners
• Assist in coordinating and hosting in-person and virtual adult learner recruitment events
• Assist in developing and delivering programs and training for partner organizations and institutions
• Research and stay up to date on higher education and workforce trends and activities
• Directly support the implementation of training programs and events for the Impact Center at North 10 Lenfest Center.
• Collect, analyze, and report on data & feedback to meet the reporting requirements of the PA Health & Wellness partnership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Associates degree or above required; equivalent certification or documented experience will be considered
• 3-5 years of experience in Higher Education, Counseling, Non-Profit Management, Adult Learning, or related field, preferred.
• Familiarity with college admissions processes, workforce development landscape, non-traditional learner practices, financial aid, and adult learner resources.
• Knowledge of coaching, instructional, adult learner advising best practices, and mentoring techniques
• Knowledge of career and education assessments and inventories
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills, and ability to develop strong relationships and effectively communicate with both internal and external audiences
• A desire to help adult learners succeed
• Proven ability to work with diverse adult learner populations and in addressing diverse learner needs
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus; any language proficiency should be referenced
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects at a time