Project Coordinator, Course Achievement, Retention, and Engagement Center

Achievement, Retention, and Engagement Center (CARE) who will serve as Project Director, and the Executive Director of the Center for Student Success and Engagement, as Principal Investigator. Supervision Exercised: N/A Salary: $22,500.00 Annually

General Statement of Duties:

Westfield State University will develop a new Childcare Resource Center through a four-year federally funded Childcare Campus Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS) project to serve 12 low-income parenting students through high-quality, off-campus childcare partnerships. WSU's CCAMPIS goals are to increase the persistence, retention, and degree attainment of parenting students, and potential graduate students, enrolled in WSU programs. While WSU provides many holistic student services, there is a great need for a coordinated, systematic approach to serving students who request assistance with childcare resources. The CCAMPIS project provides a greatly needed opportunity for WSU to provide parenting students with an identification process that honors privacy and, with dedicated staff time and resources, to personally guide students to high-quality childcare with a curated suite of parenting, academic, and personal support services.

The Project Coordinator will be hired on a part-time basis (20 hours per week) to conduct the primary day-to-day activities associated with the CCAMPIS project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Duties include but not limited to:
Essential:

• Build and maintain successful relationships with campus partners, WSU community members, and other stakeholders
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all grant-eligible students and campus constituents
• Coordinate services with each partner facility to ensure appropriate provision of services
• Serve as the liaison between WSU and grant partners
• Build relationships and ensure licensing and staffing standards are met through annual visits to partner facilities
• Meet annually with university constituents to coordinate field placements at participating provider partners for WSU students
• Enhance parental involvement through the creation of a Student Parent Advisory Group and coordinate workshops to assess the needs of program success
• Work with external providers to market parent volunteer opportunities, literacy events, and other activities to enrich parent participants
• In conjunction with the university team, coordinate efforts across federal, state, and local agencies, and community-based organizations to meet the needs of student parents
• Create a Recruitment and Retention Plan for student participants including marketing and outreach, application and eligibility, programs and procedures, and data collection and assessment (i.e. validation of hours)
• Communicate with the campus community and stakeholders to promote the program and ensure awareness of services
• Collaborate with the Project Director and Principal Investigator to seek additional providers with extended, weekends, and drop-in hours throughout the project period
• Maintain best practices, including attending the annual CCAMPIS Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC, and other regional and national conferences

Job Requirements:
Qualifications Required:

• Associate's degree in child development, early childhood, social work, psychology, or related field, and a minimum of three years of work experience with preschool children in a school or childcare setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge of community resources to support children and families
• Strong work ethic, excellent customer service skills, organized and dependable
• Ability to work well with a diverse group of individuals
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential student information
• Strong presentation, written, verbal, active listening, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with faculty, staff, students, community members and community stakeholders
• Proficiency in basic computer processes, including Microsoft Office Suite and other Internet applications
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends
• Maintain best practices, including attending regional and national conferences
• A valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation for occasional community visits and to attend professional development opportunities

Qualifications Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in child development, early childhood, social work, psychology, or related field, and a minimum of three years of work experience with preschool children in a school or childcare setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Previous experience in a higher education setting
• Experience promoting events using social media and other digital platforms
• Bilingual (Spanish and English fluency)

Additional Information:

Salary:
Salaries for current Westfield State University employees and individuals currently working for the state of Massachusetts must be calculated individually in accordance with collective bargaining agreements as well as state policies. State job specifications may be found on the Department of Higher Education's webpage.

Employee Benefits:
Benefits are an important component of an employee's total compensation package.

• Health Insurance: Westfield State offers a variety of HMO, POS, and PPO-type health insurance plans for eligible employees. Coverage is effective on the 1st of the month following the date of hire. Exceptions to employees hired on the 1st of the month, coverage is effective immediately.
• Retirement: the MA State Employee Retirement System provides eligible employees with a retirement pension following a 10-year vesting period. In lieu of the retirement pension, eligible employees may select the Optional Retirement Plan with a maximum 5% employer matching contribution.
• Tuition Waivers & Discounts: eligible employees, including spouses and dependent children, receive reduced tuition at MA state colleges, community colleges, and universities.
• Paid Time Off: employees receive 12 paid holidays and generous vacation, personal, and sick leave benefits.
• Additional information regarding employee benefits is available on the University's Benefits & Wellness webpage.

Disability Accommodations
Westfield State University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and will ensure the availability of reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at (413) 572-8809 or visit us in the Horace Mann Building, 1st floor.

Background Check
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion and review of a background check. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.

To apply, visit http://westfield.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=196021