Grants/Contracts Specialist - Higher Ed. jobs in South Dakota

Description

 The role of the AIEF Higher Education Coordinator is to execute and promote PWNA’s post-secondary education services in order to increase opportunities and resources to indigenous populations. Primary responsibilities include oversight, build out of programs that help students create impact within their communities and direction of the AIEF scholarship and/or mentor programs; administration of special funds, grants and programs with collaborating partners; and coordination with all other organizational departments supporting PWNA’s vision of Strong, self-sufficient Native American communities. 

Essential Functions:

? Serves as the main point of contact for all AIEF Higher Education services, partnerships and resource development initiatives, development, process improvement, and administration of all higher educational services within PWNA.

? Collaborate with the Sr. Director of Development and Communications to create collateral for marketing campaigns and culturally relevant messaging, distribute materials and information for marketing the scholarship program and additional resources to potential recipients and educational partners. 

? Formulate a rubric that encompasses criteria established by the AIEF Subjective Committee, to effectively process all scholarship applications and maintain a high level of outcomes; use the approved criterion to ensure consistent and effective selection processes.

? Analyze and operationalize new developments to support student success including the AIEF Advisor Service, Freshman Computer Service, Freshman 4-Year Scholarship Service and others, as required, to support student success.

? Orchestrate annual objective and subjective scholarship committee activities: venue negotiation, staff and committee itineraries, travel, reimbursement, group activities, gifts, etc. 

? Notify students of award status, produce and disseminate award letters with contact information forms and maintain the approved database system.

? Administration of undergraduate and graduate awards to post-secondary institutions throughout the United States; serves as a liaison between awarded scholars and their financial aid offices.

? Organize scholarship outreach activities to schools and groups requesting additional assistance for their student body.

? Identify and prepare items for box assembly and organize shipping of bi-annual care packages to all awarded scholars.

? Apply assessment tools established to determine student status (risk, failure, achievement); facilitate ongoing communication with scholars (needs assessment, retention, transcripts, birthday cards, graduation honor cords and appeals.) 

? Develop and lead training for collaborative partners, promoting cultural awareness and diverse learning styles.

? Monitor and ensure compliance with all donor agreement guidelines.

? Recruitment of grantmaking opportunities to post-secondary institutions serving Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students, as funding is available.

? Grant management of AIEF grantees monitoring objectives, deliverables and expenses.

? Collaborate with PWNA fundraising, programs and communications highlighting student achievement to support company-wide campaigns.

? Develop materials and train Northern Plains, Southwest team members and Scholars for Scholarships to assist in recruitment activities.

? Responsible for all data entry and tracking of AIEF work for use in end of year statistics, educational trends and status reports to Senior Leadership/Board of Directors.

? Develop spreadsheets: financial aid/check requests, global stats, student status, graduating students, care packages and specially requested reports.

? Develop budget projections for annual consideration and monitor expenditures upon approval.

? Contribute to PWNA blogs and online presence as requested.

Secondary Functions:

? Participate in service activities, as required.

? Monitor, report and control expenses.

? Provide progress reports to Director/Program Manager.

? Other duties as assigned by Director/Program Manager.

Work Conditions: 

? Monday – Thursday as primary days in office with occasional activities Friday-Sunday.

? Work is performed under the broad direction of the Director/Programs Manager; majority of work performed independently.

? 15%-25% travel is required. May equate to a few small trips quarterly. 

Requirements

 ? Bachelor’s degree preferred with a minimum of three years related experience in education, networking, or grant management.

? Work experience on American Indian reservations or Tribal Colleges/Universities preferred.

? Gain a complete understanding of program services and the issues those services address.

? Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in writing and to speak effectively before groups.

? Ability to listen to students and partners and interact with all levels of program personnel with dignity, respect and cultural awareness.

? Ability to read and interpret budgets and strong general mathematical skills.

? Strong analytical, interpersonal, facilitation and listening skills.

? Creative: display original thinking; meet challenges resourcefully; look for and take advantage of opportunities; present ideas in a manner that gets others’ attention.

? Business Acumen: Understand business implications of decisions; display orientation to profitability; demonstrate knowledge of competition; align with strategic goals.

? Team player: Balance team and individual responsibilities; give and welcome feedback; contribute to a positive team spirit.

? Experience with and knowledge of computers, strong skills in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and database applications (Salesforce, Acumatica).