JKC Student Experience and Community Outreach Specialist (PT)

JOB SUMMARY AND DUTIES

If you are considering a new job, work environment, or career opportunities, you should look at Mercer County Community College. MCCC is a publicly supported college that is open to all and dedicated to student success. In order to support that mission, Mercer seeks to attract, retain, and support a skilled diverse workforce which is our most valuable resource. We thrive on and are proud of our diversity and open access. Our students and employees find the College large enough for a multitude of offerings yet small enough to keep the “Community” feel for all. The College consists of two campuses, the James Kerney Campus (JKC) in the capital city of Trenton, NJ and a larger 292-acre suburban campus just six miles north of Trenton.

As part of the comprehensive and valuable benefits package the College offers credit course tuition waivers for employees, spouses, and dependents. This allows for employees and their families to take advantage of earning a higher education degree without the high cost. The College offers students 69 Degree Program Options and 35 Credit Certificates from which to choose.

JOB DUTIES

• Provide guidance, mentorship, and resources to help students succeed in credit and credentialing programs, with a particular emphasis on serving the needs of underserved communities.
• Advocate for students, empowering them to overcome barriers and achieve their
• Promote an inclusive and welcoming environment for underserved students, understanding and addressing the unique challenges they may face educational goals.
• Foster partnerships and collaborations with community organizations, employers, and industry professionals to create work-based learning opportunities, internships, and career development initiatives for underserved students.

• Provide individualized advising and support to underserved students enrolled in credit and credentialing programs.
• Help students navigate program requirements, course selection, and academic planning. Offer guidance on career pathways, transfer opportunities, and available support services.
• Assist students in developing academic success strategies, including study skills, time management, and goal setting.
• Support students in exploring career options, identifying their strengths and interests, and connecting them with relevant resources and job placement opportunities.
• Advocate for equity and access to resources, educational opportunities, and support services.
• Collaborate with campus offices and external organizations to ensure the needs of underserved populations are met effectively.
• Monitor student progress, identify potential barriers, and implement interventions to improve student retention and program completion rates.
• Conduct regular check-ins with students, offering proactive support and referral to campus resources such as tutoring, counseling, and financial aid assistance.
• Engage with local communities to understand their needs and develop programs that address those needs effectively.
• Participate in local city associations that support the college and community events and may promote the college to local citizens.
• Maintain accurate records of student interactions, services provided, and outcomes.
• Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of student success programs, identify areas for improvement, and inform decision-making.
• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate program impact to college administrators and stakeholders.
• Stay informed about best practices, trends, and research in student success coaching and support services.
• Assist in the development and review of all outreach-related promotional materials intended for general distribution; research, recommend, coordinate the acquisition of, and maintain an inventory of appropriate college promotional giveaways and outreach items.
• Attend professional development workshops, conferences, and training sessions to enhance knowledge and skills in serving underserved populations.
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field
• Two to four (2 – 4) years supporting or advising students in an academic setting.
• Experience using student enterprise software
• Ability to provide holistic and student-centered advising, recognizing the intersectionality of students' identities and experiences
• Familiarity with student advising and coaching models, counseling techniques, and academic support strategies.
• Strong interpersonal, database management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in working with diverse stakeholders (faculty, students, and staff).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to support student success.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field
• Five (5) years of related work experience in Higher Ed.
• Experience using the Ellucian Colleague ERP system
• Experience using Ellucian Advise / Student Planner
• Previous experience working with underserved populations, preferably in an educational or community outreach setting.
• Sensitivity to the challenges faced by underserved populations and a commitment to promoting educational equity.

• Superior student service skills
• Experience working with both traditional and non-traditional student populations.
• Understands leveraging technology in student advisement and enrollment.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills, combined with analytical competency, that can provide directive and persuasive initiatives and explanations
• Decisive and solutions-oriented work style, positive attitude, and excitement about working across all units of a high-achieving campus environment.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in education.

CORE COMPETENCIES

CORE COMPETENCIES
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies.

Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.

Building Trust: Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.

Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message

Customer Focus: Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships.

Decision Making: Identifying and understanding issues, problems, and opportunities; comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

Diversity & Inclusion: Working with situations involving different cultures/languages and responding to the ambiguity of unexpected/unfamiliar approaches.

Managing Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people.

Stress Tolerance: Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (such as time pressure or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.