Program Manager - Lawrence Campus and Community Relations

POSITION: Full-Time Program Manager (Staff Associate): Lawrence Campus and Community Relations; Lawrence Campus (45 Franklin Street); 37.5 hours per week; Non-Unit Professional Position

SUMMARY: This role offers an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about community engagement, project management, and data-driven decision-making to contribute meaningfully to the mission and vision of Northern Essex Community College with a focus on its Lawrence campus.

The Program Manager for Lawrence Campus and Community Relations will work closely with the Vice President (VP) to manage, develop, and implement various strategic projects across multiple departments, fostering collaboration and driving initiatives that support both internal campus goals and community engagement with a focus on ensuring a student-ready culture. This role will prioritize cross-departmental initiatives, identify funding opportunities in collaboration with the grants department, and develop systems to collect, analyze, and present data in both qualitative and quantitative formats. The Program Manager will also serve as a liaison to community partners, with a focus on effective Spanish-language bilingual communication and utilizing social media platforms to enhance visibility and engagement.

This role includes occasional evening or weekend hours depending on institutional needs and events. Occasional travel may be required for external meetings and conferences.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Management and Strategic Initiatives:
  • Lead and manage campus projects, ensuring that campus initiatives are executed efficiently and effectively working across multiple departments and stakeholders to ensure alignment with institutional strategic goals.
  • In collaboration with the VP, create and develop strategies to identify operational inefficiencies and improve workflow and outcomes. Assist the VP in prioritizing tasks and setting project timelines, ensuring the smooth execution of ongoing initiatives.
• Strategic Planning and Coordination:
  • Support the VP in long-term campus planning, identifying key priorities and aligning resources to achieve institutional goals.
  • Create, develop, and streamline internal processes and policies, and create systems that improve efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery.
• Collaboration with Departments:
  • Work closely with academic departments, student services, community outreach programs, and other internal teams to develop collaborative solutions to meet student demand.
  • Foster relationships and maintain clear communication between internal stakeholders, ensuring all parties are informed and involved in relevant decision-making processes.
• Funding and Grants:
  • Identify funding opportunities in collaboration with the grants department to support Lawrence campus projects and programs.
  • Development of grant proposals and funding requests, in collaboration with appropriate departments, ensuring compliance with funding guidelines and reporting requirements.
• Data Collection and Analysis:
  • Work with the Institutional Research and Effectiveness (IRE) Office to implement IRE systems and methodologies for data collection and analysis.
  • Analyze data to track project progress and outcomes, making recommendations for improvements or adjustments as needed, and actively participate in the Data Governance Committee.
• Data Presentation and Reporting:
  • Assist the VP in developing clear and visually compelling reports and presentations using graphs, charts, and other visual aids to convey complex data.
  • Support the VP in the preparation of documents, reports, and communication for stakeholder meetings, Lawrence Partnership Educational Attainment committee meetings, engagements with international and domestic dignitaries, including preparing agendas, briefing materials, and follow-up actions.
  • Present information at stakeholder meetings and organizations when needed.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
  • Work with key community partners and organizations to support initiatives aligned with the college's mission, inclusive of the Lawrence Partnership's Educational Attainment Task Force.
  • Identify opportunities to coordinate with external stakeholders to increase the college's visibility and engagement within the Lawrence community.
  • Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to craft engaging content for digital communication platforms with a focus on the Lawrence Campus and Community Relations Office, while developing and maintaining a social media plan.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Public Administration, Communications, Social Sciences, or a related field
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in project management, community relations, or a similar field, with a focus on cross-departmental collaboration and data-driven decision-making.
• Proven experience in working with multiple departments, community engagement, and partnership development.
• Fluent Spanish-language speaking and writing.
• Strong background in data collection, analysis, and reporting, including familiarity with data analysis tools and software.
• Proficiency in social media management, content creation, and digital communication strategies.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data and communicate findings in an accessible manner.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, building strong, positive working relationships.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to craft clear, engaging content for diverse audiences, including Spanish-language bilingual communication.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree
• Experience in grant writing, funding acquisition, or related financial management.
• Knowledge of higher education systems and community college environments.
• Experience working with and supporting a culturally diverse population.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Candidates will be required to pass a CORI and SORI check as a condition of employment.

SALARY: Anticipated starting salary range is $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 annually with complete fringe benefit package including competitive health insurance, dental insurance, basic life insurance, long-term disability insurance, paid sick, vacation and personal leave, educational benefits for employee/spouse/dependents, and excellent retirement benefits.

ANTICIPATED START DATE: ASAP