"PROJECT ADVISOR/TALENT SEARCH"

Position Summary

This position is located in Detroit, Michigan and serves 500 students within the five partner Detroit Public middle and high schools. The Project Advisor position is a federally-funded TRIO program position providing academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encouraging them to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their postsecondary education. This job requires a level of independence to respond to requests from the project director, university personnel, high/middle school administrators, community partners, students and parents within defined grant regulations, guidelines and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, education, counseling, sociology, psychology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience with recruitment, facilitation, and program planning.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and mobile office environment.
• Experience and comfortability in working with diverse students, parents and community members in a high and/or middle school setting.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of underrepresented populations and ability to manage confidential information.
• Familiarity with university admissions, scholarship and financial aid processes.
• Must be self-directed and a self-starter with the ability to work independently.
• Strong communication skills, including written, oral and interpersonal.
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings and/or weekends and to travel in/out-of-state and to campus as required.
• Must maintain a good driving record, valid Michigan's Driver License and proof of current automobile insurance coverage.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Publisher, PowerPoint, Excel and Access.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in education, social work, counseling, or a related field.
• Two years of experience working with TRIO and/or high and middle school programs.
• Bilingual English/Spanish with ability to read and write.
• Experience working with low-income, first-generation youth.
• Working and demonstrated knowledge of case documentation.
• Strong familiarity and ability to use social media outlets and video technology.
• Experience with pre-college summer residential programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Orients target schools, personnel, community, parents, students, and stakeholders about the Talent Search Project.
• Develops a working relationship with school administrators, counselors, teachers, parents, community agencies, CMU personnel, etc.
• Develops and executes strategies to identify, recruit, select and retain eligible students within target schools.
• Manages curriculum development & facilitates program workshops related to college, career planning and financial planning during academic school year and summer.
• Responsible for managing a case load of program participants and assesses participant's needs and monitors academic progress while in the TS project and refers to supportive services as needed.
• Assists high school seniors with follow-up regarding post-secondary matriculation i.e., FAFSA completion, Scholarship Essay's, College Applications, and complete college transition.
• Assists with middle school programming, workshops, field trips and summer activities as necessary.
• Works with students to establish short- and long-term educational goals and steps to achieve them.
• Advises students on course selection, dual enrollment, college applications and college entrance exams.
• Assists with the coordination and implementation of college tours, educational/cultural/social field trips and events that promote college access and provides supervision of students during events.
• Disseminates college access/financial literacy information to students and parents/guardians during monthly meetings.
• Assists with preparing written communication, memos, flyers, and newsletters for key stakeholders (school/university administrators, students, parents, etc.).
• Serves as part of the team to assist with planning, developing and overall program goals.
• Responsible for accurate documentation of student records/progress and prepares reports as required in database monthly.
• Maintains positive leadership, ethical/professional conduct, and confidentiality of program participants information.
• Collects and tracks data for the grant and annual performance report utilizing the data management system.
• Supervises and oversees student activities, events and/or programs, and overnight trips.
• Follows all project regulations to meet all program goals/objectives.
• Completes monthly reconciliations to track project spending.
• Facilitates and manages day to day summer activities.
• Travels to target high/middle schools and makes home visits as needed.
• Attends meetings, trainings, and conferences as assigned.
• Relocates to the campus of Central Michigan University during the summer academy component.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Employee Group

Professional & Administrative -Salary

Pay Range

$40,000 - $47,000 per year

Division

Student Recruitment & Retention

Department

TRIO Programs - Detroit

Position Status

Provisional

Position End Date

08/31/2027

Employment Status

Full-Time

FTE

1.00

Position Type

12 month

Weekly Work Schedule

Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location

Detroit, MI

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.