Research and Policy Director, Adult College Completion, Detroit Drives Degrees
Job Description
Our Why: The Detroit Regional Chamber leads the most comprehensive talent and education portfolio of program and policy work in the state. With the goal to increase postsecondary degree attainment in Southeast Michigan to 60% by 2030, the Chamber’s work will grow the talent pool for employers. The impact of the Chamber’s effort is also aimed at increasing per capita income and cutting the region’s racial equity gap in half.
Detroit Drives Degrees is a collective impact initiative within the Chamber’s education and talent strategy that works to remove barriers for individuals to pursue a postsecondary credential or degree whether a high-quality certificate, Associate or Bachelors’ degree.
What We Do: Detroit Drives Degrees convenes cross-sector leaders from K-12, higher education, government, philanthropy and the non-profit sector to create alignment, share data and drive systems-level change to improve student outcomes. Detroit Drives Degrees supports college access and success for traditional-age students and helps reengage the 690,000 adults in Southeast Michigan who have “some college, no degree” by providing pathways for these individuals to finish their credentials.
What Drives You: Doing this work requires diverse leadership by team members who share a commitment to both our mission and to supporting the process of long-term systems change. You should be passionate about education and about working with business and other sectors to catalyze change.
What We Need:
(This Role) Director, Adult College Completion, Detroit Drives Degrees – salary range $60,000 – $80,000
(Similar Role) Fellow, College Access and Success – nine-month assignment, 20-hrs per week, hourly rate $15.00 – $20.00
(Similar Role) Director, Programs and Employer Partnerships, Detroit Drives Degrees – salary range $65,000 – $85,000
Detroit Drives Degrees is seeking a talented, equity-driven individual to serve as the Director, Adult College Completion, Detroit Drives Degrees. The work of the Director, Adult College Completion will encompass two distinct bodies of work: 1) working with higher education, nonprofit and business partners to develop systemic infrastructure to reengage and support completion of adult learners; and 2) serving as a “navigator” in providing one-on-one advising assistance to adults wanting to enroll in college.
An ideal candidate for the Director, Adult College Completion position would embody or possess the following:
Bachelor’s or Masters’ degree in counseling, higher education, social work or other related fields and extensive experience in higher education, developing community and business partnerships, project management, and direct service work.
Entrepreneurial self-starter, who is passionate about the mission of this work and has strong programmatic execution skills.
Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to work in a collaborative manner to build and grow partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
Proven capability to manage multiple projects at once in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, while at the same time demonstrating careful attention to detail.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to plan and lead meetings, to facilitate workshops and to develop written content for newsletters and social media.
Cultural sensitivity, a high-level of energy and a positive attitude in providing one-on-one navigational support and advising to prospective adult reconnecting students.
An understanding of the issues surrounding adult college students, appreciation for the needs of higher education, employers and adults in the workforce, and knowledge of the educational landscape in Southeast Michigan, including admissions, academic advising, financial aid and wrap-around services, is preferred.
Quantitative and administrative capacity to oversee reconnecting student database in coordination with IT department, including running data reports and analyzing metrics to drive performance. Experience with Salesforce CRM is preferred.
Ability to travel within Southeast MI.
Director, Adult College Completion, Detroit Drives Degrees Responsibilities:
Provide one-on-one navigational support in guiding adult returning students through their options, offering encouragement, providing assistance with eliminating barriers to postsecondary education and helping them develop a plan to re-enroll in and complete their degree. Establish and implement strategy for providing the highest impact to the greatest number of students and meeting established benchmarks. Offer advising, assistance, follow-up and referrals, and, as program expands, manage additional navigators and neutral advising contractors doing this same work. Work hours will include some late evenings and occasional weekends, to accommodate the schedules of adult learners.
Develop and maintain relationships with corporations, community-based nonprofits and government entities to conduct outreach to adult students and to provide support for them to finish their credentials. Work with these partners to organize community events focused going back to school and facilitate workshops for employees at large companies, aimed at adult returning students, to provide wrap-around services, to publicize a joint marketing campaign (within predetermined program budget) and to seek other innovative ways to partner. In work related to outreach to Chamber members, investors and stakeholders, coordinate efforts with Chamber’s Engagement Team. Utilize Chamber CRM to track communications. Conduct research on best practices across country on adult reengagement and co-implement with partner stakeholders.
Oversee collaborative network of advisors from the region’s higher education institutions, who assist in providing “neutral advising.” Help maintain the Salesforce student database in coordination with the IT department and with appropriate training on how to handle private student information. Facilitate smooth handoffs upon enrollment and provide continued wrap-around services and student supports.
Collaborate with the Chamber’s marketing team on the development and execution of an integrated marketing strategy (inclusive of digital and print assets) to target potential adult reconnecting students. Set vision and goals for the strategy, input on creative concepts, and execute outreach and project management as needed. Help draft content for newsletter, social media and, video testimonials.
Oversee Salesforce student database in coordination with the IT department and with the appropriate training on how to handle private student information, ensuring that all client interactions and correspondence is documented. Run timely reports on services rendered for both internal and external stakeholders. Other duties as assigned
Compensation will be commensurate with experience and will range from $60,000- $80,000. Includes a robust benefits package, including generous paid time off, paid holidays, health, dental, vision, life and LTD insurance, flexible spending accounts and a retirement savings plan.
This position is grant funded for two years and will be maintained thereafter only as long as additional funds are raised by an external source.
Required application materials: To apply, please submit a cover letter, writing sample and resume as an attachment to your application via the Chamber online portal.
The Detroit Regional Chamber is an equal opportunity employer.
