Job Summary:
The mission of Pierce College is to create quality educational opportunities to a diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world.
Pierce College is seeking to hire an ASPIRE Retention Manager for a 9-month contract with contract with the possibility of an interim offer extending until the end of the AANAPISI grant on September 30, 2025. The ASPIRE Retention Engagement Manager primarily focuses on closing college access gaps, increasing persistence, degree completion, and college/university enrollment for prospective and enrolled students in ASPIRE programs. The Student Achievement Support Services (SASS) division is the lighthouse to several Department of Education federal grants and programs:
TRIO Programs: Student Support Services, Talent Search, Upward Bound
Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)
This position joins a dynamic team that provides holistic and culturally sustainable services with a specialized focus for students who are historically marginalized and disenfranchised. This position would oversee and lead our AANAPISI/ASPIRE (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions) program.
The ASPIRE Retention Engagement Manager reports to the Director of College Services within SASS. For more information about Student Engagement Services visit https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/edi.
Essential Functions:
The ASPIRE Retention Engagement Manager will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:
Student Engagement & Retention Services
Oversee and serve as the retention manager lead for the AANAPISI/ASPIRE (Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions) program.
Create a brave and collaborative environment that centers anti-racism, equity, and solidarity that is inclusive to the experiences of students, staff, and college community.
Plan strategic and collaborative engagement activities and events for ASPIRE students.
Provide culturally appropriate direct services to SASS programs students from diverse backgrounds (Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI).
Assess students using program specific intake forms, exploring past educational experiences, identifying cultural barriers to success, and other barriers to program completion and make appropriate referrals to internal and external partners.
Provide holistic and culturally sustainable support services to new, continuing and returning students.
Create an atmosphere for ASPIRE students to feel affirmed, empowered and valued.
Develop, implement and coordinate strategies that meet ASPIRE program objectives for persistence, completion, college/university enrollment for student caseload.
Work on the development, implementation, and support of innovative practices, policies and programming that promote student achievement and degree completion with an emphasis on closing equity gaps in college access and completion.
Provide systematic communication with students through multiple methods, including district approved technology and student progress reports which may reflect barriers resulting in referrals to internal or external resources.
Assist and collaborate with staff in the design, recruitment and implementation of summer access programs for enrolled and prospective students to the ASPIRE program.
External and Internal Engagement Services
Explain SASS and ASPIRE to individuals, college community, and local community organizations.
Conduct monthly culturally responsive, financial, educational workshops for program students and college campus community, student ambassadors and student workers to meet the needs of program students.
Plan, organize, coordinate activities, events, and collaborate with department staff to implement student induction for new incoming students.
Promote external engagement efforts which may include visitations to secondary schools and community-based organizations as needed to meet program federal goals. Assist with providing the college community with current equity issues impacting students. Represent the college at external community functions and meetings.
Assist with the design and implementation of the ASPIRE summer programs, year-round engagement workshops, forums, conferences, campus tours and related college-sponsored events.
Assist with the development and/or selection of marketing and promotional materials, including media packages to increase engagement and enrollment for students in the SASS college access programs.
Work in collaboration with SASS College Access and College Services programs and Student Life district teams to ensure division goals are met.
Administrative Support
Maintain administrative record keeping, student contracts for annual performance reports, and documentation for student and program outcomes.
Complete monthly reports for travel, purchase card, and/or finance reconciliation. Perform other duties as assigned.
Education Required:
Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Social Sciences, or any related field of study.
Experience Required:
Two (2) years or more experience providing direct service to clients/students.
Experience working in diverse communities from marginalized and disenfranchised backgrounds such as first generation, low income, students with a disability, and students from diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds, specifically students who identify as Asian and/or Pacific Islander.
Required Competencies: Knowledge, skills, abilities, traits and characteristics:
Multiculturalism: Works to eliminate barriers to diversity for marginalized and disenfranchised students; works to prevent new barriers to diversity from being built. Sees the value of cultural, ethnic, gender, and other individual differences in people; creates an environment of learning about, valuing, encouraging, and supporting differences. Values organizational diversity; treats others with respect; promotes cooperation; effectively manages relationships. Creates an environment that embraces and appreciates diversity.
Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate verbally and in writing the requirements of the ASPIRE program in a manner that supports student success. Works with both internal and external customers to satisfy program expectations. Effectively communicate with and assist students and internal/external community. Ability to be attentive, identify issues, provide options, fulfill services, and exercise knowledge of program policies and procedures to assist others.
Teamwork: As an active member of a team, has the ability and desire to work cooperatively with others, participates and fosters teamwork, and positively influences others within a team.
Interpersonal Skills: The ability to notice, interpret, and anticipate others’ concerns and feelings and to communicate this awareness empathetically to others.
Personal Responsibility: Adheres to high standards of integrity and honesty; demonstrates a commitment to the organization and its mission, vision, and values.
Customer Relations: The ability to anticipate, assess, and respond effectively to customers' diverse needs; makes excellent customer service a high priority to attract, support, and retain our students. Ability to identify customer needs through courteous questioning and a sincere desire to be helpful.
Job Management: Ability to take responsibility for performance, set goals, and balance critical job requirements through task management, results orientation, stress management, and problem-solving skills.
Ability & Willingness: Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality at all times.
Computer Skills: Working knowledge of with MS Office products. Ability to compose, send, and respond to electronic mail; utilize e-mail functions such as calendars and meeting requests; navigate the internet to find and download information.
Experience, Skills & Abilities: Ability to analyze complex problems and judge the best solution or action to resolve or respond to difficult situations. Ability to prioritize and perform multiple tasks in the same timeframe, handle interruptions appropriately, and return to incomplete tasks; document and update information in the written or electronic form to maintain accurate and complete records.
Special Requirements and Conditions of Employment:
The successful candidate must consent to and pass a criminal background check after a conditional offer of employment.
Have access to transportation to attend meetings and events off campus.
Application Process:
To be considered for this position, applicants must
Meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement.
Complete the online application profile and apply for the specific job opening at: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/hr
Upload (attach) a cover letter that addresses how you meet the required qualifications as outlined in this announcement. (Cover Letter)
Upload (attach) detailed résumé of all educational and professional experience.(Résumé)
Transcripts are not required in order to apply for this position; however, if you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to submit copies of unofficial transcripts showing completion of the required level of education. Please upload current copies of your transcripts, if available. Unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts must include degree received and conferral date. International transcripts must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services visit: www.naces.org/members.htm (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required upon hire). (Transcripts)
Upload (attach) a list of at least three professional references with names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted. (References)
Provide a response to the following question: (Supplemental Question) Empowering our students to excel to their highest potential is a key function of this role. From your professional experience, describe how you have inspired and expanded the social consciousness, agency, and self-efficacy of students of color to advance racial and social equity.
Special Note: To ensure consideration, application materials should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.