Staff Associate, Urban Action Institute (182812)

OFFICIAL TITLE: Staff Associate, Urban Action Institute

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Executive Director, Urban Action Institute

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Subordinate UAI Program Staff and Student Employees

General Statement of Duties:

The Staff Associate of the Urban Action Institute assists in all aspects of the administration and management of the UAI programs. The Urban Action Institute is part of the Urban Studies department. Because the UAI programs cover multi-age, multi-ethnic, and diverse socio-economic backgrounds, the assistant must possess a high degree of interpersonal and communication skills and must be committed to principles of equity, inclusion, and social justice. The UAI programs are multi-faceted requiring flexibility, creativity, self-motivation and attention to detail. The UAI programs operate in part within grant requirements, which necessitate budget management.

Responsibilities:

• (E) = Essential

(E) Works with the director and all UAI staff, as well as the agencies, community partners, case managers, students and participants involved in the UAI programs, to facilitate a smooth operation.

(E) Supervises all UAI program coordinators, including WSU Garden Manger, Garden Programmer, and ELL instructor, graduate assistants and work study students.

(E) Collaborates regularly with faculty and staff of Urban Studies towards departmental and UAI goals.

(E) Involved in all aspects of strategic planning and development for the Urban Action Institute, including monitoring and evaluation, and the assembly of grant proposals.

(E) Assists in the planning, structuring, and implementation of all events that are part of UAI programs.

(E) Plays a leadership role in the implementation of an annual food security fundraiser, including coordinating WSU students involved in the effort, which may take place during designated class time periods to ensure active student participation.

(E) Collaborates with the UAI director and community partners for developing new programs and sustaining those in operation.

(E) Facilitates meetings on behalf of the UAI, including with students and with university, city, and community stakeholders.

(E) Develops partnerships among the UAI and other university departments, participating students and agencies.

(E) Provides support and mentorship to WSU students, including with regards to belonging, success, and the coordination of access to basic needs.

(E) Manages the business aspects of the institute, collecting and keeping all records, documents, and spreadsheets for the various grants and budgets for UAI, corresponding with guest speakers, coordinating honoraria, stipends, and other forms of payment, coordinating with WSU conference and events, and with Administration and Finance regarding requisitions, procurement, speaker stipends, and timesheets that are part of the UAI's everyday operations.

(E) Serves as grant manager for current and incoming grant projects.

(E) Represents the UAI at local and regional basic needs security coalition discussions and lends expertise on the coordination of WSU strategies for addressing basic needs among students, especially related to food and housing security.

(E) Coordinates a social media presence for the UAI.

(E) Coordinates the development of the UAI annual report.

(E) Coordinates summer programming in the WSU Teaching Garden.

(E) Manages day-to-day functioning of the UAI.

(E) Oversees all UAI programming during summer months.

(E) Assists in the development of workshops, forums & UAI sponsored conferences.

(E) Represents the UAI at regional and national conferences and coalition meetings and reports back to UAI director and other relevant stakeholders to collectively determine how such meetings can advance departmental, institute, and university strategic plans.

(E) Collaborates with the registrar's office and the Department of Graduate and Continuing Education in facilitating older student registration for fall and spring semesters.

(E) Demonstrates civility and professional, customer-service oriented behavior, worthy of emulation by other staff and students.

(E) Responsible for contributing to the WSU Strategic Plan.

(E) Responsible for contributing to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action objectives.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience advising or mentoring students; working with students and community partners/agencies; or doing student-focused social justice work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with diverse communities.
• Outstanding communication skills both written and oral.
• High energy and creative.
• Self-motivated and attention to detail.
• Administrative, budget and program management skills.
• Experience with, and good working knowledge of computer applications including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, and Adobe Photoshop.
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
• Ability to perform the above responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in public policy, nonprofit management, community development, or education or related field.
• Ability to speak and write Spanish fluently.
• Experience in a public higher education institution.
• Experience doing civic engagement or service learning at a public or private higher education institution.
• Experience with social justice organizing and advocacy.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, benefited, exempt, professional APA position. The firm annual salary for this position is $62,000, commensurate with relevant professional experience and education.

Here at Worcester State University, it is strongly recommended that all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they begin employment.

We are an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. M/F/D/V. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.