Talent Search Outreach Specialist

General Statement of Job

The Outreach Specialist acts as a support and resource to students (and parents) interested in attending college after graduation from high school. This position performs recruiting, advisement and counseling services to students interested in attending a post-secondary institution.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties:

Creates relevant lessons, based on age and grade, and presents these lessons via monthly workshops at our target schools. Relevant lessons include, but are not limited to, topics related to school, careers, college, life skills, money management, study skills and test prep.

Responsible for recruiting students for the program.

Provides academic advising for class selection in high school.

Sets up individual tutoring upon student request.

Plans and makes arrangements for travel and college tours as well as supervises students during travel.

Works closely with counselors, teachers, principals and local school districts.

Tracks student activity through the TS program.

Performs other related duties as required.

Outreach Specialists use discretion and independent judgment when deciding the proper course of action for students struggling with family problems, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, poor school performance, and truancy; are used regularly to create monthly lessons tailored to the needs of the students with whom they work; are utilized when applying and teaching the knowledge gained from books and articles related to education and learning; are used when counseling students on issues related to career choices, college selection, high school coursework selection, and financial aid options; are used when choosing colleges and academic departments to visit as well as faculty and staff to meet with to provide detailed information to students; are used when student emergencies arise during travel; are used regularly when choosing to attend trainings that will directly relate to the departmental work students.

Outreach Specialists are required to use their independent discretion to determine which target schools to visit, which to omit, how frequently to make visits, and what other outreach, recruiting and marketing activities should be utilized for their particular schools and geographic areas. They are responsible for contacting the school principal and/or counselor to schedule all visits and activities.

Outreach Specialists are required to use their independent discretion to assess the academic needs of their students and to recruit, train and supervise all tutors and workshop presenters.

Outreach Specialists are required to provide education and counseling services, related to financial literacy, for students and parents.

Outreach Specialists review all applicant files, from their target schools, and make an acceptance/rejection decision regarding those applicants.

Education, Experience, and Licenses

Master’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required.

Minimum of two years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires the ability to prepare and/or process purchase orders.
• Requires the ability to manage or administer grant funds.
• Requires the ability to make recommendations that impact the budget.
• Requires the ability to use small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Requires the ability to use computers for data entry.
• Requires the ability to use computers for word processing and/or accounting purposes.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel including the use of a computer keyboard; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear including the use of a telephone. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE : The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.