Program Specialist

Program Specialist (Lead Program Coordinator)

Title: Program Specialist (Lead Program Coordinator) Position Number: 0097497T Hiring Unit: OFC OF VP FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, SEED, GEAR UP OAHU Location: UH at Manoa Closing Date: 08/13/26 Band: B Salary: Minimum $67,680/annual ($5,640/monthly) Full Time/Part Time: Full-time Month: 11-month Temporary/Permanent: Temporary Other Conditions: Not-to-exceed 10/31/2026, with the possibility of extension pending position clearance and availability of funds and/or contingent upon satisfactory performance.

Duties and Responsibilities (*denotes essential functions)

1. *Responsible for providing administrative support for UH-Oahu GEAR UP, a project that prepares students from varied backgrounds for post-secondary education opportunities to include: office, personnel, fiscal management and scheduling events, activities, and services at Manoa, project schools, and other community sites. Maintain a work schedule that accommodates program needs, including occasional evening, weekend and holiday activities, and provide on-site support for special events.
2. *Lead and support Site Coordinators in planning, coordinating, and implementing large-scale, grade-level activities designed to engage students and parents in academic achievement, college affordability, and career readiness.
3. *Mentor and coach Site Coordinators to effectively implement program initiatives, by identifying performance gaps, setting clear goals, providing practice opportunities and supporting skill application to meet program objectives and develop viable plans of action.
4. *Coordinate tutoring, mentoring, and other educational enrichment activities (e.g. workshops on test-taking strategies, study skills, leadership development, etc.) to ensure that general program objectives are achieved.
5. *Liaison between GEAR UP Oahu and school-level staff, parents, and community partners. Oversee and manage requests, questions, problems, or issues.
6. *Work with the GEAR UP Oahu Director to identify important issues regarding site operations and staffing. Fact-find, troubleshoot, and provide advice and posit viable solutions to issues.
7. *In conjunction with the GEAR UP Oahu Director maintain, engage, collaborate and build new relationships with school administration, teachers, staff, parents, and professional and community partners to facilitate planning, programming and implementing innovative activities to improve student outcomes.
8. Design, implement, and continuously improve staff training materials focused on effectively delivering student and parent facing events centered on college and career awareness.
9. Oversee the collection and documentation of all necessary grant artifacts including permission forms, funding requests, sign-in sheets, and surveys; to ensure compliance with federal funding guidelines.
10. Monitor and evaluate family event and activity outreach services to ensure full compliance with federal spending, fiscal guidelines (e.g. EDGAR) and grant-specific requirements.
11. Work with departments, counselors, and community organizations to provide family outreach services; promote family outreach efforts to partner school teachers, students and families.
12. Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree in liberal arts, social sciences, arts and humanities, science, education, business administration, public administration, or related field and 3 year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for student support services and/or college access programs; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
2. Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of student support services and/or college access programs as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
3. Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with student support services and/or college access programs.
4. Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
5. Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
6. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
7. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software.
8. If applicable, for supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
9. Demonstrated experience planning and executing large-scale student and parent events focused on college and career readiness, including experience training, mentoring and developing program staff and coordinators.
10. Knowledge and experience mentoring and supervising staff to ensure full alignment with federal guidelines and grant objectives.
11. Experience administering, managing or coordinating federally funded college access programs.
12. Ability to manage sensitive information and files containing confidential information.
13. Strong organizational skills in providing student support services or college access programs.
14. Considerable experience with using word processing, spreadsheets, and database software.
15. Ability to work under pressure with frequent interruptions, and remain flexible in multi-tasking several concurrent projects with competing deadlines.
16. Ability to work outside of normal working hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays as directed.
17. Ability to travel to and from co-location sites in a timely manner by means of personal vehicle with valid driver's license or comparable means of transportation to perform duties such as conducting meetings or presentations.
18. Knowledge and experience of secondary and post-secondary school resources such as tutoring, mentoring, or digital media resources.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Master's degree in Education, Business Administration or related field or concurrent enrollment in a program.
2. Experience in developing and administering recordkeeping and data management systems and procedures.
3. Knowledge of and experience working with early college awareness programs and outreach and recruitment efforts aimed at varied student populations.
4. Knowledge and experience with federal regulations, RCUH and UH policies and procedures.
5. Knowledge and experience of basic fiscal operations, budget monitoring, and preparation of financial reports.