Program Manager - Education Pathways

Highline College•Highline College 2400 S 240th St Des Moines, WA

About The Position

The Program Manager for Education Pathways supports academic programs in identified education pathways, with responsibility for recruitment, marketing, student navigation, and first-quarter advising. The position focuses on the ElevatED program, a partnership with Puget Sound Educational Service District to recruit and support working paraeducators entering education programs at Highline College. The role also supports associate degree programs in Early Childhood Education and Paraeducator, as well as bachelor’s degree programs in Early Childhood Education: Leadership and Inclusive Practices and Elementary Education. The position attends department and partner meetings and reports to the Associate Dean of Workforce Pathways. It is full-time, exempt, and at will, requires some evening and weekend work, and involves some travel. The Program Manager coordinates outreach and recruitment with faculty, staff, and community partners; supports prospective and newly enrolled students through enrollment and their first quarter; provides accessible, responsive, trauma-informed advising and technical assistance; and tracks student progress and engagement data. The role collaborates with college departments, student-support services, and Puget Sound Educational Service District partners to coordinate pathway activities and help students access programs and services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, or a combination of relevant education, training, and experience that indicates successful performance of the position’s major responsibilities.
Two years of advising, college recruitment, or related experience.
Strong communication skills, including excellent written, oral, and cross-cultural communication.
Comfort with public speaking and making presentations to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated customer-service focus and experience.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with diverse individuals and groups.
Technology skills for navigating an electronic environment, including familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, ctcLink/PeopleSoft, and Google Drive.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage timelines, details, and competing priorities.
Ability to take initiative and exercise independent decision-making.
Adaptability and flexibility, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Ability to consider equity and access issues that affect student access and completion.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a community college or a strong understanding of the community college system and college processes.
Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software.
Experience as an adult learner or working with adult learners.
Understanding of student success milestones and college success strategies.
Bilingual/bicultural background, significant multicultural experience or competence in a language in addition to English.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with pathway faculty and staff to identify outreach goals aligned with departmental priorities.
Coordinate and facilitate in-person and virtual events, information sessions, presentations, and admissions clinics, including day, evening, and weekend activities.
Lead community recruitment efforts with Puget Sound Educational Service District and other community-based organizations, focusing on adult learners and diverse student populations.
Participate in enrollment and new-student orientation events.
Keep marketing and presentation materials distributed to schools and community partners current.
Collaborate with Continuing Education, AAS and BAS program coordinators, and faculty to support coordinated efforts and activities.
Advocate for students and help them navigate funding challenges as they access classes.
Support workforce students from initial inquiry through enrollment in their first quarter, providing accessible, responsive, and trauma-informed individual support.
Provide technical assistance with applications, funding options, account activation, and registration.
Maintain current knowledge of campus policies and procedures to connect students effectively with services.
Advise students on career exploration, course sequencing, program options, prior learning assessment (PLA), prerequisites, math and English placement needs, selection, and registration.
Help students identify educational goals and academic pathways and use career-exploration resources.
Provide high-touch support, tutoring, and advising; assist students with graduation requirements for education certificates and degrees; and facilitate transition to a faculty advisor.
Track and monitor student progression in the CRM, analyze where students are leaving the pathway, and document significant student interactions in Watermark advising notes.
Provide progress reports to the workforce team on student needs, challenges, and accomplishments.
Track, analyze, and report community-partner recruitment data.
Coordinate weekly study sessions.
Collaborate with Puget Sound Educational Service District and education leads to align ElevatED and education department efforts.
Attend PSESD, team, pathway department and division, and advisory committee meetings; relay information and changes to relevant teams.