Associate Vice President of Postsecondary

Job Title: Associate Vice President of Postsecondary & Career Pathways

Company Name: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation

Position Type: Full-time, Salaried, Exempt

Location: Lincoln, Omaha, or remote within Nebraska

NEBRASKA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION:

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF) is a nonprofit created to support children, young adults, and families with the overall goal of giving our state's children what they need to thrive. We do this by building strong communities that support families. Our mission is to create positive change for Nebraska's children through community engagement and we believe in a Nebraska where all children will have the resources and support to thrive.

SUMMARY:

As the Associate Vice President of Postsecondary & Career Pathways, serve as the Project Director of the U.S. Department of Education Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development Program (RPED) project to provide overall leadership, coordination, and project management of the grant. Also responsible for NCFF organizational postsecondary and career pathways planning to include cross-agency collaboration in partnership with Bring Up Nebraska Community Collaboratives, Local Educational Agencies, Institutions of Higher Education, State Partners (Dept. Of Education, Dept. Of Health and Human Services, Dept. Of Labor), Statewide Family Engagement Center (SFEC), workforce and economic development partners, community-based organizations, and students/families.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for the coordination and project management of the RPED grant project in Nebraska; including but not limited to meeting deadlines outlined in the grant timeline, ensuring all program and grant requirements are completed to achieve results stated in the proposal. Project management includes pre-planning with stakeholders, facilitating a needs assessment, planning for and overseeing implementation of project strategies, ensuring data collection and evaluation deliverables are met, and identifying sustainability strategies for work beyond the initial grant timeline.

Responsible for internal oversight of the RPED grant project, including budget management, completing all required reports, monitoring sub-contracts, communicating with the federal program officer(s) and national TA partners, attending all required grantee meetings (virtual and in-person), and partnering with fund development for sustainability beyond the grant timeline.

Conduct and complete assessment of H-3 industries in rural NE and alignment with existing dual enrollment opportunities with Local Education Agencies (LEA)s; develop plan to address LEAs and Institutions for Higher Education (IHE) capacity needs or address gaps.

Research and analyze Nebraska's rural education and workforce systems to develop an understanding of current scope, gaps, barriers to implementation, key partners, and capacity.

Engage NE Workforce Development partners to identify data-supported H-3 industries in each geographic area proposed in the RPED grant in years 1-4. Engage NE Dept. of Labor (DOL) leadership and develop shared plan for alignment and referrals for in-school WIOA programming.

Work with state partners, community partners, and young people to develop and/or strengthen supported career on-ramps with stackable credentials that lead to success in higher/adult education and careers for NE's connected youth in rural areas. Using data from the RPED grant analysis/needs assessment, identify on-ramps available to RPED participants in careers in H-3 industries beyond dual enrollment (e.g., JAG NE, WIOA, Career & Technical Education (CTE), Career Academies, etc.).

Work collaboratively with the NCFF Research & Evaluation team to develop and implement a process for the RPED grant evaluation plan, collecting data, enrolling and surveying participants, and finalizing necessary data-sharing agreements.

In Collaboration with NCFF's overall postsecondary education and adult education vision and internal Research & Evaluation team, collaborate with partners to develop and/or strengthen a rural higher education resource and data center to identify postsecondary indicators, gather data, move state and local policies forward, and develop equitable standard practices for rural students to access and complete postsecondary programs.

Using a collective impact approach, facilitate the statewide cross-agency network – Fostering Achievement Nebraska (FAN) – and all partners to monitor goals, objectives, strategies and activities and to achieve statewide results.

• Effectively engage stakeholders to increase the reach and impact of the FAN network.
  
• Facilitate FAN sub-committees (e.g., Rural Student Success and Student Advisory Board). Help identify stakeholders and partners for sub-committees.

Identify opportunities for integration of RPED grant objectives and strategies into the NE community-based prevention system (Bring Up NE) and Statewide Plan for Community Well-Being.

Provide or coordinate training and/or presentations to state partners and other stakeholders about the RPED grant outcomes and/or about postsecondary and career pathways for young rural Nebraskans.

Assess and identify training needs in LEAs, IHEs, and community organizations; develop (or consult/coordinate) training curriculum to address the needs and priorities identified by these partners. (e.g., Youth and Families Thrive, positive youth development, trauma-sensitive approaches)

Work with NCFF internal marketing team to coordinate outreach, marketing, and communications necessary to achieve RPED grant outcomes.

OTHER DUTIES:

Participate as a leader and contributor in the Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide (FAAN) network to help create pathways and remove barriers to higher education for students with experience in foster care. Bring innovative ideas from the national network to NCFF internal teams and the Fostering Achievement Nebraska network to replicate or garner support locally.

Participate as a leader and contributor in the Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) learning community supported by The Annie E. Casey Foundation to increase employment and educational opportunities for young people. Make connections between national network and NE statewide efforts.

Collaborate with rural students, Bring Up NE Community Collaboratives, Connected Youth Initiative partners, education system partners, and other stakeholders to make policy and practice recommendations for the development of strong education and career pathways/workforce infrastructure for connected youth in NE.

As a member of the Bring Up Nebraska internal coordination team, Connected Youth Initiative (CYI) team, and other internal workgroups, identify and carry out action steps related to increasing access and improving outcomes in postsecondary and career pathways for youth, young adults, and parents via the NE community-based prevention system (Bring Up NE) and Statewide Plan for Community Well-Being.

Engage in ongoing planning with the NE Statewide Family Engagement Center (SFEC) regarding strategies specific to middle and high school student interventions via Connected Youth Initiative (CYI). Responsible for providing leadership and support to these NCFF efforts to carry out these specific CYI strategies identified in the NE SFEC planning process.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.

WORK DIRECTION RECEIVED: Works with minimal direction.

SCOPE/NATURE OF DISCRETION: Delegated discretion; authority to initiate and carry out essential actions.

QUALIFICATIONS: 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.

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY: Commit to and actively work toward equity, diversity, and inclusivity in all aspects of duties related to staff, internal and external stakeholders, contractors, consultants, trainers, and external agencies.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (B.A.), equivalent in the following fields (or similar): secondary education, postsecondary/higher education, instructional design, career and technical education, education administration, workforce development, commerce and economic development
  
• At least five (5) years of professional experience in any of the following industries (or similar): secondary education, postsecondary/higher education, career and technical education, adult education, education administration, workforce development, economic development, labor economics, nonprofit leadership, local government
  
• Experience in highly collaborative environments with rural public and private sector partners
  
• Experience with project management of state or federal grants – prior experience managing grants from U.S. Department of Education is highly preferred

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of education administration and federal/state laws in rural settings
  
• Knowledge of systemic impact of racism and inequities and the impact of systemic racism on students/families, education systems, and communities
  
• Knowledge of Collective Impact and collaborative leadership

Abilities & Skills:

• Ability to work independently, consistently manage multiple projects, stay organized, pay high attention to detail, and meet deadlines
  
• Advanced small and large group meeting facilitation skills
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills
  
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
  
• Ability to analyze documents such as grant solicitations or government regulations and interpret statistical research findings (such as Census data or education data)
  
• Microsoft office suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Equivalency Statement: Applicants who do not meet the qualification as stated above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear
  
• The employee frequently is required to use hands
  
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Flexible schedule including possible evenings and weekends
  
• Willingness to travel within the state of Nebraska and outside the state of Nebraska as needed

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

SUMMARY: The Associate Vice President of Postsecondary & Career Pathways will serve as the Project Director for the U.S. Department of Education Rural Postsecondary & Economic Development Program (RPED) project and provide overall leadership and coordination for the grant. This role will also involve collaborating with various stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to support postsecondary and career pathways for rural youth in Nebraska. The ideal candidate will have experience in education administration, project management, and working with rural communities. #Postsecondary #CareerPathways #RuralYouth #EducationAdministration #ProjectManagement #NebraskaJobs #NonprofitJobs #EquityandDiversity