Lead Expert Guidance Coach
Expert Guidance Coach
Center for First-generation Student Success (Two Positions)
About NASPA
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. We serve the diverse needs of our community, from vice presidents of student affairs to undergraduate student leaders considering a career in the field. Founded in 1919, NASPA includes more than 15,000 members in all 50 states, 29 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories. Guided by the principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry, we are dedicated to empowering our members to realize their full potential and to cultivating student success in collaboration with our institutional members, who represent every sector of higher education. NASPA centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work; read more about our commitment here.
Established in June 2017 as an initiative of NASPA and The Suder Foundation, the Center for First-generation Student Success drives innovation and advocacy as the premier source of evidence-based practices, professional development, and knowledge creation for the higher education community to advance the success of first-generation students. As college and university leaders and practitioners are actively seeking avenues to best meet the specific needs of first-generation students, the Center for First-generation Student Success leads scholarly discussion, information sharing, networking, and program development and relies upon alignment with four strategic priority areas for success.
As the Center’s signature effort, the First Scholars Network provides institutions of higher education with a pathway toward earning the First-gen Forward and First Scholars designations and national leadership in first-generation student success. With over 275 institutions currently, the Network offers a facilitated experience and peer learning community for institutions with a demonstrated commitment to serving first-generation students through pursuit of the First-gen Forward designation. Once received, institutions have an opportunity to maintain this designation or pursue the First Scholars designation. Through First Scholars, institutions receive a customized approach to radically transform institutional infrastructures and supports to advance first-generation student success. Utilizing a continuous improvement framework, First Scholars offers diagnostic tools providing critical institutional insight, a host of customized solutions and turnkey toolkits, robust data reporting, and the guidance of experts across the experience. The First Scholars Network offers institutions the flexibility to shape their experience to meet institutional needs while also aligning with the key evidence-based outcomes imperative to advancing the success of first-generation students.
About the Positions
The Center is hiring for two positions–a Lead Expert Guidance Coach and an Expert Guidance Coach.
Expert Guidance, a hallmark of the First Scholars experience, partners higher education and first-generation content experts with First Scholars Network institutions to guarantee successful completion of each programmatic element and deliver support customized to institutional needs.
The Lead Coach will lead oversight of the Expert Guidance experience and will be responsible for implementing the coaching model, supervising coaches, offering consultancy to the institutions, partnering with the Program Coordinator role to ensure progress is made, guaranteeing deliverables are met, and is well versed in continuous improvement.
The Expert Guidance Coach will assist with the day-to-day management of both institutional and external partner relationships, communications, milestone progress, and relevant data analysis and reporting. The Expert Guidance Coach will be assigned a set of partner institutions to offer customized coaching and support across the experience.
Both positions will work in close partnership with Center colleagues to execute the implementation of First Scholars strategic plans.
Essential Responsibilities
The Lead Coach will be responsible for the supervision of the Expert Guidance Coach and Program Coordinator for Network Success, goal-setting and performance management for the team, primary decision-making over the Expert Guidance area, establishing and implementing training, intervening with leadership as needed, and accountability for meeting goals and objectives as aligned with the Center’s growth strategy.
Both roles will have responsibility for the items listed below.
Project Management:
Advance the First Scholars Network experience by leading monthly individual coaching meetings with institutional partners;
Contribute to required monthly workshops for institutions pursuing the First Scholars designation;
Train and guide institutional participants through continuous improvement cycles and milestone tracking to ensure progress toward goals;
Assist institutional partners in identifying key priorities related to first-generation student success and provide support during the driver diagram and implementation processes;
Implement Expert Guidance offerings to include recruitment and training of coaches development of review tools, and feedback reports;
Develop training elements for coaches to ensure consistency for institutional partners throughout the experience;
Implement mechanisms for evaluating the effectiveness of the Expert Guidance experience;
Partner with the Network Success team to monitor and track Expert Guidance meetings to ensure that coaches and institutional partners are progressing;
Elevate particular institutional needs to leadership for consideration of third-party support;
Facilitate workshops and professional development for institutional partners on areas of expertise; and
Troubleshoot issues related to Expert Guidance relationships and ensure that the Director is informed and engaged as appropriate.
Additional Responsibilities:
Participate in departmental, divisional, and organizational strategic planning, meetings, and projects;
Support Center and NASPA tasks, projects, professional development, and engagement as deemed appropriate;
Assists with all-team projects and participates actively in staff meetings and projects; and
Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned to support the association.
Reports To
The Lead Coach reports to the Director, Network Experience & Success
The Expert Guidance Coach will report to the Lead Coach.
Supervises
The Lead Coach will supervise the Program Coordinator for Network Success and the Expert Guidance Coach. Future growth of this team is possible.
The Expert Guidance Coach will not have supervisory responsibilities at this time.
Qualifications
Education:
Lead Coach: A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required; terminal degree preferred
Expert Guidance Coach: A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required
Experience in higher education or relevant fields with seven or more years of experience (Lead Coach) and five or more years of experience (Expert Guidance Coach) working with or in support of first-generation student populations; serving in a leadership role or across a variety of institutional types is a benefit;
A commitment to first-generation student success through professional experience, research interests, and/or practice; experience facilitating on these topics is desired;
Experience with project management and coordination;
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of student development, engagement, and learning theory in practice;
Strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and presentation skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment;
Prior consulting experience is desired but not required;
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with stakeholders and leaders at various levels; and
Proficiency in the use of Google suite, learning management software, Qualtrics, and video conferencing software; Asana experience desired.
NASPA offers nationwide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution, flexible work schedule, and paid time-off including accrued PTO, family leave, community service leave, and holidays.
Office Location/Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
Office Location- This position may be based anywhere in the contiguous 48 states.
It is the employee’s responsibility to provide reliable internet capabilities for any work location outside of the Washington, D.C. office.
Please note, the NASPA Washington, D.C. Office is in mostly-open status at this time. The status of the office is subject to change at any time.
Travel
Occasional overnight travel to represent NASPA at events, on college and university campuses, and in-person meetings is an essential function of this position. Locations vary and can include sites outside of taxi service from major airports. As a result, the position is required to have the ability to travel independently, including air travel, navigating ground transportation, and occasionally driving a rental car.
Physical Requirements
This position is primarily office-based with primary work on a computer, including phone, email, and video conferencing.
Responsibilities occasionally may require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines and support events and programs.
This position will be required to routinely pack and unpack program materials for shipment, which will require pulling, pushing, lifting, and moving boxes weighing up to 50 pounds.
This position will be required to coordinate on-site event execution, which may include moving furniture and other items, navigating event spaces, and communicating verbally with venue staff.
At the present time, NASPA will not require any employee to participate in in-person activities on behalf of the Association, regardless of their individual job duties. Job duties related to these activities will be conducted remotely where possible or reassigned as necessary.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following for consideration:
Letter of Interest/Cover Letter
Resume
Three References
A sample of recent academic or professional writing relevant to this role (no more than three pages, please.)
