Project Manager, Guided Pathways Redesign and SEAP (Student Equity and Achievement Program)

Job Duties

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
With the goal of ensuring the equal educational opportunity of all students, Santa Monica College embraces diversity among students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve as an integral part of our history, a recognition of the complexity of our present state, and a call to action for a better future. Embracing diversity means that we must intentionally practice equity and respect toward one another, and understand that discrimination and prejudices create and sustain privileges for some while creating and sustaining barriers for others. In order to embrace diversity, we also acknowledge that institutional discrimination and implicit bias exist, and that our goal is to eradicate those vestiges from our system. Our commitment to diversity requires that we strive to eliminate those barriers to equity, and that we act deliberately to create a safe and positive environment where individual and group differences are valued and leveraged for our growth and understanding as an educational community.

To advance the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice for the success of students and employees, we must honor that each individual is unique and that our individual differences contribute to the ability of the college to prepare students on their educational journeys. This requires that we develop and implement policies and procedures, encourage individual and systemic change, continually reflect on our efforts, and hold ourselves accountable for the results of our efforts in accomplishing our goals.

We are invested as a community in cultivating and maintaining a climate where equity and mutual respect are both intrinsic and explicit by valuing individuals and groups from all backgrounds, demographics, and experiences. Individual and group differences can include, but are not limited to the following dimensions: race, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, immigration status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, religion, creed, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, and any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. We acknowledge that the concept of inclusion and diversity is ever-evolving, thus we create space to allow our understanding to grow through the periodic review of this statement. In service of these goals, Santa Monica College is committed to fostering an employment environment that offers equal employment opportunity for all and an educational environment that ensures the equal educational opportunity of all students.

Position Profile
The Office of Equity, Pathways and Inclusion (EPI) is committed to developing an integrated infrastructure that supports the efforts of the college community (students, faculty, staff and administrators) to center the experiences of those most impacted by structural racial inequity in order to advance racial equity in terms of outcomes and experiences.

The comprehensive Redesign of the SMC student experience is an integrated, inclusive approach to transform the college into an equitable institution that is more effective and more efficient at serving our diverse student body with its diverse aspirations, and social and academic preparations. Using an equity-centered Guided Pathways framework and seeing the institution through a student lens, the redesign intends to rebuild our structures and programs to improve rates of college completion, transfer, and attainment of jobs with value in the labor market and to achieve racial equity in these outcomes.

Under the direction of the Dean of Equity, Pathways and Inclusion (EPI), the Project Manager will administer, oversee and apply an equity-minded approach to the development, implementation, and fiscal accountability for both the Guided Pathways Redesign efforts (including the Award for Innovation, CCCCO allocations, CA Trustees Fellowship and CA GP Phase Two) and the numerous programs, personnel and activities of the Student Equity & Achievement Program (SEAP) at Santa Monica College (SMC). The Project Manager will be responsible for assuring that the requirements and timelines are adhered to in the service of meeting the College’s equity goals and objectives.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Planning and Management:

• Perform all duties through an equity lens focused on Latinx and African American students
• Support the development and implementation of programs and services within the Guided Pathways Redesign efforts and the numerous programs, personnel and activities of the Student Equity & Achievement Program (SEAP).
• Manage project budgets, monitor expenditures, investigate and secure travel-related items, and procure equipment and supplies as needed.
• Prepare and deliver oral and written reports, recommendations and presentations to committees, administration, the Board of Trustees, and external constituencies as needed.
• Ensure the completion and timely submittal of all required grant and project required documents, surveys, and data reports for assigned projects.
• Serve as a resource, providing recommended courses of action and implementing proposed solutions to meet our equity goals and objectives
• Plan and facilitate both large, conference-style meetings and smaller, working meetings
• Develop a detailed project plan to track progress.
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation.

Evaluation and Assessment:

• Coordinate with others regarding comprehensive assessment plan to ensure programs and services meet the needs of students.
• Compile comprehensive summaries and reports of assessment efforts and recommended courses of actions to ensure programs and services are in alignment with established goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with Institutional Research to create surveys/focus groups and compile statistics for use in evaluating and modifying project goals and objectives.
• Gather current educational research and best practices related to student equity.

Engagement with campus and community partners:

• Identify opportunities for promoting and educating the campus community about equity, guided pathways redesign and inclusion.
• Support campus-wide efforts and work collaboratively with colleagues to identify opportunities to engage with minoritized student populations in significant ways to support their academic and co-curricular life.
• Collaborate with administrators, faculty, staff, and academic departments campus-wide to improve student success and sense of belonging among minoritized students.
• Serve as a liaison to students, faculty, and staff on campus and in the local community regarding matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders within SMC and from outside agencies to create networks, partnerships and formal MOU’s (memorandums of understanding).

Other duties:

• Work closely with the Dean of Equity, Pathways & Inclusion to develop and implement program budgets, strategic planning, and assessment.
• Oversee the hiring, training and supervision for student workers and other staff, as needed
• Maintain current website(s) to aggregate and promote new and existing services.
• Develop and oversee marketing strategy and informational materials
• Identify grants and/or funds and spaces to match the growth of the Office of Equity, Pathways & Inclusion.
• Participate in relevant professional development opportunities on and off campus related to equity.
• Engage in participatory governance processes and activities and serve on college committees as assigned.
• Prepare and deliver timely oral and written reports, recommendations and presentations to committees, administration, the Board of Trustees, and external constituencies as needed.
• Assume leadership for other related project activities and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the resources available to the specific population served by the project.
• Ability to work effectively and provide leadership as a member of a team to realize the program goals and objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with all college constituencies and members of the public.
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, regulations and laws pertaining to the specific project or program services including contractual management.
• Skill in respectful, sensitive communication with people who are diverse in their cultures, language groups and abilities.
• Skill in strategic planning, project coordination and evaluation.
• Skill in training and leading the work of others.
• Ability to coordinate, anticipate, and resolve workload issues and problems.
• Knowledge of technology solutions, and ability to work with technical staff in developing or identifying technology solutions to insure efficient grant implementation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to adopt a “hands-on” approach to completion of projects and tasks, to work in a dynamic environment that requires flexibility, and to balance multiple responsibilities.
• Skill in organizing data, setting up, tracking, and maintaining data in electronic and manual files
• Knowledge of Office 365, Microsoft Suite (Excel/Word/PowerPoint), Teams, Google Apps, Cloud file systems and sharing, Adobe Sign, Adobe Acrobat, etc.
• Ability to analyze data and information to ensure that projects are regularly assessed and improved.
• Skill in resolving complex problems.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collegially as part of comprehensive student service team
• Ability to think analytically, creatively, strategically, and to have a big picture perspective.
• Ability to successfully manage relationships and projects.
• Ability to execute effective presentations independently.
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess a Master’s degree from an accredited institution and academic leadership experience or equivalent.
• One (1) year of formal training, internship or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment.
• Must have sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse socio-economic, academic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, including those with physical and/or learning disabilities as these factors relate to differences in learning styles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years’ experience in project management.
• Experience with California Community College’s Student Equity and Achievement Program and Guided Pathways implementations, allocations, and reporting.
• Experience in, and knowledge about diversity, equity, inclusion and identity development and the intersections of various aspects of diversity (i.e., race and class, race and sexual orientation, undocumented status and gender).
• Knowledge and experience working in educational equity programs with students whose needs are specific to first-generation, low-income, bilingual, bi-cultural, and historically marginalized student populations.
• Demonstrate an equity-minded understanding of the needs and challenges of low-income, racially minoritized students, undocumented students, LGBTQ+ identities, gender equity and/or first-generation college students.
• Experience within a community college environment is preferred.

Additional Information

Project Manager Application Requirements

A standard application consists of the following:

• Online District Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Transcript

* Additional, job-specific items may be required. Please refer to the job posting for specific details.

Diversity Statement
Recent experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom; and a willingness to use culturally responsive instructional practices.

Demonstrated sensitivity to issues of diversity, and ability to motivate and teach community college students of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, genders, cultures, and learning styles, as well as students with disabilities or varied levels of academic preparation.

Equity Statement
Santa Monica College encourages candidates that are equity-minded to apply. SMC is a minority-serving, Hispanic-serving institution. We actively seek to attract candidates from minority groups that value equity, diversity and inclusion. Equity, diversity and inclusion are built into the culture at SMC and are an essential component of the work that we do. SMC is committed to racial and socioeconomic diversity as it is a reflection of our student population and we strive to hire candidates that share this commitment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Disclosure
The Santa Monica Community College District is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants for employment, as well as District employees, shall have full and equal access to employment opportunity. No person shall be subjected to unlawful discrimination in any program or activity of the District. The District's Board Policy 3420 (Equal Employment Opportunity) may be accessed at: https://www.smc.edu/administration/governance/board-of-trustees/documents/board-policy-manual/board-policies/chapter-3-general-institution/BP-3420-EEO.pdf

Equivalency Statement
The Santa Monica Community College District, in its desire to select outstanding faculty members from the largest possible pool of qualified applicants, recognizes the fact that candidates may attain expertise in a discipline through a variety of means. Certain combinations of education, experience and other accomplishments in the field may be judged by the District as equal to the stated minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who feel they possess such equivalent qualifications are encouraged to apply and provide appropriate documentation of their qualifications. For further details regarding equivalency criteria, please download the Equivalency Application Statement Form available at https://jobs.smc.edu/applicants/static/customers/655/EquivalencyStatementPDF.pdf

Conditions of Employment
Appointment is subject to verification of official transcripts, current or previous employment, tuberculosis and fingerprint clearance. Selected candidate must provide identification and work authorization.

For more information about Santa Monica Community College:

https://www.smc.edu
https://www.smc.edu/administration/human-resources/index.php
https://www.smc.edu/administration/human-resources/diversity-equity-inclusivity/index.php