Strategy Manager

Job Title: HEI Strategy Manager

Reports to: Director of Higher Education Innovation

Employment Type: Full-Time, Monday-Friday

Location: Lansing, Mich: In-Person

Application Deadline: Open until filled; application review biweekly

Salary: $55,000 - $60,000

Benefits: Full benefits package includes platinum health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Also includes an education support program, employee development program with a $1,000 professional development budget, 403b retirement plan (with standard 4% employer contribution and up to an additional 3% match), 240 hours of PTO, paid holidays, 6 weeks paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave, employee assistance program (providing resources to support employees with finances, legal issues, mental health and more including free professional consultations), cell phone reimbursement and a fun, engaging work environment.

Essential Functions

Under the supervision of the Director of Higher Education Innovation, the Strategy Manager will assist with leading MCAN’s work in strengthening higher education systems and college personnel practitioners through professional development, research, data, innovation, investment, and technical assistance. This position is new and will support the increased organizational focus and capacity needs in this strategy.

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, technically capable, detail-oriented, and has the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, innovative environment. Having a tolerance for ambiguity, risk-taking, and an adventuresome outlook will help ensure success at MCAN’s work and culture.

EDUCATION, JOB KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

An ideal candidate for the Strategy Manager position must:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in a program that would support this work.
• Have a strong and demonstrated commitment to equity.
• Have a valid in-state driver’s license for regular local travel and national travel.
• Be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19

An ideal candidate for the Strategy Manager position should:

• Bring 3-5 years of experience in higher education, cross-sector collaboration, program management or other related fields.
• Possess ability to conceptualize and implement large-scale initiatives to support overall strategy.
• Demonstrate high levels of organization and excellent attention to detail.
• Have capability to manage multiple projects at once in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to facilitate cross-partnership collaborations, lead presentations, and provide clarity in written communication for action items for all involved constituents.
• Possess ability to command action and accountability to ensure follow-through on project completion.
• Be able to establish and maintain relationships with internal and external partners.
• Have basic computer skills, especially email, spreadsheets, and presentation creation software.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Strategy Manager provides support for the HEI Director performs a wide range of duties including but not limited to the following areas:

Professional Development

• Enrich MCAN’s professional development strategy focused on serving college student success practitioners including but not limited to academic advisors, success coaches, student affairs professionals, and career development staff.
• Collaborate with Michigan-based higher education organizations to develop and deliver professional development opportunities.
• Assist in the implementation of D3C3-provided professional development training programs to institutional members, including seeking opportunities for technical assistance that supports cluster facilitation.
• Serve as primary lead on creating fellowship programs in collaboration with state and national leaders focused on best practices to enhance support the needs of student success professionals across the state of Michigan.

Partnership Expansion

• Support the statewide network, action-oriented, Higher Education Advisory Board, inclusive of higher education leaders that encourage cross-institutional best practices and equity-focused systems change within the higher education ecosystem.
• Support the planning and hosting meetings, convenings, trainings, and other special events within Higher Education Innovation strategy.
• Support the Higher Education Innovation department in building and leveraging higher education partnerships that will encourage cross-organizational collaboration promoting student success initiatives.
• Solicit feedback from partners and stakeholders regularly to strengthen trust and partnership.

Grant Management

• Facilitate the higher education innovation grantmaking strategy including providing ongoing coaching and technical assistance to grantees.
• Coordinate and manage the review process for departmental grantmaking.
• Serve as primary manager of the online grants-management system for the Higher Education Innovation strategy.
• Serve on MCAN’s Higher Education Innovation grant review team, independently read and score various grant applications and participate in team meetings to review and determine the status of grant proposals.

Strategy Development and Support

• Supporting the organization in reaching its equity and inclusion goals. Assist in the audit of existing programs and design of new programs to ensure they are designed to close gaps, specifically among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.
• Manage and grow the Roadmap to Opportunity project focused on providing tools and resources for direct service providers to better advise students on stackable education credential pathways.
• Professionally and accurately communicate, in written and oral form, with critical MCAN constituents such as K12 professionals, higher education staff, LCAN coordinators, partner organizations, and state agencies.
• Compile and analyze data to improve effectiveness of HEI’s strategies.
• Utilize technology to drive efficiency of HEI’s strategies.
• Attend meetings and events on behalf of the Director of Higher Education Innovation and MCAN as requested.
• Perform other duties as needed to advance the mission of the Michigan College Access Network.

TO APPLY MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD YOUR RESUME, A COVER LETTER AND THREE PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES COMPLETE WITH TITLE AND CONTACT INFORMATION.

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ABOUT MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK

MCAN is an equity-focused organization and values having broad, diverse representation and inclusivity on our team. This is critical to provide perspectives and lived experiences to help guide our work to have the greatest impact. We especially encourage people of color and first-generation college graduates to apply.

Since our founding a decade ago, MCAN has known that college changes everything — and perhaps even more critical to our mission is the belief that college is for everyone.

We do what it takes to provide students in Michigan with a brighter long-term future, through college access and postsecondary certificate and degree attainment: doing the research, talking to agents of change, connecting resources, being a changemaker.

Why? By encouraging Michigan residents to earn postsecondary certificates and degrees, we not only help them earn more and promote their well-being — we also strengthen Michigan's talent pool, retain and attract businesses to the state and stimulate Michigan's economy in the process.

Through college access, we are also able to promote equity in our state. We work to ensure that every student in Michigan has the opportunity to attend college — especially low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color.

VISION AND VALUES

College is postsecondary education
We use the term college to refer to attainment of education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees.

College is a necessity
Postsecondary attainment dramatically increases an individual’s economic independence in a knowledge-based economy.

College is for everyone
We work toward changing the systems that perpetuate inequities in postsecondary attainment.

College is a public good
Postsecondary attainment is critical to a just and equitable society, strong economy, thriving democracy, and healthy communities.