Job Description

Department:

Enrollment Strategy, Marketing, and Events

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Employee Type:

Job Summary:

Colby College is one of 32 member institutions in the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network (https://starscollegenetwork.org/). Through philanthropy and institutional funding, STARS members are supporting thousands of rural students across the United States on their journey to college. The Colby College Office of Admissions and Financial Aid oversees programming directly tied to the STARS College Network’s mission. Through its commitment to STARS, Colby will be the host for this position, which will coordinate new programming for the STARS College Network, assist with the work of the Director of High School Initiatives, participate in the College Advisor Program, and broadly assist rural students in their college search process by supporting STARS programming.

The STARS Coordinator of High School Initiatives will be based at Colby College in Waterville, Maine and will report to, and work closely with, the STARS Director of High School Initiatives, coordinate program design and implementation with other STARS staff and members of the network, and collaborate with colleagues in the Colby Admissions Office. The coordinator will be based out of the Colby Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and will be required to travel regionally on a regular basis, and on occasion nationally, and will conduct a significant portion of their work via video conference. Broadly, the Coordinator will be responsible for helping to implement various high school initiatives that promote the STARS mission and its work with rural and small-town students and their schools. Most of the Coordinator’s portfolio of projects will be dedicated to the STARS Boarding School Initiative, which is launching in Fall 2025, and will require close oversight in terms of implementation and planning. Other related projects will include, but are not limited to, playing a key role with developing programming for the STARS College Network; with the launch of the STARS Student-Athlete Initiative; and with the STARS College Advisor Program.This position has an initial term of 36 months with the possibility of renewal.

This is a full-time, temporary fixed term, exempt appointment to the administrative staff paid on a monthly basis. This position is gift-funded, and the continuation of this position is contingent on gift funding availability. This position has an initial term of 36 months with the possibility of renewal.

Essential Functions

To perform successfully in this position, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily as well as possess education/experience, employ the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed in representative fashion. Colby College actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.  This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned.

• Meet regularly via video conference (and in person as schedules permit) with the Director of High School Initiatives to review progress on current initiatives

• Communicate regularly with points of contact in the Boarding School Initiative

• Communicate regularly with coaches involved in the Student-Athlete Initiative

• Create reports that track metrics of success for STARS leadership

• Be a thought partner with the Director and other members of STARS to develop new programming that elevates the impact of STARS

• Support the work of the College Advisor Program, including participating as an adjunct advisor

•  Develop programming for 8th through 10th graders and their parents or families for STARS and the College Advisor Program

• Travel to partner high schools and STARS members regularly for in-person meetings with points of contact and for on-campus programming

• Organize virtual and in-person events in support of the various initiatives

•  Be regularly available to any associated partner of STARS to address questions and to respond to all inquiries about programs

•  Weekend and evening availability is expected throughout the year for some aspects of the position, including travel to high school sites or STARS member sites and online and in person events

Position Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree required

• Excellent Verbal and written communication

• Technological competence with databases, online tools, video conferencing, etc.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• Ability to maintain confidentiality

• Ability to handle a high volume of work, execute multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines as required.

• Enthusiasm for travel to partner high schools and members of the STARS Network.

• Certifications

  •  Valid United States driver’s license required

Physical/Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, an employee must be able to maintain appropriate confidentiality with regard to employee data, documents, issues, etc., and respect privacy needs of employees and past employees with regard to the same.

• The ability to comply with highly inflexible deadlines is required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position; there will be multiple occurrences of sudden, urgent task completion required.

• There may be occurrences of employees, past employees, members of the general public, and others who express opinions, may exhibit strong emotions, which will require the employee to interact professionally, diplomatically, and appropriately in such situations.

• While performing the essential duties of this position, an employee would frequently be required to move around the office space as well as within hallways, meeting rooms, and other parts of the campus facilities. 

• There may be multiple/daily instances of prolonged personal computer use which would include keyboard and/or mouse usage as well as viewing a computer monitor.

• An employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds to perform essential position functions.

• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

• The overall work environment requires the mental ability to shift focus quickly due to interruptions; an employee must be able to mentally track multiple projects and tasks as well.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, there may be unexpected instances of somewhat loud sounds.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website.  Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application.