Job Description

Posting number: 55923

Department: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education

Division: Communications and Outreach

Job classification: ACAC Coordinator (ACPE)

Posting type: Open

Categories: Education, Grants Administration, Higher Education

Summary

Do you thrive in a team-centric environment? Are you passionate about connecting Alaskans with resources and opportunities to pursue postsecondary education? If so, you are encouraged to join the Communications & Outreach Team at the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE)! ACPE is recruiting for a Scholarships & Grants Specialist to join our Communications & Outreach Team. The successful applicant will coordinate and conduct statewide outreach and training for the scholarship and grant programs administered by ACPE.

ACPE values continuous learning and growth. ACPE hires engaged candidates who are willing to expand their knowledge and skills, and is willing to train the right candidates.

ACPE is Alaska’s postsecondary education agency, providing education and career funding solutions for college and career training. Our Anchorage office is conveniently located on Bragaw Street, with easy access to public transportation, ample parking, shopping, and more. Positions with ACPE are eligible for all State of Alaska healthcare, leave, and retirement benefits. For more information about ACPE, our mission, and our services, visit our website at acpe.alaska.gov.

Position Summary:

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is seeking a Scholarships & Grants Specialist to coordinate and conduct outreach and trainings about the scholarship and grant programs administered by ACPE. This position will increase visibility and awareness to Alaskans about the available postsecondary education funding opportunities, develop and enhance partnerships with education stakeholders, to ensure stronger access to and usage of Alaska’s available postsecondary education funding resources.

Why Join Our Team:

Mission: ACPE provides sustainable solutions for college, career and technical training. We are a collaborative team that supports one another. We actively support and model ACPE’s values: Service, Innovation, Empowerment, Quality, and Accountability.

Culture: We value continuous learning and growth. ACPE is the State’s postsecondary education agency, promoting access to, and success in, education and career training after high school. We are Alaska’s trusted higher education agency; our purpose is to serve Alaskans. We operate with integrity in everything we do.

Professional Growth: We support training for employees and have opportunities for upward mobility. ACPE seeks engaged candidates who are eager to expand their knowledge and skills. We are committed to providing the training and support needed for the right candidate to succeed.

Office Location: This position is located in Anchorage. ACPE’s Anchorage office located on Bragaw Street near Northern Lights. This location is conveniently close to public transportation and have ample parking available.

Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: This position offers a flexible/hybrid work schedule. However, during the probationary period, employees are required to work full-time, in person, at the Anchorage or Juneau office, Monday through Friday. For more information, please review the State of Alaska Telework Policy.

Upon successfully completing the probationary period, employees become eligible to telework from the Greater Anchorage area, AK. Employees may telework up to four days per week and work in-person at the Anchorage office one day per week. Currently, all staff work in-office on Wednesday; this schedule may change based on agency needs, operational needs, special projects, meetings, or other job responsibilities that may require employees to work in the office more frequently. Employees should be prepared to report to the office as needed.

Benefits: As a State of Alaska employee, you may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Actual benefits vary based on bargaining unit, position type, and full – or part-time status.

For complete information about insurance, retirement, and leave benefits, visit the State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits website.

Insurance Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions
• Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance (additional optional coverage may be available)
• Optional insurance plans, including long- and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), long-term care, and supplemental survivor benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for eligible health care or dependent care expenses

Retirement Benefits:

• Membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) or Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), as applicable
• Employer contributions to defined benefit or defined contribution retirement plans, depending on date of hire
• Contributions to the Alaska Supplemental Annuity in lieu of Social Security
• Optional participation in the Alaska Deferred Compensation Program

Paid Leave and Other Benefits:

• Personal leave that increases with years of service
• Twelve paid State holidays each year

What You’ll Do:

• Develop and deliver statewide trainings to relevant education stakeholders about state scholarship & grant programs
• Increase visibility and understanding of the available programs
• Ensure clarity of processes across stakeholders, including schools, districts, Department of Education & Early Development, ACPE, and postsecondary institutions
• Develop and deliver grade-specific scholarship & grant trainings for students and families (grades 8-12)
• Ensure students starting in grade 8 have access to planning resources towards program eligibility
• Develop and enhance grade-specific scholarship & grant planning materials and communications in coordination with ACPE Director of Communications & Outreach, Marketing Specialist, and other stakeholders as applicable
• Provide supplemental support for ACPE Outreach initiatives, as needed, including AKCIS, ACAC, AFCI, Institutional Authorization, and Success Center
• Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to:
• Special projects as identified/assigned by Director of Communications & Outreach and/or Executive Director

What We’re Looking For – Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Statutes, regulations, and policies pertaining to Alaska scholarship and grant programs
• Alaska Statutes and regulations, policies regarding Alaska educational funding/financial aid, loan programs, and the Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund
• Education challenges/barriers for low income and first-generation postsecondary students, especially those unique to Alaska, its rural communities and its native populations
• Alaska’s K-16 educational system
• Student academic advising, education & career development resources
• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

Skills:

• Public speaking and presentation techniques, calm disposition with diverse audiences
• Effective written communication for variety of market segments
• Design programs including InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, etc.
• Developing and maintaining professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Understanding and interpreting communications and applying appropriate policies, regulations, and laws
• Developing training materials and presentations

Abilities:

• Collaborate across agency marketing/outreach and external stakeholders in support of Alaska scholarship and grant programs
• Speak publicly to large groups of people across various populations
• Successfully manage multiple assignments, activities, or deadlines while maintaining composure and attention to detail
• Manage content and agency engagement
• Make independent decisions while working in a team environment
• Travel across Alaska, in sometimes challenging conditions
• Perform job functions responsibly, take initiative and develop ideas with supervisor and co-workers
• Professionally and accurately represent ACPE, our programs, and partners
• Articulate the value of postsecondary education

Examples of duties

• Baccalaureate degree or four years of related experience in higher education outreach, marketing, or communications.
• Directly relevant experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-by-year basis. However, preference will be given to applicants meeting the degree requirement.

Qualifications

Other Information:

This is a fully exempt job class under AS 39.25.110(11).

Additional Required Information:

In accordance with the State of Alaska Cover Letter Policy, this position is a Range 17 or higher. The duties of this position require the evaluation of competencies that cannot be fully assessed through the application alone; therefore, a cover letter is required and must be submitted with your online application. You cover letter should be no more than one page (2-3 paragraphs).

In your cover letter, describe how your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience align with the key responsibilities and desired qualifications outlined in this job bulletin. If you reference work experience that is not already documented in your application, include the employer’s name, job title, dates of employment, whether the position was full-time or part-time, and a brief description of your responsibilities.

Applicants who do not submit a cover letter or who fail to adequately address the requested information may not advance to the next stage of the recruitment and selection process.

Education: If postsecondary education is being used to meet minimum qualifications, you must complete the Education and Training section of the application and attach your transcripts to your application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of credit hours earned in the “Degrees Obtained” field.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Interview:

Applicants invited for an interview will be required to provide the following at the time of the interview:

• List of three (3) professional references including current daytime phone numbers.
• Copies of your two (2) most recent performance evaluations. Letters of reference may be substituted for evaluations.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY

This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only. Applicants must meet Alaska Residency Requirements to be considered for employment at this time.

Special Notice: Please Read Carefully.

An applicant’s response to the minimum qualification question must be supported by the job application.

This position is established as an exempt position Range 17.

This position is in the exempt service; therefore, it is not covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. As a result, ACPE may choose to fill this position as soon as a qualified applicant is identified. While ACPE is in the Department of Education and Early Development for administrative support services only, the Commission and its staff are not subject to the direction of the Commissioner of Education and Early Development nor the State Board of Education.

Applicants with an educational loan through the Commission must be current in payments to be considered for employment. A routine background check will be conducted on those applicants interviewed and under serious consideration for the position.

EEO Statement:

The State of Alaska complies with Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or 465-4095 in Juneau or 907-465-3412(TTY) or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal-opportunity employer.

Supplemental information

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov. For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword

Or call: 855-524-5627

For specific information about this position, please contact the hiring manager at the following:

Kate Hillenbrand

kate.hillenbrand@alaska.gov