Training Specialist - NYC

ABOUT US:

Organization Vision: uAspire imagines a day when all young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential by graduating from college, regardless of their families’ financial resources or college experiences. 

Organization Summary: uAspire is a national leader in providing college affordability services to young people, families, and college access and success practitioners. By 2022, uAspire’s strategic plan aims to impact the lives of 3,000,000 young people through: 

• Student Advising: In person and over text, we support students one-on-one to maximize financial aid, minimize loan debt, and make informed financial decisions about the best post-secondary option for them. 
• Training: Online and in-person we provide professional development for school counselors and college access providers, sharing our expertise so they can effectively support their students.
• Policy & Systems Change: To level the playing field for young people from all economic backgrounds, we work to improve financial aid systems so everyone has a chance to graduate with a degree they can afford. 

THE POSITION:

The challenges of college affordability have never been more pronounced, and uAspire’s expertise – built over 30+ years of practice – has never been more needed across and communities nationwide. The Training Specialist will provide a critical role in ensuring that uAspire achieves our ambitious and multifaceted plans for growth with quality through our Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) model, thereby supporting the postsecondary goals of thousands of students to be realized each year. They will work with uAspire’s national and regional teams and be primarily responsible for the support of Training and Technical Assistance functions, including training and content development, delivery, and partner management. In addition to being responsible for tasks that focus on maintaining & coordinating effective delivery of our T&TA model, the Training Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting growth of uAspire’s evolving impact models.

This position requires a driven individual with strong organizational, facilitation, communication and listening skills. Someone who is able to balance competing priorities with accuracy, proficiency and efficiency in a fast-paced work environment with minimal supervision. They will have a proven ability to deliver high-quality work and ensure the timely completion of tasks and deliverables in a collaborative environment. The right candidate for this position will possess a high level of integrity with the ability to handle a demanding work schedule and be able to respond to challenges with flexibility and grace. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to have a significant impact on front-line practitioners and students throughout New York City and the country. This role is based in our New York City office and will remain remote until July 2021.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Training Delivery & Partner Management

• Provide engaging and informative in-person and webinar trainings to practitioners with beginner to advanced experience with college affordability.
• Manage training partnerships to ensure partner expectations are met and training outcomes are achieved. This includes partner onboarding, scheduling trainings, entering evaluation data into our Salesforce platform, troubleshooting and coaching partners via email, video and phone calls.
• Responsible for online Partner Portal administration - provide coaching and guidance to partner organizations on complex college affordability issues through our online portal, and support in maintaining and updating portal's function and content.
• Travel throughout New York City and nationally to deliver trainings. 

Training & Content Development

• Develop and curate training content and materials for New York specific financial aid. 
• Develop interactive activities, case studies, and resources rooted in real world scenarios that can be leveraged in trainings for both general audiences as well as for specific training partners.
• Remain at the forefront of college affordability expertise and support the T&TA team in continuing to build and enhance our understanding of the broader field and our issue, including participating in Federal Student Aid trainings and specific content research.

Overall Program Support

• Assist with Program projects as needed such as developing technology best practices, conducting survey data entry and analysis, coordinating training calendars, and collaborating with teams across uAspire to support mission focused work.
• Support uAspire’s efforts to build and maintain a variety of partnerships by assisting leadership with recruitment ,communication, and implementation.
• Support administrative tasks across Program work as needed, with a focus on training and partnership related work.

QUALIFICATIONS

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

• Embodiment of uAspire’s core values – being student and practitioner-centered, excellent, dedicated, collaborative, and systems-focused, and committed to contributing to efforts to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment
• High degree of professionalism, tact, initiative and diplomacy
• A minimum of 1-2 years of experience in planning, facilitating trainings and/or meetings. Ability to translate complex ideas and systems into engaging activities and content.
• Comfort with Change - understands change is necessary to evolve as a person and as an organization. Is able to quickly and methodically adjust priorities and suggest changes to improve the organization as a whole.
• Comfort and ability to utilize and adapt new and existing technology to meet practitioner needs, including a high proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite software
• Experience working in an entrepreneurial, education or non-profit setting desired
• Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to multitask effectively and efficiently
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• College affordability knowledge and knowledge of NYC’s local community and regional higher education system, and/or being an alumni of the NYC education system are all plusses.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, and interested in learning within a growing, entrepreneurial organization
• Ability to work flexible hours including frequent travel throughout NYC and nationally is required. The incumbent for this position must be based in NYC.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The salary range for this position is $55,000-$60,000. Salary commensurate with experience and education. All full-time employees receive a competitive benefits package. This is a grant-funded position. 

APPLICATION DETAILS:

Anticipated Start Date: May 17, 2020

To apply, visit this link.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

uAspire is an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces and encourages applicants of every background. The company’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity means that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, benefits, wage and salary administration, scheduling, disciplinary action and termination will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.