College & Career Pathways Retention Specialist

Salary: $5,037.00 - $6,480.00 Monthly
Location : 3000 NE 4th Street Renton, WA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: 24-P0023
Department: Student Services
Opening Date: 02/14/2024
Closing Date: 3/1/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Position
The College & Career Pathways (CCP) Retention Specialist is a full-time, classified position, reporting to the Director of Entry Services. The primary function of this position is to assist enrolled and prospective students in the development of meaningful educational and career goals by providing developmental, educational, and career planning services. This position focuses on serving students completing Adult Basic Education, English Language Acquisition, and High School Completion and are enrolling in college-level programs of study. This position supports recipients of the McCarthy Bridge Grant, which is a one-time grant for College & Career Pathway students who plan to continue their college degree or certification training at Renton Technical College. The CCP Retention Specialist provides financial aid guidance and entry advising/retention support to this population. This position is grant-funded, continuation is contingent on future funding. The priority consideration date will be March 1st, 2024.
The College and Career Pathways Specialist is represented by The Renton Professional Technical Association (Prof-Tech). The pay range for this role is $5,037-$6,480 monthly and salary placement is based on applicable work experience. New hires may not be placed above Step 10 ($6,179.) Prof-Tech employees receive a yearly degree stipend if they have an Associate's degree $150, Bachelor's $250, or a Master's $350. Other benefits are listed on our benefits page and in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Renton Technical College, located southeast of Seattle, has provided quality education in a variety of occupations for over 80 years. Our professional-technical certificate and degree programs offer entry and mid-level training in the areas of allied health, trades and industry, culinary, business, technology, and automotive. Our outstanding College & Career Pathways program with classes in adult basic education, English as a second language, and GED preparation is available to those who need additional preparation before entering a training program and for those who simply wish to improve their math and English skills. Career Education and apprenticeships degrees round out our offerings.
As an Achieving the Dream and an Aspen Institute top 10 finalist in Community College Excellence, RTC is also proud to be a Military Friendly School, serving those who chose to serve. Renton Technical College is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its faculty and staff. The students that we serve come from a variety of backgrounds and are over 60% of color. We strongly encourage members of historically minoritized groups, veterans, and bi- or multi-lingual individuals to apply for this position to help meet the needs of our diverse students and service district.
Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions Include

• Demonstrate multicultural competence (including an awareness and understanding of historically minoritized populations) and maintain an educational and work environment that affirms commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Provide consistent and accessible case management support to retain students as they exit CCP classes and enroll in credit-level classes and/or career training programs, including class/program eligibility and funding assistance.
  
• Support students in their exploration of all funding options, including but not limited to FAFSA/WAFSA, RTC McCarthy Bridge Grant, WorkForce funding, Ability to Benefit, and Foundation scholarships.
  
• Serve as a resource and liaison who works effectively and equitably by connecting students, processes, and programs through strong relationships between internal partners (instructional programs, student support services, etc.).
  
• Build relationships with students and staff to support the student movement along their educational pathway through direct referrals and progress & participation checks.
  
• Collaborate with faculty and student success staff to develop and implement innovative matriculation and retention activities.
  
• Advise prospective and enrolled students regarding academic and career training; admission procedures; articulate college policies and procedures; clarify degree requirements and transfer requirements; assist in course selection.
  
• Maintain a clear understanding of all college programs, requirements, and eligibility. Assist students in clarifying educational, career, and life goals; help students to develop individualized educational plans.
  
• Work closely with CCP administration, Entry Services team, and Institutional Research to gather, analyze, and interpret data to monitor students' transition progress.
  
• Build relationships with new CCP students during the intake process.
  
• Coordinate with both on and off-site locations to establish a schedule for classroom visits, giving in-depth presentations on next steps as appropriate.
  
• Serve on college-wide committees to represent the unique needs of the CCP population.
  
• Follow and maintain compliance with FERPA regulations regarding any student educational records.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience or participation with persons from diverse backgrounds such as sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, age, socio-economic, physical and learning abilities, and a commitment to an inclusive and equitable working/learning environment.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent education and relevant professional work experience.
• Two or more years of professional experience in an advising setting with an understanding of advising strategies and theory preferred.
• High organizational and problem-solving abilities. Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and balance a heavy workload.
• Ability to work effectively and engage with adult learners, including individuals whose first language is not English.
• A strong understanding of retention and student development strategies is preferred.
• Exceptional customer services skills with the ability to place a high priority on professional excellence.
• Proficient knowledge of remote learning platforms and Microsoft Office, specifically experience creating & editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Previous success in learning new computer software programs/platforms required.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally through both verbal and written skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail required as well as previous experience maintaining accurate records, managing multiple tasks, and planning and organizing work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and the general public.
• Experience working within a technical or community college setting if preferred.
• Ability to represent the college positively and professionally, while using tact, discretion, and courtesy.
• Ability to speak a regionally top spoken language other than English is preferred (Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Somali, and Chinese).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Valid Driver's License

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Duties primarily involve seated, computer workstation work, meetings in locations held throughout campus and offsite. Must be available to work between the hours of 8am and 6:30pm, 40 hours per week, schedule is flexible. Occasional nights and weekends may be required. This is mostly an in-person/on-campus position; remote work may occur as business permits.
Terms of Employment
The person hired is required to provide authorization for employment in the United States. All offers of employment are contingent to background checks, including employment and required degree/credential verification. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform successfully in the position. Finalists are required to complete the Sexual Misconduct Disclosure form as required under RCW 288.112.080. Post offer, pre-employment criminal background checks are also required.
For questions regarding this position contact Nia Wiliams, dwilliams@rtc.edu 425-235-2475
EEO STATEMENT: Renton Technical College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veterans or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Re-authorization Act and Washington State Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. Please see policy at The following college official has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Title IX / EEO Coordinator, Vice President of Human Resources 3000 NE 4th Street Renton, WA 98056 (425)235-7873, titleix@rtc.edu.
Jeanne Clery statement: Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, and as a part of the College's commitment to safety and security on campus, Renton Technical College reports the mandate information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years. Renton Technical College's Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at: https://www.rtc.edu/annual-security-report For information on how to access the RTC Daily Crime Log follow this link: https://www.rtc.edu/node/4321
We acknowledge that RTC sits uninvited on the ancestral land of the Puget Salish people, including the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snoqualmie, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot Nations. We are grateful to the original inhabitants of this land, upon which we gather and dialogue. We also acknowledge our increasingly virtual world, in which RTC's work is done across multiple indigenous lands, in some cases, away from Puget Salish territories. We thank the original caretakers of our local lands and waters, who are still here.
Beyond acknowledgment, we each have an obligation to learn about and support our local tribes. Find out how on our resources page, which includes scholarships for Indigenous students.
2024 Employee Benefits Summary
Coverage begins the first day of the month following the date of hire. If the date of hire is the first working day of the month, coverage begins immediately. Spouse or same-sex domestic partner, and dependent children are eligible for coverage. Eligible employees at Renton Technical College (RTC) receive a generous benefits package in addition to their paycheck, including:
Medical Insurance
Employees pay a portion of their medical care cost through payroll deduction. The employee premium is based on the choice of plan and coverage for lawful spouses, same-sex domestic partners, and dependent children. more information can be found by visiting www.hca.wa.gov/pebb
2024 Employee Monthly Contribution by Family Tier PEBB medical Plans Employee Employee & Spouse Employee & Child(ren) Employee & Family
Dental Coverage
Renton Technical College provides dental coverage at no monthly premium cost to the employee. Benefit eligible employees have a choice of dental plans. Options include:

• Uniform Dental Plan (Preferred Provider Organization -PPO plan) Administered by Washington Dental Service (WDS)
• DeltaCare (Managed Care Plan)

Administered by Washington Dental Service (WDS)

• Willamette Dental (Managed Care Plan) Administered by Willamette Dental

Vision
Employees do not pay separate premium for vision coverage; it is covered under the medical plan. Optical service frequency and hardware (glasses, contact lenses, etc.) vary depending on type of plan selected.
Waiving Medical Coverage
If you have other medical insurance you can choose to waive medical coverage for yourself or any family member. If you have existing coverage through your spouse or domestic partner, please contact the plan directly to see how they will coordinate benefits.
If waiving medical coverage, the employee will still be covered under the dental insurance plan at no monthly premium cost.
Medical Flex Spending Accounts (FSA& LFA) & Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The FSA, LFA and DCAP plans are offered by the College and the State of Washington. FSA is a PEBB sponsored benefit program that allows you to use pre-tax money in a calendar year to pay for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or Child care expenses.
An FSA can save you 25 - 40% on your eligible expenses. Both plans are offered as payroll deductions.
Annual contributions in 2024 for Medical Flexible Account can be between a minimum of $120 to maximum of $3,050. As a "use it or lose it" IRC governed plan, medical expense reimbursements can be requested for employee, spouse, or their IRS eligible dependents.
Annual contributions in 2024 for the Limited Flexible Account can be between a minimum of $120 to maximum of $3,050. As ...