Manager, Scholarship Outreach

FT, Exempt

Under the supervision of the Vice President, Scholarship Program Operations, the Manager for Scholarship Outreach is responsible for overseeing all aspects of recruiting candidates for the Young Scholars Program, College Scholarship, and Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and managing partner relations with organizations and individuals for the purposes of scholarship and general Foundation outreach. Specific responsibilities include: maintaining outreach relationships with partner organizations and schools ensuring unified external messaging and use of the Foundation brand, supervising recruiting technology initiatives, developing and executing a strategic plan for outreach, developing outreach materials and budgets, preparing press releases, coordinating conference/outreach presentations, periodically reviewing outreach processes and recommending revisions, and preparing outreach reports.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• In collaboration with the Vice President, develops strategic outreach plans for each of the external scholarship programs. Develops innovative approaches to outreach to potential scholarship applicants and nominees, managing strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations, including outreach partners, pipeline organizations, community colleges, four-year institutions of higher education, community and professional organizations, Grantees, and other organizations.
• Works closely with the Coordinator for Selection and Outreach on scholarship outreach activities and external communications.
• Oversees technology-oriented recruiting initiatives, including building and maintaining outreach and communications databases and working to ensure their effective use, and working with the internal communications team to develop videos or other media for outreach campaigns.
• Manages contracts of outreach partnerships and service providers. Provides training to outreach partner representatives and guides their scopes of work for executing outreach strategies; monitors their work to ensure that they spend time and resources wisely; and assists in evaluating effectiveness of their efforts. Regularly meets with pipeline and outreach partners and explores new alternative recruiting techniques with them. Researches additional pipeline and outreach relationships.
• Represents the Foundation before external audiences, including speaking at and attending conferences, visiting partner organizations, and preparing and hosting webinars and other online outreach for prospective applicants and those with access to prospective applicants.
• Ensures that all content on the Foundation website meets style and brand guidelines. Works with external vendor to update website as needed to ensure a positive user experience. Liaises between IT, Programs, and internal communications Staff to ensure that program information on the public website is consistent with external marketing material, selection criteria, and the like.
• Reports on performance of all external communications including tracking website performance and campaigns tied to driving traffic to the website. Provides metrics for equivalent organizations to benchmark success. Works with Manager, Scholarship Selection and Senior Manager, Data Integrity to identify data collection points on application materials to help determine success of outreach efforts.
• Maintains communications files, email accounts, and calendars including plans for website updates (including blog posts), communication emails (including Cooke Chronicle), and social media.
• Monitors traditional and social media coverage daily, notifying appropriate Staff of Cooke news placements. Promotes coverage as deemed appropriate on external channels. Coordinates social media coverage with Programs team to ensure that the various social media channels are in alignment.
• Works closely with the Vice President, Scholarship Program Operations to assist public relations firm (Whiteboard Advisers) with responding to media requests, ensuring timely responses. Works with other departments as necessary to coordinate interviews with Staff, Scholars, and partners. Prepares for quarterly board meeting memos including news clips and quarterly publication of the Cooke Chronicle.
• Prepares and manages budgets for outreach and prepares reports for internal and external use, on a regular basis and as needed by management, Staff, and Board of Directors.
• Actively participates in Foundation meetings and works collaboratively with others to complete projects and goals.
• Other tasks as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in communications, admissions, and/or outreach to high-achieving students; philanthropy; or other related experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to create and manage external institutional relationships; familiarity with outreach partners and pipeline partners preferred.
• Digital and analytic capacity, including ability to use digital recruiting techniques, prepare reports using web-based resources, and interact using social media.
• Strong demonstrated experience as a project and/or program manager, preferably in the areas of recruitment, outreach, education, or other related areas.
• High level of written and oral communication skills and abilities and staff and interpersonal relations management.
• Substantial knowledge of Microsoft Office and other web-based applications.
• A strong detail orientation and ability to work independently and simultaneously on multiple projects within close, overlapping and/or conflicting deadlines.
• Must be a flexible team player committed to the Foundation’s mission.
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• The Foundation follows a 35-hour work week schedule for full-time positions. Exempt employees are required to work any additional hours necessary to perform the duties of the job.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Career Center. E-Verify employer. No phone calls please.