Student Engagement and Retention Specialist

Location:  Works in the community and across multiple POIC locations within the Portland metropolitan area.

Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Reports to: Director of Youth Services

Salary: $49,000 - $56,000 Annually

*IMPORTANT: To be considered for this position, please follow the Application Instructions at the end of this job posting*

POIC + RAHS is a multi-faceted agency that provides wide-ranging services meant to promote stronger attachments between disenfranchised youth, their families, and the wider community. POIC + RAHS supports several school-based programs for students in grades 6-12 located throughout the Portland Metro area. All are accredited schools serving more than 350 youth from Portland Public Schools and East County. All programs include paths to earning a high school diploma and/or a GED. We continue to mentor and support our graduates until they reach the age of stable maturity at age 25.

Job Summary: 

As the Student Engagement and Retention Specialist, you will ensure the success of RAHS students by providing student and family outreach and support; tracking and reporting on student needs and progress; and connecting students with POIC + RAHS programs including after-school activities, tutoring, employment, and training services, parenting education services, and mentoring as well as juvenile justice prevention/intervention services.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Tracks data of all Youth Services program participants at the campus level

• Works within the Youth Services team to connect students to POIC+RAHS programs, including after-school activities, tutoring, employment and training services, parenting education services, mentoring as well as juvenile justice prevention/intervention services.

• Collaborates with POIC + RAHS colleagues to measure and report student growth in areas such as credit attainment, school engagement, discipline incidents and attendance.

• Serves as a liaison between assigned campuses and the Youth Services Team to provide awareness of campus hosted events.

• Works closely with Youth Services Department Coordinators and assigned campus-level personnel to maintain open and clear communications, to implement communication of data and to host monthly campus level student engagement events.

• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the theories, methods and techniques of social casework, strength-based interviewing, adolescent development and will be able to model professionalism and servant leadership.

• Meets with students.

• Tracks student enrollment, attendance, and credit attainment (quarterly).

• Tracks family engagement and student program participation.

• Support Coordinators with quarterly Individual Success Plan (ISP) updates.

• Escalate all crises and risk incidents same day, as needed.

• Adheres to documentation requirements, including but not limited to accurate data entry into student files, ISP’s, weekly and/or monthly reports.

• Ensures budgetary compliance by submit any required documents on time and complete.

• Maintains punctual, regular and predictable attendance.

• Other duties as assigned.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Exhibits good listening and comprehension.

• Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

• Writes clearly and informatively.

• Varies communication style to meet needs.

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships.

• Offers assistance and support to co-workers.

• Works cooperatively in group situations.

• Works actively to resolve conflicts.

• Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views.

• Contributes to building a positive team spirit.

• Adapts to changes in the work environment.

• Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

• Maintains objectivity.

• Displays willingness to make decisions.

• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.

• Includes appropriate people in decision-making process.

• Balances team and individual responsibilities.

Qualifications:

• Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to the safety or health of employees or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Experience/Education:

• High school diploma or GED required

• Minimum one year of customer service experience

• Experience providing outreach, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution with youth and families

• Understanding of social service practices and experience working with families from diverse backgrounds

Certifications:

• This position requires a valid insurable Driver’s License.
  
  

Application Instructions:

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit:

1. Personal Statement that includes:

   1. Why you are interested in working for POIC + RAHS

   2. How your skills and experience relate to this position

   3. What you can contribute to our organization and the youth we serve

2. Resume

Please send your Personal Statement and Resume to jobs@portlandoic.org with the job title in the subject line. 

Applicants who do not submit a Personal Statement that includes the requested information may be disqualified from consideration for the position.