SPIRIT Program Manager

The University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education (MCE) invites applications for a program manager position in a new rural hybrid school psychology program. The Program Manager will support School Psychology Inclusive, Rural, and Innovative Training (SPIRIT), a federally funded five-year (2023-2027) project. SPIRIT is a first-of-its-kind program that trains rural community members to be school psychologists so they can provide school-based mental health services to students in high-need rural K-12 schools.

Position Summary

The SPIRIT Program Manager will manage administrative aspects of the SPIRIT grant, contribute to the program development and growth, support rural students, and maintain regular communications with SPIRIT faculty, staff, and students. The responsibilities include program management, recruitment, admissions, advising, class scheduling, summer programming, adjunct instructor hiring, and communication with SPIRIT faculty and students. In addition to serving as the primary point of contact for program requests, this position will also collect, store, and maintain important information, including student files, program syllabi, and course schedules. This position will assist with data collection for research, evaluation, and grant-related submissions.

We are interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) through this role and are passionate about rural communities. The SPIRIT Program Manager will collaborate with the SPIRIT Leadership Team, faculty and SPIRIT graduate students. This position reports to the SPIRIT Program Director.

Essential Functions

• Manage recruitment events and processes as the primary point of contact for all program inquiries and requests for information from internal and external constituents (e.g., potential applicants and district partners).
• Manage the admissions process by managing recruitment events, reviewing applicant materials, interviewing applicants with the team, and facilitating admissions decisions.
• Plan and manage student events (e.g., admitted student webinars, orientation events)
• Advise and support SPIRIT students (who are rural adult learners).
• Develop and implement student support services for traditionally under-represented students to strengthen student retention and promote their social, emotional, and academic success.
• Manage and maintain a schedule of courses, student academic records, program listserv, website, email distribution lists, handbooks, field manuals, and program forms.
• Manage grant expenditures to monitor and reconcile grant costs with budget lines.
• Plan and manage team events (e.g., note-taking, file management, scheduling, agenda development) for training, meetings, conferences, and other activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience with student-centered programming, DEIJA (i.e., diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility), and being part of a collaborative team
• Demonstrated interest in assisting faculty, students, and visitors in a manner consistent with program and college values (i.e., student-centered programming, inclusive excellence, equity and diversity, collaboration, and innovation)
• Demonstrated interest and knowledge of academic advising and student success.
• Experience working with diverse communities.
• Excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively communicate with students, faculty, adjunct instructors, staff, administration, and members of rural communities in Colorado.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and proofreading ability desired.
• Quality mathematical skills for understanding program budgets, facilitating purchasing functions, reviewing electronic timesheets, and creating Excel spreadsheets.
• Ability to be independently motivated to identify and propose ways to accomplish goals.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks, plan work within larger contexts of program goals, make thoughtful decisions, and work independently.

Required Qualifications

• Two years of professional experience in an office environment.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Previous professional experience in higher education and/or student services.
• Previous experience in budgeting, accounting, project management, event planning, and/or grants or contract management

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Previous experience supervising staff, students, or teams.
• Previous experience working on large