TBR | The College System of Tennessee

Title: Director of Student Programs- Roane State Foundation

Employee Classification: Other Professionals

Institution: Roane State Community College

Department: Foundation

Campus Location: Roane State Community College

Job Summary

The Director of Student Programs at Roane State Foundation, under the supervision of and in conjunction with, the Executive Director, leads the administration of Foundation programs benefitting the students of Roane State, specifically including the scholarship program, the pay-it-forward program, and similar grant-funded student aid administered by the Foundation. The stewardship of donors to these programs is an important and key role for which this position is also responsible. Collaboration with internal College and external community partners is essential.

Position is based in Harriman, TN (although travel may be required to other RSCC campuses).

Job Duties

1. Implement, coordinate, direct and maintain Foundation scholarship and student aid programs, as follows:

• Prepare new scholarship agreements and maintenance/monitoring of existing agreements
• Manage scholarship and student aid budgets of endowed and non-endowed funds which includes cumulative total award awards in excess of $500,000
• Determine endowed scholarship amounts based upon available funds produced by investment managers and the Board’s spending policy each year
• Approve student requests for emergency assistance, licensure fee assistance, pay-it-forward program and finish-line requests
• Administer Blackbaud Awards Management database system, in conjunction with College’s IT department, including programming scholarship applications, ensuring student data imports are correct, archiving prior year information, and completing ongoing training in the system as changes take place
• Oversee the application and awarding of Early College and Middle College scholarships using the College’s Parent Portal, and ensure rubric for award determinations is up to date and working correctly each year
• Oversee the dual enrollment scholarship award process involving high school representatives and/or College staff
• Coordinate scholarship guidelines with scholarship committee and Foundation board
• Evaluate students’ continued scholarship eligibility and work with Foundation board to approve or deny student and donor petitions for special conditions or policy appeals
• Ensure donor intent is being met and when needed, seek donor consent for the re-purposing of funds
• Provide presentations to current and prospective students, parents, and the general public in order to promote the College and availability of Foundation scholarships and student aid
• Serve as a liaison between Foundation staff and college Site Directors, faculty and staff regarding various programs and scholarships offered through the Foundation
• Collaborate with College and Foundation staff to design and produce various print and digital advertising for the scholarship and student aid programs
• Attend award ceremonies at local high schools, and coordinate Foundation Board members and donors to present students with merit-based scholarships
• Coordinate with the College and Foundation grants management staff to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of student aid grant distributions

2. Develop and implement a donor stewardship plan aimed at cultivating deeper ties with existing donors, monitor and communicate regularly on program progress, promote a culture of gratitude and provide appropriate, meaningful information to donors and/or donor families regarding the use and impact of gifts to student aid.

• Conduct meetings both in-person and virtual with new and current donors
• Prepare yearly endowment reports, impact reports and other stewardship communications
• Work closely with Foundation Executive Director and Director of Advancement Operations to initiate contacts and communications to new potential donors, including individuals, corporations, local businesses, community organizations and other foundations to secure new gifts that support students
• Conduct donor research on current and new scholarship and student aid program donors
• Develop a process which encourages longstanding and new donors to move up the donor pyramid to maximize their philanthropy, including growing their endowment or making estate or other planned gift arrangements.

3. Other duties as a member of the Foundation Team:

• Supervise Student Aid Specialist and any Federal work-study students assigned to scholarship tasks, working in the Foundation office each academic year
• Support and in various Foundation fundraising activities and functions including donor/student reception events
• Maintain continuous line of communication keeping the Foundation team apprised of all critical issues
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality in order to attract and maintain donor and community support
• Proactively participate in professional development opportunities and work to stay informed of innovative strategies
• Serve as a liaison to any constituency of the Foundation when the Executive Director or other designated staff is unable to do so.
• Support and facilitate internal and external collaboration and good public relations to ensure smooth operations. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, communications, management, administration, or related field required.
  
• Five years of demonstrated administrative and/or project management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Nonprofit fundraising and/or nonprofit management coursework or training.
  
• Knowledge of fundraising principles or working in a public/nonprofit organization.
  
• Flexibility to work longer hours during peak awards season.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability and willingness to learn professional fundraising and donor relations is a must, including working towards related professional or software certifications or similar/related coursework. (Professional development funds available through the College and Foundation)
  
• Ability to prioritize and multitask efficiently, as needed in a fast-paced environment.
  
• Keen attention to detail, focus, and accuracy required for financial functions, as well as database and record-keeping tasks, to meet College and Foundation timelines.
  
• Excellent customer service and communication skills (written and oral).
  
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and in accordance with College and Foundation policies and agreements.
  
• Ability to relate well to internal and external constituents, representing the College and Foundation with excellence.
  
• Willingness to work hard as part of a team to make a difference in the students and communities we serve.
  
• Strong knowledge of general office tasks and Microsoft Office Suite of software.

In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:

• Application
• Resume
• Cover letter expressing your interest in this position
• Three (3) professional references

Incomplete applications and failure to upload the required documents will not be considered for the position.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

The TBR does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.