Senior Fellow, Student Basic Needs - Kentucky Student Success Collaborative

Position:  Full-time, three-year grant-funded 
Term:  Feb. 1, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2027 
Location: In-person position in Frankfort, KY, with option for telecommuting as agency directed. 

Overview 

The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) is Kentucky’s coordinating body for postsecondary education and is committed to strengthening the Commonwealth’s workforce, economy, and quality of life through the continuous improvement and efficient operation of a high-quality, diverse, and accessible system of postsecondary education. 

CPE, in partnership with the James Graham Brown Foundation, created the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative (KYSCC) to advance large-scale change and help equip institutions with the tools and resources needed to drive transformation and continuous improvement. The KYSSC works with higher education institutions in the state to increase degree completion, eliminate equity gaps, and enhance the economic mobility of all students. 

In 2021, the KYSSC began working with colleges, universities, state agencies, and other education stakeholders to develop a statewide strategy to increase the financial stability and economic mobility of Kentuckians. A report was published in July 2023 outlining the experience of students facing basic needs insecurity as well as priority recommendations to improve access to basic needs support and increase access to postsecondary education.  

With financial support from the ECMC Foundation, the KYSSC is hiring a Senior Fellow for Student Basic Needs to drive the implementation of the statewide strategic plan and lead several special projects funded by the grant. Special projects include:

1. Scale childcare solutions for adult learners and workers with dependents.
2. Strengthen communications to raise awareness of basic needs resources among students as well as broad campus stakeholders.
3. Support the development of the KY basic needs data dashboard, predictive model, and evaluation of interventions. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Develop and drive annual implementation plan to make progress on the statewide strategic plan for student basic needs. Manage and track progress of implementation plan through ClickUp software. 
• Build effective partnerships with state agencies, consultants, and campus partners to co-create and manage reinforcing activities, scopes of work, and deliverables. 
• Develop communications with key stakeholders regarding meetings, convenings, resources, and updates. Communications will be via email, Impact exChange, social media, and press releases as needed. 
• Schedule, plan, prepare, and facilitate all meetings for the SBN collaborative infrastructure to drive implementation plan including core team, guiding team, community of practice, and project teams/work groups. 
• Plan and coordinate in person and virtual convenings, workshops, and trainings including logistics, communications, and agenda development. 
• Assist with the tracking of statewide inputs, outputs, and impact of SBN implementation. Work in collaboration with CPE and KYSTATS data teams on SBN dashboard. 
• Manage the ECMC grant including budget, annual report, and project implementation. Assist with writing and research for additional funding proposals. 
• Implement the KYSSC Equity Accountability Principles throughout project implementation, including completing pre, mid, and post equity-by-design worksheets. 

Highly Valued Skills/Education 

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting students with basic needs insecurity. 
• Experience with partnership development and relationship building with diverse stakeholders. 
• Ability to anticipate challenges and adapt with a positive approach to problem-solving. 
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Experience with grant writing and grant management. 
• Experience with data tracking and analysis for continuous improvement. 
• Strong skills in facilitation and collaborative action. 
• Master’s degree in higher education administration or relevant field preferred. 

Application Information 

Interested applicants should send a letter of application specifically addressing the responsibilities and qualifications of the position, a resume, and the names, titles, and contact information for at least three professional references to: 

Rae Smith, Human Resource 
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education 
100 Airport Road 
Frankfort, KY 40601 
CPE.HR@ky.gov