Partnerships Coordinator

About the role

Concord University seeks a creative and enthusiastic team member to serve as Partnership Coordinator for the GEAR UP Southern West Virginia (SWV) Partnership grant serving five school districts, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming County Schools. The GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Partnership is funded by the US Department of Education to increase the college-going rate of low-income secondary school students in these school systems. GEAR UP provides training and support for administrators and teachers at secondary schools with a majority of low-income students and support and assistance directly to students to enhance preparation for post-secondary education. This is a twelve-month, full-time position, contingent upon continued external funding.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities for this position are primarily geared toward supporting GEAR UP staff within our LEA partnerships. These include, but are not limited to:

• Annual Work Plan Development: Collaborate with Local Coordinators to design and align programming with GEAR UP goals and budget. Review and approve activities for appropriateness and fiscal responsibility.
• Program Oversight & Event Coordination: Monitor county-level programming and ensure alignment with approved Work Plans. Approve or decline event requests; assist in planning and execution. Track event logistics, documentation, and data entries.
• Budget & Reimbursement Management: Review monthly reimbursement requests for accuracy and compliance. Maintain budget tracking spreadsheets to monitor county spending.
• Meeting Facilitation: Plan and lead monthly Local Coordinator meetings; prepare agendas and recap notes. Participate in weekly staff huddles and meetings with the Assistant Director. Support quarterly Regional Advisory Council (RAC) meetings and presentations.
• Data & Documentation: Process student activity data using the Pi Database system. Maintain organized electronic and paper records of events, sign-in sheets, and reports.
• Communication & Liaison Duties: Serve as the primary link between Central Office and County staff. Disseminate program updates, event details, and budget information. Support counties with family events, college visits, field trips, and educator workshops.
• Training & Onboarding: Train new Local Coordinators and maintain onboarding materials. Organize periodic training sessions for county partners.
• Survey Administration: Implement annual surveys for students, educators, and guardians. Track progress and share results with county partners.
• Reporting & Travel: Prepare monthly cabinet reports for leadership. Travel to counties and events; submit travel reimbursements. Attend required meetings, trainings, and conferences (may include evenings/weekends).
• Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support GEAR UP goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelor's degree along with three years teaching/counseling experience with middle or high school students, college access or related work, or other community engagement work.
• Preferred: Master's degree in education or a related discipline.

Required Skills

• Experience working with and in public schools
• Knowledge of post-secondary education requirements and financial aid
• Strong public relations skills, and outstanding organizational skills
• The ability to establish rapport with adults and adolescents
• Some of the program services may require evening, overnight and/or weekend hours, and travel to the target counties