Senior Experiential Learning Specialist

Salary/Position Classification: $57,900 annual, Exempt, 40 hours per week. This position will work onsite at the Grand Forks, ND campus.

Purpose of Position

The Senior Experiential Learning Specialist plays a critical leadership role in advancing the Director for Career Engagement’s strategic vision for expanding experiential learning opportunities and supporting students pursuing national and international prestigious scholarship opportunities, such as Fulbright, Goldwater, Truman, Marshall, and Rhodes among others. This position provides direct supervision and day-to-day management of experiential learning team members, offering guidance, coordination, and accountability for staff performance and program and service delivery. This role will also support the planning, development, and coordination of student-specific programming and services to build a pipeline of applicants for nationally competitive scholarships and awards. The specialist will counsel, advise, and mentor prospective scholarship applicants through individual and group meetings. This role must be collaborative with campus partners, including faculty, to identify candidates for competitive awards.

Responsibilities

• Counsel, mentor, and advise applicants with potential and interest in prestigious scholarships.
• Identify and recruit high-potential students through outreach, faculty referrals, and early-talent engagement initiatives and programming.
• Provide individualized advising to help students assess readiness and competitiveness for specific scholarship programs.
• Support students through all stages of the application and interview process by guiding them in developing personal statements, research proposals, CVs, and supplemental materials; coaching them on interview preparation and communication strategies, and collaborating with campus support services such as Career Services, the Writing Center, and other academic partners to ensure comprehensive, high-quality feedback and preparation.
• Support students in securing strong letters of recommendation by advising on recommender selection and providing guidance on effective requests.
• Connect students with faculty mentors, research opportunities, and experiential learning pathways in collaboration with the Experiential Learning Center and faculty partners that can help strengthen student competitiveness.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of major national and international scholarship programs, including eligibility, selection criteria, and timelines.
• Coordinate information sessions, workshops, and outreach campaigns to raise awareness of prestigious scholarship opportunities.
• Track applicant progress and maintain records to support data-informed decision-making and program improvement.

Experiential Learning Team Management and Supervision

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for experiential learning (e.g., internships, co-ops, and undergraduate research) staff members.
• Set clear expectations and guide team members in delivering high-quality programming and services.
• Guide team members in effectively leveraging platforms, such as PeopleGrove, Handshake, or other ELC systems to support programming and student engagement.
• Facilitate regular team meetings, training, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team environment aligned with departmental goals.
• Support staff in prioritizing work that maximizes student reach and institutional impact.

Innovation, Assessment & Continuous Program Improvement

• Design and pilot innovative experiential learning programs—including curricular, co-curricular, and community-engaged opportunities—that deepen student learning and support career readiness.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of experiential learning initiatives through data collection, assessment of student outcomes, and analysis of participant and partner feedback.
• Monitor emerging trends in experiential education and adapt programming to align with best practices, workforce needs, and evolving student interests.
• Develop strategies to expand equitable access to experiential learning, reducing barriers and increasing participation among historically underserved student populations.
• Provide recommendations to leadership on strengthening experiential learning infrastructure, enhancing program quality, and advancing future initiatives across the Student Academic Success & Career Engagement unit.

Professional Development and Other Duties

• Assist with campus-based programs, activities, and functions planned and facilitated within the Experiential Learning Center and other areas in the SASCE unit as applicable.
• Perform duties as assigned by Director for Career Engagement, Vice Provosts, and Provost.
• Continue to grow professionally through participation in conferences, organizations, and other professional development opportunities.

Required Competencies

• Strong interpersonal communication skills (written and oral).
• Strong organization skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Demonstrate and model professionalism working with students, all levels of university leadership, and faculty.
• Strong analytical and judgment/problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and work to improve processes.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to be receptive to new ideas, cultures, concepts, and technologies.
• Demonstrated acceptance and respect for others’ abilities and gifts.
• Experience working with a team/committee.
• Ability to work autonomously and demonstrate self-initiative.
• Demonstrate ability to critique and strengthen personal statements, project proposals, and essays for competitive applications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years of experience with experiential learning initiatives, which must include some experience with national scholarship support, with demonstrated ability to coach or provide feedback on competitive scholarship applications.
• Experience supervising or leading professional staff, with the ability to provide effective coaching, feedback, and performance management.
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in any field.
• Direct experience having applied for, won, or served on selection committees for prestigious national or international awards.
• Experience with national scholarship foundation timelines (Goldwater, Marshall, etc.).
• Experience building collaborative partnerships with university faculty to identify high-potential candidates and secure strong letters of recommendation.

Pay

$57,900 annual

Schedule

40 hours per week