Project Specialist, Upward Bound

Suffolk University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Suffolk University in Boston is seeking a part-time Upward Bound Program Specialist (up to 25 hours/week) to support programmatic activities, outreach, and recruitment for the Dorchester area. The role reports to the Program Director and supports goals of a federal TRIO program.

Responsibilities include coordinating workshops, data collection with partner schools, and creating outreach materials, while maintaining confidential student records and aiding in federal reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 1 year educational/administrative or comparable experience OR five years’ experience with equivalent knowledge and ability.
• Experience working with low income, first-generation, underrepresented student populations or culturally diverse groups.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to manage social and digital media profiles and develop recruitment plans.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate academic programming activities, including workshops, college tours, career exploration, and more.
• Collaborate with partner schools to collect student data.
• Assist staff with planning, organizing, and facilitating workshops, field trips, and student activities.
• Help collect, organize, and maintain student records, program databases, and federal reporting documentation.
• Support student and family outreach through flyers, materials updates, and communications.
• Assist with other program activities and complete projects to support program goals.

Skills

Team player

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Public speaking

Written communication

Time management

Social media management

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 1 year experience OR 5 years experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop)

Job description

The Upward Bound Program Specialist provides programmatic, outreach, and recruitment support to the Upward Bound Program administered through the Center for First Generation & Educational Equity. The Upward Bound Program is a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education to help qualified high school scholars in the Dorchester, Massachusetts area develop the necessary skills to enroll and succeed in post-secondary education. This position is a part-time position up to 25 hours per week and reports to the Program Director of the Upward Bound Program.

Primary/Principal Responsibilities:

• Coordinate academic programming activities, including but not limited to workshops, college tours, career exploration, and more.
• Collaborate with partner schools to collect student data.
• Assist program staff with planning, organizing, and facilitating workshops, field trips, and other student activities.
• Help collect, organize, and maintain student records, program databases, and documentation needed for student tracking and federal reporting.
• Support student and family outreach efforts, including creating flyers, updating program materials, and promoting program activities through various communication channels.
• Assist with other program-related activities and independently complete assigned projects, as directed by the Program Director, to support the goals and objectives of the Upward Bound Program.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in appropriate field and one (1) year of educational, administrative, or appropriate professional experience OR any combination of five (5) years of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills, and ability have been achieved to perform the duties of this role.
• Demonstrated ability working with low income, first generation, underrepresented student populations or other culturally and linguistically diverse groups through direct and indirect interaction.
• Must have demonstrated capability of being a team player and possess strong organizational, interpersonal, communication, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work with multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to manage social and digital media profiles and develop recruitment plans.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Skilled in data entry, Microsoft Office Suite applications, and Adobe Creative Cloud applications including Photoshop.
• Previous experience working with TRIO (or similar) program databases such as Student Access, Blumen, BlumenOnline, COE Empower, or similar.
• Familiarity working with grant funded programs and ability to work within federal and state guidelines.

The salary range for this role is $25 - $28/ per hour at 25 hours per week.

This position is federally grant-funded through August 31, 2027. Continuation beyond this date is contingent upon the successful renewal of federal funding and project need.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Suffolk University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The University strives to recruit, develop and retain faculty and staff committed to educational excellence, the robust exchange of ideas, and engage in membership in a diverse and inclusive community.

Suffolk University is a private, urban university located in the heart of downtown Boston. Our college green is the Boston Common and we are steps from dozens of historic sites including the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, City Hall and the Massachusetts State House. We have no real boundaries to our campus—Boston and Suffolk blend together. Suffolk has been committed to creating an exceptional learning experience since 1906. Our vision is to be recognized as a dynamic institution that fosters engaged learning, rigorous scholarship, innovative thinking, and community collaboration across disciplines. We will ensure that Suffolk graduates are versatile and prepared for modern society and the new world market. We will provide rich curricula, experiential learning opportunities and professional mentoring through increased collaboration with alumni and community partners. We will recruit, mentor, and support a diverse faculty of teacher-scholars who are passionately committed to preparing our students to be leaders in the global community. We will inspire investment in a Suffolk community that is built on ethical, forward-thinking leadership, teamwork, and cooperation.

Salary Transparency Suffolk University provides salary ranges as a good faith estimate of what it reasonably expects to pay for a role at the time the position is posted. The actual salary offered to the selected candidate will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to, the position’s scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s experience, education, training, and applicable legal requirements. The listed pay range reflects base salary only and does not include additional benefits or compensation.