Student Leadership Academy (SLA) Program Coordinator

Organization Overview:

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. As the only national higher education association dedicated solely to higher education civic and community engagement, Campus Compact enables higher education institutions to develop students’ citizenship skills and forge effective community partnerships. Our resources support senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students as they pursue community-based teaching, scholarship, and action in the service of positive change.

Position Overview:

Campus Compact is seeking a highly motivated and organized Program Coordinator to lead the successful implementation and management of the Student Leadership Academy Pilot Program. This is a grant-funded role responsible for overseeing the execution of a new leadership development program aimed at empowering 100 students from diverse academic backgrounds across the country. The program will provide students with fiscal policy knowledge, advocacy skills, and hands-on leadership experience through a combination of virtual and in-person learning, mentorship, and practical project execution. The Program Manager will be instrumental in the strategic planning, coordination, and evaluation of the program to ensure its impact and sustainability.

This is a grant-funded pilot program that has a fully-funded strategy phase from March 1, 2025, until June 15, 2025, and upon funder approval, the pilot phase will continue until June 15, 2026, with a goal of and likelihood of long-term investment and expansion upon a proven, impactful pilot program.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program Planning and Development:
   • Collaborate with the Student Engagement team to finalize program design, curriculum, and operational components during the strategy phase.
   • Work with Campus Compact and external partners (including PGPF) to ensure all program elements are culturally relevant and impactful to all cohorts located across the country.
   • Integrate best practices in cohort-based learning, fiscal policy education, and hands-on advocacy experiences.
2. Recruitment and Selection:
   • Lead the coordination of the recruitment process for institutions and students, ensuring diverse representation across various cohorts (e.g., HBCUs, public universities, community colleges, rural institutions, etc.).
   • Work closely with Cohort Connection Leads to review student applications, coordinate selection, and onboard students into the program.
   • Oversee the communication and engagement with participating institutions and student cohorts to ensure alignment with program goals.
3. Program Coordination and Logistics:
   • Manage all logistics for virtual and in-person programming, including organizing monthly training sessions, workshops, and national convenings.
   • Coordinate the logistics for the mid-year in-person convening in Washington D.C., including working with Compact’s Events Specialist, securing venues, arranging speakers, and ensuring all students and Cohort Connection Leads are properly supported.
   • Provide ongoing support and guidance to Cohort Connection Leads to facilitate cohort-specific programming and training.
   • Organize and ensure effective communication for all stakeholders (students, faculty, partners, and external experts).
4. Curriculum Delivery and Facilitation:
   • Collaborate with external subject-matter experts and trainers to deliver high-quality, impactful workshops and training sessions on topics related to fiscal policy, advocacy, community organizing, and leadership.
   • Oversee the creation and distribution of resources, including readings, toolkits, and assessment materials.
   • Monitor program delivery to ensure that content is relevant, engaging, and aligned with the Academy’s goals of fiscal responsibility, leadership, and advocacy.
5. Student Engagement and Support:
   • Foster a sense of community among cohort members through consistent communication, mentoring, and personalized support.
   • Ensure students are engaged and motivated throughout the program, offering guidance on navigating fiscal policy topics and their individual leadership projects.
   • Monitor student progress and achievement, helping students stay on track to meet the requirements for official certification.
   • Support the design and development of the final public leadership projects (as needed), ensuring that students can apply their learning in meaningful ways.
6. Evaluation and Reporting:
   • Work with a Compact research consultant to create and implement methods for collecting feedback and assessing program effectiveness, including pre-and post-assessments and ongoing surveys.
   • Track participation, learning outcomes, and the impact of the program on students’ leadership capabilities and fiscal knowledge.
   • Prepare reports for stakeholders, including funders and program partners, to demonstrate the success and areas for improvement of the pilot program.
7. Budget and Resource Management:
   • Collaborate with the Director of Student Engagement to administer the program’s budget, ensuring that funds are allocated effectively for the training, travel, and support of students and partners.
   • Work alongside the finance team to oversee the disbursement of up to $5,000 per cohort for student-led public leadership projects, providing oversight and guidance to ensure projects are successfully executed.
   • Ensure compliance with all financial and grant-related regulations under the guidance of Compact’s Grants Specialist.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; A degree in public policy, education, nonprofit management, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience:
  • 2+ years of program coordinator experience, particularly in higher education, nonprofit, or advocacy organizations.
  • Experience working with diverse student populations and managing cohort-based programs.
  • Strong understanding of fiscal policy, public service, advocacy, or related fields.
  • Experience in organizing large-scale events, including logistics for virtual and in-person convenings.
  • Proven track record of managing multiple tasks and projects with competing deadlines.
• Skills:
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively across teams.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage a wide variety of stakeholders, including students, faculty, community partners, and funders.
  • Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proficient in the use of digital tools and learning management systems (e.g., TalentLMS, WhatsApp) for program delivery and communication.
  • Experience with budget management and financial tracking.
• Attributes:
  • Passion for college students, civic leadership development, fiscal responsibility, and social impact.
  • Creative problem-solver with a solutions-oriented mindset.
  • Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of a team, including knowing when to advocate for additional support when needed.
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and public service.

As an employee of Campus Compact you strive to represent & live Campus Compact’s Shared Values & Commitments in both how you show up for and work with your colleagues as well as Compact’s partners and communities:

• Equity: We prioritize full participation and diversity of thought, experience, and background. We center equity in our actions, processes, and practices to uplift diverse voices and perspectives.
• Growth mindset: We consistently push ourselves and each other to do and be better. We are motivated by growth—embracing new ideas, prioritizing continuous learning, and meeting challenges head-on.
• Accountability: We recognize that long-term change requires individual and shared ownership of personal and organizational actions. We own our mistakes, give each other grace, collaborate openly, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity.
• Responsiveness: We ensure our offerings, resources, and approaches are flexible, grounded in feedback, and responsive to the challenges of our time.
• Transparency: We are direct and authentic within our team, with our members, and with our partners. We know that building trust starts with consistent, honest, and transparent communication.

Preferred Experience With:

• Project Management Software (i.e. Asana), Slack, Google Suite, Customer Relationship Management system (Salesforce, etc.),
• Grant funders (foundations, corporate philanthropy, government, etc.)

Internal and external contacts:

• Compact Staff.
• Peterson Foundation Staff
• Campus Representatives
• Student Cohorts

Physical requirements:

• This is primarily a sedentary position requiring the ability to sit at a desk and use a computer and phone most of the day.
• Minor bending and lifting periodically (mostly related to help with events and office management needs)
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualification Requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function in a satisfactory manner. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.