MLK/PES Program Specialist

Bargaining unit consideration begins on 3/18/25 and ends on 3/25/25

Position Overview:
Located in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Undergraduate Education (CLA UGE), the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Advising (MLK) and the President's Emerging Scholars (PES) Programs seek a positive, dependable office professional to serve as the Program Specialist whose main responsibility is to assist in the management and coordination of social justice-focused offices and the student advising and programs they provide. The ideal candidate will have proven skills to interact and communicate effectively across cultures, the ability to be diplomatic and clear, and possess strong interpersonal skills and maturity. This role will have limited remote options and will be based in an office setting on the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus.

To apply for this role please submit a PDF copy of the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• DEI Statement
  

Priority Deadline: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:
CLA PES & MLK Program Coordination and Support (45%)

• Assist CLA PES & MLK program advisors and staff with coordinating projects and managing programs that have a social justice focus. Prepare relevant materials for meetings of the MLK and PES offices.
• Schedule, attend, and record meetings with campus partners.
• Implement and maintain internal timelines for each project to ensure its completion.
• Serve as liaison between program staff, participants, presenters, administration, faculty, and students to ensure information, program requirements, and other pertinent information is communicated.
• Meet with Director/Associate Directors of MLK & CLA PES Programs on a weekly basis to address operational efficiency and provide updates to academic advisors and peer advisors.
• Coordinate administrative projects as needed with the administrative team in the MLK office.
  Assist the director and assistant director(s) in creating marketing materials for events.
• Assist with the coordination of UGE and campus-wide professional development for CLA, OUE (Office of Undergraduate Education), colleges, and various departments.
• Maintain RSVP lists to document pre-registration levels, prepare setups, and document the day-of attendance for events.
• Coordinate evaluations for professional development events.
• Support MLK staff with the logistics of the annual MLK Immersion Experience.
• Track and monitor program expenditures.
• Create electronic files for MLK & PES programs for the annual report.
• Attend Admission, Orientation, and Community Outreach events to support the recruitment of and onboarding of students to MLK and PES programs.
• Assist with the recruitment and coordination of logistics for programming in the Beloved Community Living-Learning Community.
  

CLA PES Office Management (40%)

• Responsible for the initial contact and providing customer service to students, staff, and faculty, by fielding and responding to inquiries by phone, in-person, or email.
• Maintain the student office visit database.
• Maintain accurate student and office records and calendars for CLA PES staff (e.g. records of appointments, major and minor declarations, updating student APAS reports, tracking advisor appointments, updating probation and suspension).
• Coordinate and distribute CLA PES Office newsletter.
• Support Advisors and course instructors with gathering materials and supplies for CLA 1005 and CLA 2005 courses.
• Assist students in CLA PES computer lab and request computer maintenance as needed.
• Order office supplies and maintain the supplies cabinet.
• Maintain the appearance of study areas and PES computer lab.
• Collect and distribute mail.
  

Coordinate Office Procedures and Supervision (15%)

• Hire, train, and supervise 4 PES Student Peer Advisors. Verify student employees' timesheets.
• Create and update office procedures as required, and communicate changes to staff.
• Ensure CLA policies/procedures and practices are being followed, and ensure office manuals are kept up to date with current practices.
• Serve as a resource to PES staff and students regarding administrative policies and procedures, and attend CLA UGE administrative meetings.
• Coordinate office workflow improvements with the administrative lead for the MLK program for maximum efficiency.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma/GED and 5 years of related experience including project management
• Calendar/scheduling experience
• General computer knowledge including internet browsers, spreadsheets, databases, and word-processing software
• Must have customer service experience, including experience working with students
• Demonstrated planning and organizational skills for day-to-day activities in an office environment
• Ability to work professionally, independently, courteously, and in a timely manner
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in the execution of duties
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with professionals and students from underrepresented backgrounds and/or underserved communities
• Budget tracking experience
• Experience training and providing work direction to others
• Experience with various communication media tools, including website content management and social media
• High level of proficiency with administrative software such as Google Calendar, imaging, and scanning software
• Experience with higher education data systems such as PeopleSoft, UM Reports, APLUS
• Experience handling multiple projects simultaneously

About the Unit
The President's Emerging Scholars (PES) Program is an advising community within the College of Liberal Arts that provides personalized, holistic, and culturally competent advising that advances academic excellence, campus engagement, and professional development for students placed in our program by the Office of Admissions. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program (MLK) is an opt-in academic advising and student life program open to any CLA student who wants to be a part of a community of students from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. The mission of the MLK Jr.

Program is to provide students from historically excluded communities with individualized, holistic, culturally attentive, and responsive advising in support of educational equity, academic excellence, career development, and wellness. The program specialist is a key member of our CLA PES and MLK program teams.

About the College of Liberal Arts
Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA
Working in CLA
The Benefits of Working at the U

Pay Range: $24.54 - $27.55 hourly; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
To apply for this role please submit a PDF copy of the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• DEI Statement
  

Priority Deadline: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).