College Access Program Associate, Data and Finance

About Oakland Promise:

Oakland Promise’s (“OP”) mission is to engage the Oakland community to advance equity and economic mobility through cradle-to-career achievement.  OP is available to young learners (from newborns to college students) and their families who reside in Oakland.  We offer every child the financial resources, educational programming, mentorship, and supportive community to help them and their families seek out and thrive in higher education and the career of their choosing.  OP achieves its work through four key programs: Brilliant Baby, College Access, College Access, and College Completion.

Oakland Promise College Access is dedicated to enhancing college and career readiness and access for all students in Oakland. We achieve this by providing, coordinating, and aligning essential resources, structured activities, and events. Our collaborative partnerships with schools and other college and career access organizations strengthen our ability to support students in grades 6-12, ensuring that every student can maximize their educational and career opportunities.

Oakland Promise is a place-based organization, necessitating all team members to be available in-person at our office, located at 484 9th Street, Oakland, California 94607. Our staff currently follows a hybrid schedule, spending at least three days collaborating either in the office or schools/community and two days working remotely. As a community organization, we prioritize doing what is best for our community work, and as such the requirement to be available for a full in-person work week may be mandated at any time.

About the Role:

The Program Associate will be primarily responsible for maintaining College Access’s data infrastructures and supporting the department with procurement, purchasing and expense tracking as well as assisting in the implementation of Salesforce and Concur.  In addition to these primary responsibilities, the Program Associate will support the team in accomplishing its work in order to achieve our goals and address the needs of all students we serve, especially those historically underrepresented.

Under the supervision of the College Access Director, the Program Associate will:

• Organize all procurement and purchasing for the college access team and maintain and update all relevant records, receipts, and data.
• Liaise with the finance department to ensure proper record keeping, including tracking all expenses as they relate to the fiscal year budget.
• Develop and maintain College Access infrastructure in Salesforce, Survey Monkey, Outcome Tracker and other required applications or tools to track and ensure that short and long-term College Access goals are met. Generate reports as required.
• Track and update student data as it relates to OP scholarships and College Savings Account requirements, applications, and processes. Produce reports as required.
• Assist with creating, updating, and producing communication materials that accurately depict College Access programming and initiatives.
• Maintain an up-to-date College Access Resource HUB and Annual Program Plan calendar in Asana, ensuring that all information, deadlines and events promptly reflect any updates.
• Support the College Access team in advancing key initiatives, including but not limited to the promotion, administration, and awarding of OP scholarships, organizing and executing events, and assisting with school site events.
• Engage actively in professional development opportunities, including conferences, workshops, team meetings, observations, debrief cycles, webinars, department meetings and team step-backs.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of colleges and universities, which includes staying current on 6-12 education policy as it relates to college access work.
• Attend school events and OP meetings as required.
• Support with at least three organization-wide events each year, outside of College Access requirements.
• Other related duties and projects as assigned.
• Some evening and weekend hours will be required.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 1 year of experience working with under-resourced youth as well as data and finance systems. Alternatively, an Associate’s degree with a minimum 3 years experience in the same capacity will also be considered.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to details, and ability to manage multiple competing deadlines.
• Experience with finance and data management and reporting tools and techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal and writing skills.
• Deep commitment to and passion for the vision of the Oakland Promise: That every child in Oakland will graduate from high school with the expectations, skills, and resources to complete college and be successful in a career of their choice.
• Ability to pass a background check, and TB test.
• Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with high priority students, families, and communities in 6-12 schools.
• Experience in either college access/persistence, high school counseling, or related fields.
• Experience with Salesforce, Survey Monkey, and Outcome Tracker is desirable.
• Experience with public speaking.
• Knowledge of higher education financing, student financial aid, and postsecondary education entrance processes as well as financial aid processes for undocumented
• Knowledge of, and connections to, Oakland’s educational climate and communities.
• Fluent in a second language other than English.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Full-time exempt position
• The hiring range for this role is $ 55,000 to $72,000 based on skill sets and experience.
• Oakland Promise offers a competitive benefits package, which includes dental / health/ vision, paid vacations and sick days, and a 401k match up to 3%.
• Oakland Promise currently has a hybrid work policy.
• The ability to learn and grow within a supportive team environment.
• An opportunity to network and interact with leaders in the community.

Application Process:

To apply: Please send a thoughtful cover letter and resume with the job title, “College Access Program Associate – Data and Finance to [email protected].

Unfortunately, the volume of applications will prevent us from responding to all applications received.

Oakland Promise is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. Oakland Promise is committed to providing a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and disrespectful or other unprofessional conduct based on sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sex stereotype, race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender), national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code section 12801.9), ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military, and veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. It also prohibits discrimination, harassment, disrespectful or unprofessional conduct based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.