Mentoring Program Specialist

Hood College seeks a dynamic, organized, and relationship-oriented Mentoring Program Specialist to provide management, education, promotion, and constituent relations regarding mentoring at Hood as part of the College’s U.S. Department of Education Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant, Student Success in the AI Era: Advancing Retention, Completion, and Workforce Readiness at Hood College.

Under the general direction of the Director of Career Development and Experiential Education, the Mentoring Program Specialist builds, enhances, and supports career and professional development mentoring initiatives and opportunities by connecting students with alumni, parents, friends of the College, faculty, staff, and graduate students. Program formats may include ongoing paired mentoring relationships as well as flash mentoring through the implementation of an online mentoring platform.

Essential Duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Program Development and Administration — 25%

• Develop, maintain, and revise program procedures, timelines, participant guidelines, communications, and resources.

• Manage relationships with external vendors, consultants, and service providers.

• Create and update orientation and training materials for stakeholder preparation and resources to support effective mentoring relationships.

• Coordinate ongoing mentoring pairings and flash mentoring, aligning activities with student needs, mentor offerings, and College priorities.

Mentor Recruitment and Engagement — 25%

• Recruit mentors from the Hood College community, including alumni, parents, friends of the College, faculty, staff, and graduate students.

• Help build a diverse pool of mentors representing varied industries, age demographics, career paths, and professional experiences.

• Communicate program expectations, timelines, and opportunities to prospective and active mentors.

• Liaise with Institutional Advancement as thought partners on mentor recruiting and messaging.

• Collaborate with Hood campus colleagues such as Admissions, Community and Inclusivity, Marketing and Communications, and the Graduate School, for recruiting and communicating with potential and current mentors.

Student Outreach, Matching, and Participation — 25%

• Promote mentoring opportunities to students and explain participation options and expectations through online and social media communications, published materials, information sessions, and in-person interactions.

• Coordinate matches on the mentoring platform based on internal algorithms in addition to student interests, goals, field(s) of study, geography, and affinity groups.

• Manage student participant onboarding and training.

• Collaborate with Hood campus partners such as Advising, Student Success, Residence Life, Institutional Advancement, Community and Inclusivity, and Student Engagement for recruiting and communicating with potential and current mentees.

Relationship Support and Program Activity — 15%

• Serve as the primary point of contact for mentors and students, providing guidance, check-ins, and resources.

• Help address participant questions or challenges and facilitate appropriate next steps when needed.

• Coordinate career-readiness activities utilizing mentors in group settings to present to, and interact with, students.

• Provide support to participants as they conclude or transition mentoring relationships.

Assessment, Records, and Continuous Improvement — 10%

• Track participation, communication, and related programs and activities using mentoring platform, Handshake, and other analytical tools to prepare summaries and reports.

• Collect and review feedback through surveys, focus groups, and individual meetings.

• Use feedback and assessment findings to recommend improvements to program design, accessibility, participation, and effectiveness.

• Represent the mentoring program in meetings and College activities as appropriate.

Weekly Work Hours: 37.5 hours; some program activities may require occasional evening or weekend availability, as applicable. The position is an on-campus role.

Qualifications

We seek a candidate who values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that they do. Candidates must have strong communication and organizational skills and a proven ability to collaborate with partners across campus in support of Hood College’s mission as a student-centered, liberal arts institution.

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, human services, social sciences, or related fields, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in higher education, program management, career development, mentoring, student success, volunteer engagement, or a related area.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple activities, manage priorities, and meet deadlines.

• Experience building relationships with students, alumni, employers, and additional community members and constituents.

• Proficient with data analysis and reporting to various audiences.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment and respond professionally to questions, concerns, and challenges.

Preferred Skills and Characteristics

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, counseling, human resources, nonprofit administration, or a related field.

• Experience coordinating mentoring, volunteer, career development, or professional networking programs.

• Familiarity with career exploration, professional skill development, networking, and the transition from college to work.

• Experience sourcing and recruiting participants for programs and events.

• Experience designing and facilitating workshops, orientations, training sessions, or networking events in person or online.

• Experience working with first generation, low income, and other marginalized students.

Technology Skills

Proficient in MS Office tools (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), e-mail, and Internet. Ability to learn new applications quickly, including organization-wide information systems and department-specific software applications. Familiarity with virtual meeting platforms, online event tools, databases, or student engagement systems is preferred.

Language Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional correspondence, program materials, instructions, presentations, and reports. Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with internal and external individuals from varied backgrounds and levels of professional experience.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and maintain accurate program records, including participation data, attendance, and assessment results. Ability to organize and interpret quantitative information to support program evaluation and reporting.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a number of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to work independently and as a member of a group in developing and executing project plans. Ability to work in the theoretical arena and apply logic as appropriate.