Internship Opportunities
- NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP)
- Graduate Associate Program (GAP)
- NASPA participates in the Federal Workstudy (FWS) Programs through both American University and The George Washington University. Students can browse open positions and apply through their institutions FWS office.
Our Current Openings
To learn more and apply for one of our current openings, please review the individual position descriptions below.
Grants Director, FirstGen Forward
Growth and Strategic Partnerships
About FirstGen Forward
FirstGen Forward aspires to be a transformational partner for higher education, first-generation students, and all who care about them; working to maximize the success of the FirstGen student population in education, career, and life. That success benefits the economic mobility of the students and the missions of the colleges. It produces multigenerational impacts for families. Our country benefits from the experience, determination, and economic potential of FirstGen graduates in the workforce and our communities. Read the full FirstGen Forward vision statement here.
FirstGen Forward operations are managed by NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. FirstGen Forward staff are employees of NASPA.
About NASPA
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. We serve the diverse needs of our community, from vice presidents of student affairs to undergraduate student leaders considering a career in the field. Founded in 1919, NASPA includes more than 15,000 members in all 50 states, 29 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories. Guided by the principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry, we are dedicated to empowering our members to realize their full potential and to cultivating student success in collaboration with our institutional members, who represent every sector of higher education. NASPA centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work; read more about our commitment here.
Mission
FirstGen Forward drives success for first-generation students in education, career, and life through collaborations with higher education, philanthropy, business, and government to eliminate the completion gap and broaden post-college opportunities.
FirstGen Students- Unlimited Opportunities
The population of undergraduate students is heavily weighted with FirstGen students, and growing rapidly. They are applying to college at twice the rate of students from households with a parent or guardian with a degree (continuing generation). What do we know about them?
• FirstGen students make up 54% of all undergraduates.
• FirstGen students are majority-minority (54% FirstGen vs 39% continuing generation); and are more likely to be Black (18% vs 12% continuing generation) or Latino (25% vs 14% continuing generation).
• FirstGen students are 67% of students enrolled at American Indian/Alaska Native/Pacific Islander-serving Institutions, 65% at Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and 60% at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• 62% of college students who are Veterans are FirstGen.
About the Position
This role focuses heavily on writing new grants and grant reports. While it is not an externally facing position, there may be opportunities to join meetings with prospective and current donors for those interested in learning more about that work. As a leader, the person in this role will be responsible for creating grant and major gift proposals that support the Growth Team in achieving fundraising goals, as well as drafting grant reports for existing supporters. These proposals are typically developed in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, but may occasionally take the form of slide deck presentations. Additionally, this role will manage internal and external communications, including the monthly newsletter for the Growth Team. When needed, the Grants Director will also draft professional development materials for FirstGen Forward team members to engage in learning more about growth and fundraising initiatives.
Essential Responsibilities
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Lead execution of new multi-million dollar private, corporate and public grant applications. This includes managing the grant application process including project managing the submission of all key pieces of a grant internally before submitting the grant and the writing of the application itself.
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Prepare all grant reports to existing FirstGen Forward philanthropic supporters. Reports range from two page descriptions of work completed to more intricate reporting documents requiring information from different FirstGen Forward departments including budget, data, and programming.
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Seek out new grant opportunities for FirstGen Forward that align with the mission and can supplant and/or supplement current programmatic execution.
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Manage internal and external communications on growth work including the monthly external newsletter, monthly internal team update and other communications as needed.
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Prepare project plans for grant projects that incorporate the talents and time of multiple Center staff members so that teamwide content expertise can be brought to each funding opportunity.
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Prepare presentations for funders and donor prospects including slide decks with up-to-date data, charts and images of the FirstGen Forward’s work in action.
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Monitor progress towards Growth Team quantitative and qualitative goals in clear and transparent ways including CRM data.
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Assist with all-team projects and participate actively in staff meetings and projects.
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Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned to support the Sr. VP of Growth and FirstGen Forward.
Reports To
Senior Vice President of Growth and Strategic Partnerships
Qualifications
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Education: Bachelor’s Degree required.
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This leader must be an excellent writer who is able to synthesize FirstGen Forward’s work in compelling short and long form grant applications. To do that well, this person must also be a learner who can describe the ways that the FirstGen Forward team creates change for first-generation students through the team’s network, field building, innovation, and coalition building efforts.
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Project management experience, project management software experience (Asana preferred).
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At least five years of corporate, non-profit, foundation, K-12 education, or higher education fundraising writing experience.
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A track record of achieving quantitative fundraising results as a member of a successful fundraising team.
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Experience writing, and winning public grant proposals, e.g. grants to the U.S. Department of Education.
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Experience with and/or an ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including thought partners, and internal and external leaders.
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Entrepreneurial spirit with a sense of urgency for concrete outcomes.
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An unwavering commitment to quality and excellence.
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Highest integrity.
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High-level proficiency with Excel, Powerpoint, and MS Word. Experience with Salesforce CRM and Asana preferred.
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Demonstrated commitment to cultivating an inclusive work environment that values the perspectives and lived experiences of a diverse workforce and membership.
Employment Status:
Full-time Exempt: Exempt employees by definition are exempt from overtime compensation requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and are required to work as the job demands on a no time limit basis.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $105,000
NASPA and therefore FirstGen Forward offers nationwide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution, flexible work schedule, and paid time-off including accrued PTO, family leave, community service leave, and holidays.
Office Location/Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
Office Location
The work location for this position is Home-Based, meaning you can be located anywhere in the contiguous 48 states and you have a permanent remote office.
It is the employee’s responsibility to provide reliable internet capabilities.
Travel
This is a remote position that will require travel to in-person meetings and gatherings approximately 4-5 times per year.
Occasional overnight travel to represent the FirstGen Forward at events, on college and university campuses, and in-person meetings is an essential function of this position. Locations vary and can include sites outside of taxi service from major airports. As a result, the position is required to have the ability to travel independently, including air travel, navigating ground transportation, and occasionally driving a rental car.
Physical Requirements
This position is remote with primary work on a computer, including phone, email, and video conferencing.
Responsibilities occasionally may require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines and support events and programs.
Additional COVID-19 Information
Vaccination is not a requirement for employment. However, all employees are strongly encouraged to follow the CDC guidance on vaccination, including becoming fully-vaccinated and staying up-to-date as eligible. All employees may flex their schedules for time taken to receive and recover from COVID-19 vaccinations.
In certain circumstances, NASPA therefore FirstGen Forward may require testing for all staff regardless of vaccination status.
Masks must be worn per local, state, tribal, and federal guidance, including the CDC, with the most stringent level of guidance followed. Regardless of guidance, all employees must have masks available should masking be requested by other employees, members, or external constituents. In certain settings, NASPA and/or FirstGen Forward may require or strongly recommend that employees wear masks.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination Statement
NASPA and therefore FirstGen Forward provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. NASPA and FirstGen Forward does not discriminate on the basis of race; color, national origin; religion; sex; age; gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status; personal appearance; family responsibilities; genetic information; educational status; political affiliation; unemployment status; place of residence or business; source of income; caste; matriculation; credit information; status as a survivor or family member of a survivor of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking; reproductive health decision making; or any other basis protected by law in any of its policies, employment practices, or in any context in the workplace. When necessary, NASPA and FirstGen Forward also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following for consideration:
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Letter of Interest as a PDF
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Resume as a PDF
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Three References
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Submit Record of Results as a PDF,
A complete set of materials should be submitted through this Asana Form here. If you have any issues with the form loading, please first try a different browser. Materials received by October 4, 2024 at 11:59am ET will receive priority consideration.
Please send any questions to hiring@FirstGenForward.org with the position title in the subject line. No calls, please.
Director, Grant Accounting, FirstGen Forward
Director, Grant Accounting
FirstGen Forward
About FirstGen Forward
FirstGen Forward aspires to be a transformational partner for higher education, first-generation students, and all who care about them; working to maximize the success of the FirstGen student population in education, career, and life. That success benefits the economic mobility of the students and the missions of the colleges. It produces multigenerational impacts for families. Our country benefits from the experience, determination, and economic potential of FirstGen graduates in the workforce and our communities.
FirstGen Forward, formerly the Center for First-generation Student Success operations are managed by NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. FirstGen Forward staff are employees of NASPA.
About NASPA
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. We serve the diverse needs of our community, from vice presidents of student affairs to undergraduate student leaders considering a career in the field. Founded in 1919, NASPA includes more than 15,000 members in all 50 states, 29 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories. Guided by the principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry, we are dedicated to empowering our members to realize their full potential and to cultivating student success in collaboration with our institutional members, who represent every sector of higher education. NASPA centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work; read more about our commitment here.
Reports To: Assistant Vice President, Growth & Operations
About the Position
The Director, Grant Accounting role is a new role at FirstGen Forward developed to provide critical management and financial oversight of the organization’s philanthropic contributions. The person in this role will be responsible for identifying grant expenses, monitoring total grant spend, and managing grant reporting deadlines. The person in this role will also be responsible for developing budgets for grant applications and disseminating information to internal stakeholders as new awards are received. The Director, Grant Accounting will report to and work closely with the assistant vice president, growth & operations, as well as accounting counterparts at NASPA and internal grant managers and stakeholders. NASPA is FirstGen Forward’s fiscal sponsor, and manages day to day accounting entries and bookkeeping on FirstGen Forward’s behalf.
Goals
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90% of available restricted grant funds are expended by June 30, 2025
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100% of grant reports are completed, submitted, and accepted by the stated due date with no more than a 10% budget variation between approved budget categories.
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End of month grant transfer requests are completed and submitted by the 15th of each month.
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Annual audit returns no material misstatements or non-compliance as it pertains to philanthropic funding.
Essential Responsibilites
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Develop and sustain strong working relationships with NASPA’s accounting team.
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Develop and sustain strong relationships with internal grant managers and stakeholders.
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Identify expenses for all restricted grants (15-20) on a monthly basis.
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Submit monthly transfer requests for grant expenses to NASPA’s accounting team for processing.
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Monitor grant spend down and produce a monthly grant status report for FirstGen Forward’s leadership team.
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Monitor grant reporting deadlines and project manage all grant reporting processes cross-functionally.
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Produce grant summary documents for each grant, including newly awarded grants, to summarize the terms, funding, and intent of each grant for internal stakeholders.
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Host grant status meetings every other month to check-in on deliverables and spending related to each grant, elevating problems or concerns to the leadership team, as needed.
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Supporting month end close with NASPA accounting team, as needed.
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Assists with all-team projects and participates actively in staff meetings and projects.
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Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned to support the organization.
Qualifications
FirstGen Forward is looking for a solution oriented leader with experience working across a variety of different stakeholder groups who has:
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Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a similar field required
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CPA certification preferred
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2+ years of relevant experience, including at least 1 year of direct experience with philanthropic contributions
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Experience developing processes, policies, and procedures for a new or developing organization
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Superior project management skills
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google suites
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Self-motivation and proven ability to work as a member of a high-performing team
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Demonstrated commitment to cultivating an inclusive work environment that values the perspectives and lived experiences of a diverse workforce and membership.
Employment Status:
Full-time Exempt: Exempt employees by definition are exempt from overtime compensation requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and are required to work as the job demands on a no time limit basis.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $75,000 - 90,000.
NASPA offers nationwide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution, flexible work schedule, and paid time-off including accrued PTO, family leave, community service leave, and holidays.
Office Location/Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
Office Location
This remote position may be based anywhere in the contiguous 48 states. It is the employee’s responsibility to provide reliable internet capabilities.
Travel
Occasional overnight travel to represent NASPA at events, on college and university campuses, and in-person meetings is an essential function of this position. Locations vary and can include sites outside of taxi service from major airports. As a result, the position is required to have the ability to travel independently, including air travel, navigating ground transportation, and occasionally driving a rental car.
Physical Requirements
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This position is primarily office-based with primary work on a computer, including phone, email, and video conferencing.
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Responsibilities occasionally may require an adjusted work schedule, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines and support events and programs.
Additional COVID-19 Information
Vaccination is not a requirement for employment. However, all employees are strongly encouraged to follow the CDC guidance on vaccination, including becoming fully-vaccinated and staying up-to-date as eligible. All employees may flex their schedules for time taken to receive and recover from COVID-19 vaccinations.
In certain circumstances, NASPA therefore FirstGen Forward may require testing for all staff regardless of vaccination status.
Masks must be worn per local, state, tribal, and federal guidance, including the CDC, with the most stringent level of guidance followed. Regardless of guidance, all employees must have masks available should masking be requested by other employees, members, or external constituents. In certain settings, NASPA and/or FirstGen Forward may require or strongly recommend that employees wear masks.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination Statement
NASPA and therefore FirstGen Forward provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. NASPA and FirstGen Forward does not discriminate on the basis of race; color, national origin; religion; sex; age; gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status; personal appearance; family responsibilities; genetic information; educational status; political affiliation; unemployment status; place of residence or business; source of income; caste; matriculation; credit information; status as a survivor or family member of a survivor of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking; reproductive health decision making; or any other basis protected by law in any of its policies, employment practices, or in any context in the workplace. When necessary, NASPA and FirstGen Forward also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following for consideration:
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Letter of Interest/Cover Letter
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Resume
-
Three References
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Record of Results using the provided template
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Other
A complete set of materials should be submitted through this Asana form. Materials received by Monday, November 4th, 2024 at 11:59AM Eastern will receive priority consideration, but review will continue until the position is filled.
Systems Support Specialist
Systems Support Specialist
About NASPA
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. We serve the diverse needs of our community, from vice presidents of student affairs to undergraduate student leaders considering a career in the field. Founded in 1919, NASPA includes more than 15,000 members in all 50 states, 29 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories. Guided by the principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry, we are dedicated to empowering our members to realize their full potential and to cultivating student success in collaboration with our institutional members, who represent every sector of higher education. NASPA centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work; read more about our commitment here.
This role is part of the Business Systems Strategy team within the larger Operations team at NASPA. Our team is responsible for defining the technical direction and shaping the technology strategy for the organization, with a specific focus on software solutions. We also oversee the end-to-end execution of the technology roadmap.
Our team’s mission is to empower our staff with the technology tools they need to succeed while ensuring a seamless experience for our members in their engagement with NASPA. In this role, you will oversee technical projects that are vital to NASPA’s success, directly contributing to the achievement of our organizational goals.
About the Position
We are seeking a detail-oriented and technically savvy Systems Support Specialist to join our dynamic Business Systems team. In this role, you will be responsible for the hands-on administration of various platforms, including user management, data configuration, integration support, and troubleshooting. The ideal candidate possesses strong problem-solving skills, a keen eye for accuracy, and a genuine interest in optimizing and managing software platforms. You will collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to understand system and data needs, ensuring smooth execution and alignment with business goals. Additionally, you’ll be a point of contact for our employees who experience any software- and hardware- related issues, troubleshooting as appropriate and managing escalations where needed. We’ll train you on all of the systems we use internally but expect that you’ll come into the position with a strong technical aptitude and demonstrated ability to complete the essential responsibilities of the position.
Essential Responsibilities
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Serve as the point of contact for internal technical inquiries or issues related to hardware and software. Investigate or troubleshoot issues and escalate through appropriate channels when necessary.
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Engage in continuous improvement efforts to track and manage recurring issues. Collaborate with stakeholders to address and reduce incidence rate through root cause remediation, documentation, and training.
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Collaborate with stakeholders from across the organization to plan, gather requirements, and execute technical support tasks for various business activities.
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Configure websites, mobile applications, reports, form builders, CRMs, and custom web-based applications using existing no- and low-code solutions and pre-built templates.
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Create, track, and manage users in various systems to ensure appropriate systems access for NASPA employees.
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Create and maintain data in various systems to support business processes, using both manual entry and bulk import, ensuring impeccable data quality.
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Track and manage inventory of laptops and other hardware assigned to staff, including device assignments, provisioning dates, and status, while coordinating with our external IT contractor for support, repairs, and provisioning.
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Provide virtual on-call support during NASPA initiatives, which may occasionally include weekends and evenings.
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Assist with all-team projects and participate actively in staff meetings and projects.
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Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned to support the Association.
Reports To
Senior Director of Business Systems Strategy
Qualifications
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Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, preferred. An equivalent combination of education and professional experience will also be considered.
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2-5 years of experience in a similar role, though entry-level candidates that meet the rest of the requirements are welcome to apply.
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Strong technical aptitude and interest in learning new software tools required; experience with spreadsheet applications, Workato, Qualtrics, Salesforce, or similar, preferred.
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Excellent attention to detail and demonstrated ability to perform meticulous data configuration work, ideally including bulk data updates.
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Desire and demonstrated ability to streamline processes and identify areas for improvement; experience identifying and implementing process improvements preferred.
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Basic knowledge of systems integrations, data structures, and/or user administration preferred.
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Strong communication skills and the demonstrated ability to respond effectively to user inquiries.
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Highly organized with a demonstrated ability to create and manage documentation related to work.
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Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
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Demonstrated ability to take initiative, use sound judgment, resolve problems diplomatically and discreetly, and work effectively, independently, and cooperatively with all levels of staff and constituents to achieve Association goals and objectives.
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Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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Flexible, with the demonstrated ability to multi-task and frequently adjust to changing priorities and timelines in a fast-paced working environment.
Employment Status:
Full-time Exempt: Exempt employees by definition are exempt from overtime compensation requirements of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and are required to work as the job demands on a no time limit basis.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $62,000-$67,000.
NASPA offers nationwide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution, flexible work schedule, and paid time-off including accrued PTO, family leave, community service leave, and holidays.
Office Location/Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
Office Location
This position may be based anywhere in the contiguous 48 states.
It is the employee’s responsibility to provide reliable internet capabilities for any work location outside of the Washington, D.C. office.
Please note, the NASPA Washington, D.C. Office is in mostly-open status at this time. The status of the office is subject to change at any time.
Travel
Occasional overnight travel to represent NASPA at events, and in-person meetings is an essential function of this position. Locations vary and can include sites outside of taxi service from major airports. As a result, the position is required to have the ability to travel independently, including air travel, navigating ground transportation, and occasionally driving a rental car.
Additional COVID-19 Information
Vaccination is not a requirement for employment. However, all employees are strongly encouraged to follow the CDC guidance on vaccination, including becoming fully-vaccinated and staying up-to-date as eligible. All employees may flex their schedules for time taken to receive and recover from COVID-19 vaccinations.
In certain circumstances, NASPA may require testing for all staff regardless of vaccination status.
Masks must be worn per local, state, tribal, and federal guidance, including the CDC, with the most stringent level of guidance followed. Regardless of guidance, all employees must have masks available should masking be requested by other employees, members, or external constituents. In certain settings, NASPA may require or strongly recommend that employees wear masks.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination Statement
NASPA provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. NASPA does not discriminate on the basis of race; color, national origin; religion; sex; age; gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status; personal appearance; family responsibilities; genetic information; educational status; political affiliation; unemployment status; place of residence or business; source of income; caste; matriculation; credit information; status as a survivor or family member of a survivor of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking; reproductive health decision making; or any other basis protected by law in any of its policies, employment practices, or in any context in the workplace. When necessary, NASPA also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following for consideration:
-
Letter of Interest/Cover Letter
-
Resume
-
Three References
A complete set of materials should be submitted through this Asana form. Materials received by Wednesday, November 13,2024 will receive priority consideration, but review will continue until the position is filled.