Brief Description

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world.  The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 27,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs.  We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

For information about Advising and Career Services, please visit https://www.pdx.edu/advising/values

Reporting to the Vice Provost (VP) of Student Success with a dotted line to the Associate Vice Provost (AVP) of Academic & Career Advising (ACS) ; this position is part of Advising & Career Services division and is responsible for leading the Higher Education in Prison (HEP) program.

The mission of Portland State University’s (PSU) Higher Education in Prison Program (HEP) is to reverse the school to prison pipeline by providing rigorous, quality higher education for people experiencing incarceration, and to support students post-release. Our vision is a community where the transformational power of education is accessible to all: changing lives, opening doors, and enhancing community safety and well-being.

Position Summary

Primary responsibilities include:

• Strategy, planning, and leadership for PSU HEP
• Academic program management
• Development and fundraising
• Coordination of and participation in prison education advisory groups and communities of practice: local, statewide and national
• Administrative and operational oversight
• Collaborate with PSU Advising and Career Services, including Pathway Directors, as well as support services in GDI, Student Affairs, and Financial Aid
• People who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university
• Successful leadership experience with project/program
• Facility with building and maintaining relationships with a range of diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to work well with people from academically, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Previous experience/ training / coursework in the field of higher education in prison (HEP)
• Previous experience with academic and/or financial aid planning and coordination in higher education
• Experience with data collection and management
• Record of success in the cultivation, stewardship, and closing of gifts from donors and foundations
• Experience with preparing budgets, approving and monitoring expenditures
• Ability to advocate on the local, state, and national level
• Eligibility for clearance at DOC facilities

Key Cultural Competencies

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

• Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Work Days/Hours

Monday through Friday 8am-5pm

Total Compensation Range & Benefits

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $78,708, but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools : https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview

Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator