Family Engagement Facilitator, GEAR UP SOAR

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability.  At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success. 

Position Summary 

The Family Engagement Facilitator (FEF) is a full-time, key role. The FEF will work directly with the Project Director, GEAR UP Program Managers, school districts, and key partners to ensure the family’s success in identifying and supporting adjustment to postsecondary education or training for their student. The FEF will provide financial informational training around the financial options and responsibility for both parents and students during the postsecondary educational journey. The FEF will provide resource and training to GEAR UP staff, school personnel and community partners regarding college fit, awareness, access and success; evaluate activities for effectiveness and work with key partners to offer additional research-based family engagement. Also, the FEF will lead the Check and Connect program within the school districts. The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of project goals and objectives 
• Train College and Career Navigators to provide college fit-awareness, access, and success strategies to parents 
• Collaborate with Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) Directors to support family engagement 
• Collaborate family engagement professional development with school district personnel 
• Serve as the lead in parent leadership convening 
• Coordinate publicity marketing and communication for the Family Partnership 
• Provide budgetary information to Family Partnership Director about funding needs for family engagement programs 
• Work closely with Project Director, school staff and partners to ensure college preparedness and readiness via the connected supports 
• Ensure timely collection and analysis of data and dissemination of results for continuous improvement 
• Contribute local news updates to PRI Communications Team 
• Collaborate with the community and other stakeholders to implement Family Engagement programming 
• Provide regular feedback to all programs and service delivery staff with an emphasis on clear and regular feedback to the College & Career Navigators. 
• Lead opportunities for partnership with schools and key partners to develop extended learning opportunities on college campuses 
• Integrate Results Based Facilitation and Accountability frameworks in partnership meetings, improvement strategies and project design activities 
• Ensure compliance with PRI and federal grant policies and procedures paying particular attention to risk management 
• Ensure the implementation and fidelity of the Check and Connect Program 
• Facilitate and/or lead family engagement events at various districts within the GEAR UP Promise Zone schools 
• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed 

Position Location & Schedule 

The position will be considered for hybrid work with local, state, and sometimes national travel required. 

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET with in-office, hybrid and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and to the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education required to ensure success in this position: 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, counseling or related field. 

Experience required to ensure success in this position: 

• Five years’ experience developing and coordinating partnerships between postsecondary institutions and public schools, community organizations, parent organizations and non-profit organizations 
• Experience in providing direct services to rural, high poverty families 

Special skills, knowledge and abilities: 

• Knowledge of Kentucky’s educational accountability standards 
• Knowledge of Results Based Accountability 
• Experience assisting in the design, implementation and evaluation of high-quality programs 
• Familiarity with the local Appalachian communities including knowledge of available social services that provide assistance to low-income families and their enrollment criteria 
• Strong organizational skills 
• Strong verbal presentation skills 
• Ability to work in a team environment 
• Commitment to students from diverse economic, social and cultural backgrounds 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 

License, certification, or registration necessary: 

• Valid driver’s license 
• Successfully complete pre-employment background check 

Physical requirements: 

• Ability to work within a high-energy office and/or high energy students or parents all day 
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds 
• Ability to travel independently by car and/or plane throughout Kentucky and the United States 
• Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds 

Environmental conditions: 

• Work primarily in a hybrid setting 
• Occasional travel required throughout the GEAR UP Promise Zone school districts and United States 
• Frequent travel to partner and program sites required in all seasons 
• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff faculty and callers