Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Student Advocacy 

Student Advocacy Specialists provide a variety of advocacy services for target student populations who may be experiencing emotional, educational and cultural challenges; interact with students and parents to address academic, educational or personal needs, make referrals as appropriate; assist in creating a supportive environment and offering high quality services on behalf of a diverse student population in collaboration with others in the work unit and University community; assist students with acclimation to the University environment by designing and implementing support initiatives for a variety of special student populations that include but are not limited to: international, under-represented, low income, first generation, students with disabilities, women, LGBTQIA+, and multicultural students; develop and coordinate recruitment and retention initiatives for target student populations; may select prospective students as recipients for college or University scholarships.

• Design, oversee, and implement multifaceted programming and services that support the representation, engagement, retention, or success of target populations, underrepresented groups, or those experiencing barriers to success
• Responsible for a unit’s recruitment, retention, and engagement plans to serve target student populations with an emphasis on goal setting, performance assessment, and strategy development
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for other units and student-centered offices throughout the University
• Analyze data to identify factors that affect the recruitment, retention, and success of underrepresented students; apply findings to the management of policies, programs, and resources
• Develop, coordinate, and manage multiple complex projects; may develop and manage project budgets
• Build relationships with diversity organizations, on and off campus, that can enhance enrollment and student engagement goals
• May conduct unit or department wide cultural assessments and contribute to outreach and education efforts aimed at increasing cultural literacy diversity awareness; present and deliver awareness programs
• Serve as the college liaison with the University multi-cultural community
• May identify current and potential funding sources; prepare grant proposals; develop funding partnerships
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Principal Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 9
• Minimum – $56,200.00
• MidPoint – $68,800.00
• Maximum – $81,500.00