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 

The Student Advocacy Specialist advocates for the representation, retention, and success of specific student populations; develops, assesses, and implements initiatives and programs aimed at providing resources, services, and opportunities to target student groups; leverages data to inform strategy and report on impact; engages with student groups to identify needs and challenges; advocates for student groups within the broader University community; administers needs assessments and delivers training to University faculty and staff; facilitates the development of support networks for students.

• Design, oversee, and implement programming and services that support the representation, engagement, retention, or success of specific populations, underrepresented groups, or those experiencing barriers to success
• Collaborate on a unit’s recruitment, retention, and engagement plans to serve target student populations with an emphasis on goal setting, performance assessment, and strategy development; leverage data to inform the management of policies, programs, and resources
• Direct pre-college programs, orientation programs, research experience programs, or cocurricular programs that promote and emphasize student development, success, and community engagement for specific student populations
• Design, oversee, and implement intercultural programming and services that support and advocate for international populations and a campus-centered global learning environment
• Meet with student groups to assess needs, identify challenges, provide resources and referrals, and facilitate the development of community groups and support networks for students
• Provide intercultural assessment assistance to student organizations, staff units, and faculty members/departments; present and deliver educational programs; serve as a subject matter expert and resource for other units and student-centered offices throughout the University
• Serve as the college liaison and advocate with internal and external organizations and committees that have shared goals of student access and success; participate in University committees related to multicultural affairs, resources, and scholarship committees
• Manage the program, center, or related event budgets; allocate resources and monitor expenditures; identify and solicit current and potential funding sources; prepare grant proposals; develop funding partnerships
• May supervise staff members and/or student workers and volunteers, 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