SP&S Program Specialist

SP&S Program Specialist

9389BR

Office of the President

Office of the President

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, the Strategic Planning and Sustainability Program Specialist will provide operational support to the RIT Strategic Planning and Sustainability department and help meaningfully engage students in campus sustainability efforts. The ideal candidate will have knowledge about sustainability, have a proactive and solutions-oriented outlook, be self-motivated, possess an acute attention to detail, have a growth mindset and a strong desire to engage on sustainability topics. This position will steward existing departmental programs like Goodbye, Goodbuy!, Zero Waste Arena, recycling and waste diversion efforts, etc. while pioneering new efforts to realize RIT’s goal of being a living laboratory for sustainability education, research and operations. Ensuring smooth departmental operations will be a critical role of this position – this includes management and reconciliation of departmental budgets, coordination of event logistics and meetings, student supervision, and support data collection for STARS and other sustainability reports. This position will also assist strategic planning and implementation. This includes scheduling and attending stakeholder meetings, capturing and analyzing feedback, disseminating information, drafting communication materials, and data management.

Job Responsibilities

Student Engagement and Programming: Serve as a subject matter expert in sustainability. Lead and develop programs to engage students in RIT’s sustainability efforts and conservation goals. Establish program metrics, verify and report effectiveness of programs. Ensure alignment of programming with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This includes:

• Independently creating content and leading educational and training experiences and workshops for student clubs, classes, and special requests.
• Leading dialogue and conversations focused on sustainability with student groups.
• Leads and independently organizes joint collaborations and programming collaborations with campus partners, such as Division of Diversity and Inclusion and Student Affairs.
• Coordinating all logistics associated with these programs, such as program content, rentals, reservations, procurement, etc.
• Organizing programs offered by RIT sustainability during Earth Month (April) and Campus Sustainability Month (October).
• Tracking program expenses, attendance, and participation, and reporting on the success of programs.

• Oversight of department budgets and finances – this includes drafting an annual budget in partnership with the Director of Sustainability.
• Works within all University systems to process administrative transactions.
• Responding to general inquiries related to the sustainability, including requests for data, recycling inquiries, FAQs, etc.
• Manage internal and external communications and ensure that the department communication platforms are up-to-date (website, newsletter, RIT Mail announcements, etc.).
• Support data stewardship and reporting efforts – such as the STARS report, greenhouse gas inventory, energy reports, waste diversion reports, etc. This includes reports are accurate, well-documented, and appropriately shared with internal and external audiences.

• Organizing meetings with the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, working groups, town halls, and meetings with campus and community stakeholders. Coordinates calendars, technology and access services, etc.
• Participate in stakeholder engagement sessions related to the strategic plan. Capture notes and feedback at stakeholder meetings; analyze and synthesize notes; write, edit and disseminate communication. Identify trends to inform plan development and review.
• Serve as a data steward for the key performance indicators (KPI’s) of the strategic plan. Measure and communicate progress on KPI’s. Work with departments to establish regular reporting cycles and update tracking system. Prepare presentation updates for governance groups.

• Regularly engage with student employees. Oversee all hiring, supervising, and mentoring student employees.
• Provide advice and performance improvement suggestions to student employees.
• Coordinating with fellow team members to ensure student tasks are based on program priority and completed in a timely manner.

Required Qualifications

• 1-3 years professional experience in sustainability or a related field
• Requires content knowledge and expertise in sustainability practices, RIT’s sustainability efforts, and UN sustainable development goals.
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in a business, marketing, science, engineering, or sustainability-related field OR equivalent experience.
• A strong interest and desire to work in sustainability, combat climate change, and help students realize their role in making the world and the people on it more resilient.
• Demonstrated ability to make judgement calls and work independently in support of departmental goals, manage and prioritize multiple tasks, and work with shifting priorities and schedules.
• A strong attention to detail, and ability to manage budgets and schedules.
• Flexibility with scheduling, including occasionally working on evenings and weekends during the school year.
• Patience and tenacity when striving to make change at a large institution
• Requires understanding of and sensitivity to issues and challenges students face including gender identity, mental health, political sensitivities etc.
• A familiarity with justice, equity, diversity and/or inclusion initiatives, coupled with a growth mindset and a desire to continue to learn and engage on these topics.
• A track record of effective communication and collaboration.
• Proficiency with Windows, Microsoft 360, graphic design and web publishing products (such as Adobe Creative Suite).

Preferred Qualifications

• Graphic, and/or interactive design experience
• Experience with institutional sustainability programs

Required Minimum Education Level

Bachelors or Equivalent Experience

Work Location

Hybrid — Remote/On-campus

Wage Band

117H

FLSA Category

Non-exempt

Employment Category

Fulltime

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, List of References

What do we believe at RIT?

Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We are dedicated to building a diverse community, one where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring.

As a member of the RIT community, you'll receive a comprehensive employee benefits package that offers multiple options and access to additional employment advantages. You can tailor your benefit elections to meet your needs (affordable medical/dental/vision benefits; paid vacation/sick time/retirement saving plan with exceptional employer match; and tuition assistance for you and your family, to name a few).

How To Apply

In order to be considered for this position, you must apply for it at: http://careers.rit.edu/staff. Click the link for search openings and in the keyword search field, enter the title of the position or the BR number.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Hourly/Salary Minimum

20

Hourly/Salary Maximum

33