NJ- Community Relations Specialist

Department NJ Step

The New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education (NJ- STEP ) Consortium is an association of higher educational institutions that work in partnership with the NJ Department of Corrections and the State Parole to provide comprehensive college degree programming for students while incarcerated and to assist in their transition to college life and further degree work upon release. Under the office of the Chancellor, NJ- STEP serves a statewide population of people enrolled in college while in prison, on parole, and post-incarceration.

NJ- STEP operates at each Rutgers campus, in 5 separate prisons, and a variety of residential reentry programs and partner college campuses across the state. For further information, please visit http://njstep.newark.rutgers.edu/

Rutgers University
- Newark (RU-N), an urban public research university and anchor institution, located in Newark, New Jersey, a city of promise is seeking a NJ- STEP Community Relation Specialist. Reporting directly to the Transitions Director, this position is responsible for and not limited to the following.
This position is responsible for and not limited to the following:

• Recruiting, training and supervising a Junior Completion Counselor who will provide ongoing tracking and support of released and matriculating NJ- STEP students statewide; this includes assessing student needs during pre-release assessments and develop appropriate programmatic responses for post-release
• Serving as the NJ- STEP representative and ambassador for all community relations initiatives, including those related to on-and off-campus student support services, internship and employment opportunities, and other activities and initiatives that promote social and economic mobility for NJ- STEP students and alumni
• Building and mapping connections with current and potential community partners
• Attending appropriate community program meetings and events on behalf of the NJ- STEP program
• Expected to initiate contact and develop relationships with community college personnel, partnered 4-year colleges, DOC /halfway house facility staff, and community agencies and organizations to develop partnerships and processes that enable NJ- STEP students transitioning into the community to continue and complete college degree work and participate in leadership opportunities to increase their professional skills and abilities
• Serving as a liaison for University-led youth outreach initiatives and interventions for local Newark justice-impacted youth. The NJ- STEP Community Relations Specialist will assist in all aspects of administering NJ- STEP as needed, including managing all clerical tasks, program communications, and supervision of staff, program interns/ field placements, and student employees
• Tracking all service delivery and generates formative reports as needed
• Reporting program updates, needs, student issues, and concerns to the Director of Transitions
• Position requires a solid understanding of, and investment in, the mission of the NJ- STEP , which assists previously incarcerated individuals in earning college degrees

FLSA Exempt

Grade 06

Minimum Salary

Mid Range Salary

Maximum Salary

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university’s broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering…