Early Childhood Grants and Program Support Specialist

Early Childhood Grants and Program Support Specialist

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands‑on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree‑lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state‑of‑the‑art science labs. We are proud of our world‑class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

The College of Education (COE) is a professional learning community committed to empowering educators and human services professionals to engage in visionary thinking and transformative practices within schools and communities. Our distinctive equity‑focused professional preparation programs are all nationally accredited. The COE’s educator preparation programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Our counselor education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

In addition, The Helen Gordon Child Development Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The COE stands out for its commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within its programs, policies, and practices. With a focus on fostering a diverse student body and faculty, we are recognized for our inclusive environment and impactful initiatives.

The Office Specialist 2 (Early Childhood Grants and Program Support Specialist) provides administrative, fiscal, and program coordination support for early childhood grant funded initiatives within the College of Education. These initiatives support workforce development, professional learning, community partnerships, and culturally responsive early childhood education projects.

This position supports grant operations including fiscal tracking, contract processing, training coordination, participant tracking, and grant reporting support. The position works collaboratively with program leadership, fiscal staff, university partners, and community‑based early childhood providers to ensure compliance with grant requirements and effective program implementation.

It is a full‑time position (.6 FTE) with a limited duration, funded through external early childhood grant and workforce development funding sources. Continuation of the position is dependent upon ongoing funding availability.

Two years of general clerical experience. One year of which included typing, word processing, or other experience generating documents;
OR

An Associate’s degree in Office Occupations or Office Technology;
OR

Graduation from a private school of business with a Certificate in Office Occupations or Office Technology AND one year of general clerical experience.

Note: College courses in Office Occupations or Office Technology will substitute for the required experience on a year‑for‑year basis.

• Significant clerical and administrative coordination experience.
• Excellent reception, customer service, and participant support skills.
• Strong computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, shared drives, and scheduling systems.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience supporting multi‑project timelines and administrative coordination.
• Ability to manage confidential participant, provider, and fiscal information.
• Successful completion of a background check.

• Experience tracking stipends, contracts, or grant expenditures.
• Experience supporting early childhood education grant funded initiatives.
• Experience using PSU Banner, OnBase, or comparable accounting…