General Description ABOUT GUTTMAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE The Stella and Charles Guttman Community College is a beacon of innovation and knowledge creation in higher education, a two-year college where evidence-based high-impact practices in curriculum design and delivery permeate the educational model and have yielded graduation rates that are the highest in CUNY's community college sector and above the national average. Located in midtown Manhattan, Guttman draws a culturally diverse student body from across New York City and is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. The College is committed to using a range of innovative approaches to achieve its goals and to improve student persistence, retention, completion, and transfer. The centerpiece of Guttman's educational model is an integrated first- year core curriculum, where students examine current world issues and use New York City as a living text and laboratory. Thus, connecting information and concepts across multiple disciplines, contexts, and perspectives. This immersive approach equips Guttman students with the foundation of knowledge and skills essential to their intellectual, social, civic, and professional endeavors in and beyond the classroom. The College admitted its first cohort of 300 students in August 2012 and has established a bold goal to increase enrollment as informed by its new strategic plan (Guttman Forward 2028). Before applying, candidates are strongly encouraged to visit the Stella and Charles Guttman Community College website (www.guttman.cuny.edu) to learn more about the institution. Position Summary Reporting to the Program Director, the Program Specialist provides critical support to the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Department; supporting student and staff engagement, operations, data reporting, classroom operations, financial tracking, and management of stakeholder relationships. This grant-funded position is budgeted for one year, with potential renewal based on continued funding and performance. Key Responsibilities:
- Support program operations by managing student registration, onboarding, and intake processes using platforms such as, but not limited to: Xendirect, CUNYfirst, Excel, Teams, Handshake, SharePoint, and Google Workspace.
- Maintain accurate and compliant student records, including attendance, schedules, and documentation, in alignment with grant and institutional guidelines.
- Develop and update student schedules in coordination with instructors and the Program Director.
- Monitor and track student attendance; follow up with absentees and record trends to support retention and success.
- Maintain internal systems and databases to track student outcomes and program performance metrics; assist with compiling reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Support program marketing and recruitment through the development of outreach materials (flyers, digital content, social media posts) and by representing the program at job fairs and community events.
- Assist with organizing program events, orientations, and workshops that support workforce readiness and community engagement.
- Conduct classroom observations to assess instructional quality and student engagement; identify and report on areas needing support.
- Create and distribute student-facing communications such as newsletters, internship/job alerts, and program updates to strengthen engagement.
- Collaborate with faculty, CCPP Internship Manager and Program Director to coordinate internships, externships, and job placement opportunities.
- Assist with grant reporting by collecting and analyzing relevant program data.
- Submit and reconcile expense reports and monitor program spending to ensure alignment with grant budgets.
Other Duties - Respond to student and partner inquiries in a timely and professional manner, ensuring clear communication and strong customer service.
- Participate in regular team meetings and contribute to ongoing process improvement discussions.
- Provide logistical and administrative support for faculty and guest instructors, including materials preparation and room setup.
- Stay informed about industry trends and workforce development best practices to contribute to program enhancement.
- Assist with onboarding and training of new staff or interns within the department, as needed.
Qualifications Required:
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in business administration, Workforce Development, Human Services, Education, Counseling, Public Administration, or a related field
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), CRM, and case management systems
- Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, track details, and meet deadlines
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual (English/Spanish or other relevant language)
- Experience in workforce development, career coaching, academic advising, or program coordination
- Advanced experience with MS Applications, Canva, or other platforms
RFCUNY Benefits RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals About the Research Foundation The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY's research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY's services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society's most pressing challenges. RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY's research and sponsored programs.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.