Associate for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies - 00084

Title: Associate for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies - 00084

State Role Title: SCHEV Associate Director

Hiring Range: $75,000 to $80,000

Pay Band: UG

Agency: State Council of Higher Educ

Location: State Council of Higher Educ

Agency Website: www.schev.edu

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

About the Organization

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the coordinating body for the nation's preeminent postsecondary education system. SCHEV is responsible for developing and promoting an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive, and coordinated system of higher education; facilitating collaboration among postsecondary institutions that enhances academic quality and operational efficiency; developing and submitting recommendations to the executive and legislative branches on budgetary and policy matters; and providing advisory and/or regulatory guidance to the institutions. In 2021, SCHEV developed, Pathways to Opportunity: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, which is a statewide strategic plan for addressing the Commonwealth’s needs and enabling Virginians to prosper and succeed. The plan provides a roadmap for Virginia to be the "Best State for Education" by 2030. To do so, the plan’s goals of equitable, affordable and transformative higher education must be achieved.
While SCHEV is responsible for managing Pathways to Opportunity, the plan’s execution relies on collaboration among institutions, K-12, the executive and legislative branches and other key stakeholders. Ongoing communications, including progress on the measures, targets and initiatives are critical to meeting the needs of the Commonwealth and its citizens.
SCHEV aspires to be a great place to work. It is an environment of public servants committed to developing an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive, and coordinated higher education system in Virginia. We value honesty, quality, diversity, inclusion, growth-orientation, personal well-being, equity, transparency, and accountability. And we seek team players to advance these values through their work and engagement.

Position Overview

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is charged through statute to develop at least every six years a statewide strategic plan that identifies a coordinated approach to state goals for postsecondary education in the Commonwealth, while emphasizing unique institutional missions and anticipating future needs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2021, SCHEV developed, Pathways to Opportunity: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, a strategic plan for addressing the Commonwealth’s needs and enabling Virginians to prosper and succeed. The plan provides a roadmap for Virginia to be the "Best State for Education" by 2030. To do so, the plan’s goals of equitable, affordable and transformative higher education must be achieved.

While the state agency known as SCHEV is responsible for managing Pathways to Opportunity, the plan’s execution relies on collaboration among institutions, K-12, the executive and legislative branches and other key stakeholders. Ongoing communications, including progress on the measures, targets and initiatives, are critical to meeting the needs of the Commonwealth and its citizens.

Every two years, the SCHEV Council (board) adopts priority initiatives for itself and its staff over the next biennium in support of the statewide strategic plan. Council’s priority initiatives reflect broad themes from the strategic planning process and include specific (short-term) actions approved by Council to implement the plan’s 10 strategies and achieve its three goals; see: https://www.schev.edu/research-publications/strategic-plan.

When new initiatives are identified, SCHEV staff lead the development and implementation. The next Associate for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies will support SCHEV’s planning activities and Council’s priority initiatives through: (i) coordinating with other staff on the execution, progress-tracking and assessment of Council’s initiatives; (ii) grantmaking; and (iii) grantseeking.

About the Position

This position is an existing role in SCHEV’s Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (SP&PS) section, reporting to the Section Director. The position presents opportunities for the selected candidate to contribute to the agency’s strategic-planning activities; to work alongside the Assistant Director; and to help lead SCHEV’s grantmaking and grantseeking activities. SCHEV offices are located in downtown Richmond, VA; limited teleworking is possible, but not guaranteed. This position is considered an excepted position with a contractual agreement and state benefits.

Duties

The position involves three sets of primary responsibilities:

• Support the Director of SP&PS and assist the Assistant Director of SP&PS with statewide strategic planning for higher education, including plan development and updating, as well as continual monitoring and annual reporting on progress toward goals, measures and initiatives. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting, if not leading, various initiatives that carry policy implications (for example, Executive Order 30 regarding artificial intelligence).

• Support the agency through grantmaking. SCHEV is responsible for multiple grant competitions, including the Fund for Excellence and Innovation; the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP); the Mental Health Workforce Pilot program; and the Pell Initiative. Additionally, the legislature routinely tasks SCHEV with distributing funding for new programs/initiatives via a grantmaking process.
o Assume considerable responsibility for existing and future grant programs within the section and across the agency to include developing, maintaining and/or improving grant administration, management and reporting processes.
o Support the V-TOP initiative by: (i) identifying gaps in areas connected to internships and work-based learning (WBL) that may benefit from additional funding, such as grants;(ii) researching and monitoring other WBL-related grants awarded across the state and regions to avoid duplication of efforts; and (iii) systematizing internal grant-related processes and procedures

• Support the agency through grantseeking. Many opportunities exist for SCHEV to further its mission by seeking grant funding from non-profit organizations and the federal government. The incumbent will stay abreast of SCHEV goals, priority initiatives, programs and interests of Council members and continuously scan the grantmaking environment for opportunities to secure funding to support the priority initiatives and ongoing programs.
o Convene appropriate subject matter experts to develop and submit applications for grant opportunities identified as relevant/applicable/appropriate.
o Perform typical pre-award and post-award grant functions.

The responsibilities above connect and culminate in an expectation that, via the incumbent’s work, SCHEV can craft compelling and persuasive narratives for requests to the Governor and the General Assembly to increase funding for successful projects and/or Council initiatives, convert successful pilot programs to permanent status and/or create new projects or pilots.

Minimum Qualifications

• Considerable experience demonstrating knowledge of grant life cycle to include grant seeking, developing and submitting successful grant applications, and administering grant competitions and awards.
• Experience demonstrating skills and abilities in strategic thinking, planning, plan monitoring and reporting, and experience in project management including the ability to develop, maintain and/or improve internal processes and procedures.
• Experience developing, tracking and reporting outcomes to external constituents.
• Experience with grant management and evaluation.
• Demonstrated skills in communication (both oral and written), meeting facilitation and technology utilization.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a team and independently.
• Ability to screen, vet and build internal and external teams to address agency needs.

Additional Considerations

• Extensive experience demonstrating relevant professional experience desired.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Cover letter and resume are required. The applicant may submit one or two additional documents, such as a short writing sample or other work product, to demonstrate relevant skills.
Applicants must apply through the Commonwealth of Virginia Recruitment Management System (RMS).
Applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax or in person will not be considered. When applying through RMS, applicants are expected to fully represent their qualifications and work history on the State applications and/or in resumes. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided in the application, resume, or other relevant documents; therefore, applicants must supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application/resume or a state application/resume lacking in detail may impact your interview eligibility. The RMS website will confirm receipt when the application is submitted successfully.

Other Information

SCHEV is an E-Verify and Equal Opportunity Employer.
You may apply for this position at Home (virginia.gov). Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Veterans, people with disabilities, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Cover Letter
Resume

Optional Documents
Applicant may submit one or two additional documents, such as a short writing sample or other work product to demonstrate relevant skills.

Contact Information

Name: Taris Harmon

Phone: 804-225-2532

Email: taris.harmon@dhrm.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.