Temporary Part-Time Program Specialist, Espacio Cultural Latinx (ECL)

Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.

Description:

Reporting to the Director of Campus Life, the Temporary Program Specialist provides part-time support for daily operations, programming, and student staff development of the Espacio Cultural Latinx (ECL). This position provides professional staff coverage during designated weekly hours, assists with program planning and implementation, and works collaboratively with the ECL Coordinator and student leadership team to support student staff and day-to-day activities. The Program Specialist helps foster a welcoming, culturally affirming environment that promotes student belonging, engagement, and success.

Your Key Responsibilities:

ECL Daily Operations & Student Engagement – 30%

• Provides professional staff coverage within the ECL during designated weekly hours, supporting daily operations and maintaining a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally affirming environment.
• Works collaboratively with the ECL student manager and student staff to support daily activities, space readiness, and the overall student experience.
• Serves as an accessible resource for students, assisting with general questions and connecting students with appropriate campus resources and services as needed.
• Supports regular communication with students regarding ECL programs, activities, and engagement opportunities.
• Communicates operational needs, student concerns, and other relevant updates to the Director of Campus Life and ECL Coordinator, as appropriate.

Student Staff Support – 30%

• Provides day-to-day guidance, coaching, and support to ECL student staff in collaboration with the ECL student manager and student leadership team.
• Facilitates weekly ECL student staff Professional Development meetings, held on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., in collaboration with the student manager and student leadership team.
• Assists with developing and implementing professional development activities focused on workplace skills, teamwork, leadership development, and career preparation.
• Supports student staff in carrying out assigned responsibilities, meeting expectations, and developing professional skills through the Work Program.
• Provides day-to-day coaching and coordination for student staff. Formal supervisory responsibility, including timekeeping, payroll approvals, performance evaluations, and student labor personnel actions, remains with Director of Campus Life/ECL Coordinator.

Program Planning, Coordination & Event Support – 25%

• Assists with the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of educational, cultural, heritage, and community-building programs that foster belonging, student success, and cross-cultural learning.
• Collaborates with ECL student staff and student leadership to support program development, event logistics, and preparation.
• Provides on-site support for ECL programs and activities, including event setup, coordination, and cleanup as needed.
• Assists with purchasing program supplies, materials, refreshments, and other event-related needs in accordance with established College procedures and approved budgets.
• Supports outreach and communication efforts related to ECL programming and events.
• Works collaboratively with campus partners and student organizations to support ECL programs and initiatives as needed.

Administrative & Resource Support – 10%

• Assists with maintaining program calendars, event information, supply inventories, and other administrative materials related to ECL operations.
• Supports the coordination and documentation of program-related purchases, receipts, and expenditures.
• Assists with collecting program attendance, student feedback, and other information to support assessment and reporting.
• Identifies operational and programmatic needs and communicates recommendations for improvement.

Departmental Responsibilities & Other Assigned Duties – 5%

• Participates in relevant Campus Life meetings, training, and departmental activities as appropriate to the position's work schedule.
• Supports Campus Life priorities and initiatives as assigned by the Director.

What You'll Bring:

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Education, Latinx/Latin American Studies, Communication, Social Work, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 1-2 years’ experience supporting college students, coordinating programs or events, or working in a student-centered or community-based environment.
• Experience working collaboratively with student employees, student leaders, or diverse student populations preferred.
• Experience supporting educational, cultural, or community-building programs preferred.

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Demonstrated commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive environments that support student belonging and success.
• Knowledge of or demonstrated interest in Latinx cultures, communities, and student experiences.
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities and work collaboratively with students, staff, and faculty.
• Ability to provide guidance, mentorship, and constructive feedback to student staff.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining regular communication with the Director of Campus Life.
• Familiarity with basic administrative processes, purchasing procedures, and program coordination.
• Spanish-language proficiency preferred.

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Driver’s License Required.
• Ability to operate vehicle, including but not limited to a 12-15 passenger van.

Physical requirements:

• Must have excellent visual acuity to read computer screen data.
• Must be physically able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be capable of maintaining positive relationships with a diverse student, faculty, staff, and community population.

Environmental conditions:

• Office and student-centered campus environment
• Occasional evening hours may be required to support ECL programs and activities.

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment, including computers, printers, and audiovisual equipment.

Benefits

This position is not eligible for benefits, however, Berea College still offers unique position opportunities you can read more about below.

Our Unique Culture:

Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.

Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea

Labor Supervision:

In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office. Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 44 states and U.S. territories and more than 60 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides every enrolled student with a fully funded degree that covers 100% of tuition, housing, food, supplies, and fees without loans, for all four years. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only 10 federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus, building professional skills in a real-world learning environment. Washington Monthly ranked Berea College the #1 Best College for your Tuition and Tax Dollars, 2025. Berea also ranks #1 in educational access by The New York Times, 2023 and #1 for lowest educational debt by U.S. News and World Report, 2025 and 2026. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2026.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 17,000) lies 40 miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.