About the Department

DEFINITION

Under the general supervision of the assigned Administrator, plans, organizes, facilitates, and oversees a range of activities in support of Educational Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and its supplemental program Cooperative Agencies for Education (CARE) and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs). Working under minimalsupervision,theincumbentprovidesspecializedsupportservicesandcasemanagement to students in the EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs programs; develops and implements plans to increase awareness of the programs among students, faculty, staff and the community; assists the supervisor in routine program administration as well as handling related clerical duties; and performs other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

EOPS/CARE are state-funded programs that empower students from historically under-resourced financial and educational backgrounds through academic support, financial assistance, and ongoing encouragement. CalWORKs is a federal and state funded program that addresses basic-need insecurities for parents with dependent children by proving financial assistance, along with education and career development opportunities. This position is distinguished from others by its dedicated focus on guiding eligible students toward achieving their educational goals. The incumbent fosters student success through personalized support and advocacy, while advancing student learning outcomes and institutional effectiveness by promoting access, persistence, retention, and completion.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

Where You Will Work
Serving all of San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. The main campus is located along scenic Highway 1, west of San Luis Obispo and east of the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Cuesta College has a North County Campus in Paso Robles, and South County Center, in Arroyo Grande.

Who We Are

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work we do. Cuesta College is proud to be a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified professionals, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion.

Additional information about the college can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/index.html
The college planning documents can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/collegeplans/index.html
Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/info/student-equity-initiatives/equity/index.html
We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/human-resources/benefits/index.html

Position Duties

Provide individualized student support using a case management approach to monitor academic progress, assess needs and develop measurable action plans that address barriers to success and support completion and/or transfer;
Advise students on program eligibility, requirements, and expectations, and support those on academic notice (i.e., probation or dismissal status) to help maintain eligibility and improve academic standing; Conduct academic progress checks, provide crisis intervention when needed, and refer students to appropriate campus and community resources (ex. DSPS, Financial Aid, Department of Social Services [DSS]);
Assist students transitioning from non-credit to credit programs in collaboration with non-credit staff to ensure a smooth transition;
Assist students with EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs applications, college admission and registration, financial aid (e.g., FAFSA, California Dream Act Application) and orientations;
Evaluate program applications, request and verify eligibility documents from external agencies (e.g., DSS), determine eligibility, and maintain accurate records in compliance with federal and state guidelines;
Help students access vouchers and stipends through internal offices and external agencies (e.g., DSS);
Evaluate CalWORKs work-study placement suitability, complete documentation, and coordinate with appropriate staff;
Develop and implement student outreach strategies including serving as a liaison between EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs, campus services, and community partnerstoengage prospective students;
Designanddeliver virtual and in-person workshops on academic development and life skills, and facilitate community-building activities to foster student engagement;
Utilize customer relationship management systems to communicate regularly with students, monitor progress, and manage cohort data for effective program support;
Maintain accurate student data, records, notes, forms, and reimbursement applications, and manage data entry into internal or external platforms as needed to support both internal analysis and external reporting;
Participate in inter-agency meetings (e.g., CAPSLO, HASLO, DSS) and conferences to stay informed on program regulations and best practices;
Assign and/or monitor tasks and responsibilities of student workers as needed;
Participatein the Institutional Program Planning and ReviewProcess; and
Performotherrelateddutiesas required.

QUALIFICATIONSEducation:

Required

Associate degree.

Preferred

Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

Required

Twoyears’experiencewithprogramssimilartotheEOPS/CARE&CalWORKs; educational agency experience preferred;
Education may be substituted for experience on the basis of one year of education for twoyears of experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Principles, practices, and service delivery needs related to EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs programs;
Applicable federal, state, local and general policies, codes, regulations, technical processes, and procedures related to EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs programs and Title V regulations;
Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identify, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of community college students;
Apply principles of inclusive, student-centered service to foster a welcoming and supportive environment;
Demonstrate strong organizational skills by effectively managing and prioritizing tasks and maintaining accurate and complete records to support program goals and student success;
Investigate and research problems, devise solutions, and present recommendations;
Foster positive and collaborative working relationships with students, staff, and community partners encountered in the course of work;
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interpret and apply instructions to carry out tasks effectively;
Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.,);
Correct usage of English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary; and
Ability to interpret and apply District policies and procedures.

Physicalabilityto:

Read and comprehend printed matter and text and data on computer monitors;
Communicate intelligibly and effectively via speech, telephone, written correspondence, and/or email;
Sit or stand for extended periods of time;
Lift and/or carry (25) pounds; and
Exert manual dexterity sufficient for keyboard and other office equipment operation.

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO APPLY
Candidates will be required to submit ALL of the required documents below when applying for this position. When uploading documents, PDF uploads are preferred.

Cover letter;
Resume;
Reference List (see further instructions below);

Reference List Instructions: Your reference list must include three professional references, their contact information, and their relationship to you.

Completed online applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the closing date for this position. LATE, INCOMPLETE, FAXED, MAILED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Cuesta College will not sponsor any visa applications.

San Luis Obispo County Community College District ("Cuesta College") is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), age, disability (physical and mental), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Cuesta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

In compliance with California law, all prospective staff and students are entitled to read the Annual Security Report, published each October by the Cuesta College Department of Public Safety. This report contains information about our emergency and crime reporting procedures, as well as crime statistics for the past 3 years. You may request a copy of this report at one of our two Public Safety Offices: on SLO campus at Building 6600A or on North County Campus at building N1021, during campus business hours. You may also access the complete text of this report at the following website address: https://www.cuesta.edu/community/publicsafety/crime-information/clery-act.html

Cuesta College uses E-Verify as part of the I-9 process to verify the work eligibility of all new hires. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. For further information, visit: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Job_Opportunities.html

Other Qualifications

Selected applicants will be invited to attend a Zoom interview on Thursday, August 13, 2026

Benefits

: TO:                  New Employees

FROM:            Human Resources

SUBJECT:      Benefits for Classified & Management Employees

Cuesta College's Benefits website: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Benefits/index.html

Employees who work half-time or more are entitled to receive fringe benefits. The fringe allocation is money from the District to help cover the cost of insurance. Employees working half-time or more are eligible to participate in the District's medical, dental and vision insurance.

Employees with a work assignment of 50% to 74% of full time will receive one-half of the above stated fringe allocation.

If your insurance rate exceeds your fringe allocation, the balance will be deducted from your monthly payroll check. If the insurance plans selected cost less than the fringe allocation, any excess amount will be returned to the District. For more information about how fringe benefits are determined please refer to the collective bargaining agreement between SLO Community College District and Cuesta College Classified United Employees (CCCUE) or the Board of Trustees policy regarding management employees.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 805-546-3129 or [email protected].

Supplemental Questions

We endeavor to foster a just and inclusive campus culture here at Cuesta College. Please tell us about your experiences with inclusion as it relates to your career or some other aspect of your work? If you have not had direct experience in this area, please tell us about your aspirations. We welcome learning about your areas of challenge or growth and success.

Each open position has specific attachment requirements in order to be considered by the hiring committee. If the attachment directions are not followed, your application will not be considered.

The required attachments for this position are:

• Cover Letter;

• Resume;

• Reference List ;

Have you attached the correct required documents to your application?

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer: Cuesta College (CA)
Address: P. O. Box 8106

San Luis Obispo, California, 93403
Phone: (805) 546-3129
Website: https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/cuesta

EOPS/CARE & CalWORKs Retention Specialist