Application Guide

How to Apply for Campus Program Manager

at Student Basic Needs Coalition

🏢 About Student Basic Needs Coalition

The Student Basic Needs Coalition is unique as a national nonprofit specifically focused on addressing college student basic needs insecurity through systemic partnerships rather than just direct service. Someone might want to work here because they're building equitable systems at scale, partnering directly with colleges and states to create lasting change for vulnerable student populations.

About This Role

This Campus Program Manager role involves managing relationships with 31 Wisconsin colleges to implement the Navvy platform for student benefits screening, while coordinating with an external research contractor and supervising an intern. It's impactful because you'll directly increase students' access to food, housing, and healthcare benefits through systematic implementation and relationship management.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning check-ins with 2-3 Wisconsin campus partners about Navvy implementation progress, afternoon coordination with the research contractor on data collection timelines, and supervising the intern's work on benefits appeals cases. You'd be tracking screening metrics, troubleshooting platform issues, and ensuring campuses have the support needed to connect students with resources.

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🎯 Who Student Basic Needs Coalition Is Looking For

  • Has 3-5 years experience specifically with public benefits systems AND higher education institutions, not just one or the other
  • Demonstrates experience managing external contractors/researchers while coordinating multiple stakeholders (colleges, students, internal team)
  • Has direct experience working with low-income or first-generation college students in a service coordination capacity
  • Can provide specific examples of troubleshooting implementation barriers in multi-site programs

📝 Tips for Applying to Student Basic Needs Coalition

1

Quantify your experience with multi-campus or multi-site program management - specify how many institutions you've coordinated with simultaneously

2

Mention specific public benefits programs you've worked with (SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, etc.) rather than just saying 'benefits experience'

3

Highlight any Wisconsin-specific higher education or social service experience since the role focuses on 31 Wisconsin colleges

4

Describe your experience with data tracking/metrics for program performance, specifically screening volume and outcomes measurement

5

Include examples of managing research partnerships or external contractors in previous roles

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with college student populations facing basic needs insecurity', 'Examples of managing complex stakeholder relationships across multiple institutions', 'Experience with benefits application processes and appeals systems', "How you've used data/metrics to improve program implementation in previous roles"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → SBNC's specific Navvy platform implementation and how it screens students for benefits
  • → Wisconsin's higher education landscape and basic needs initiatives at public/private colleges
  • → Current public benefits programs available to college students in Wisconsin
  • → SBNC's research partnerships and publications on student basic needs
Visit Student Basic Needs Coalition's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach building relationships with 31 different Wisconsin colleges with varying resources and priorities?
2 Describe your experience troubleshooting barriers in benefits application processes for students
3 How have you managed external research partnerships while ensuring program implementation stays on track?
4 What metrics would you prioritize tracking for campus-level performance, and how would you use that data?
5 How would you supervise an intern focused on benefits appeals while maintaining coordination with multiple campuses?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only direct service experience without systems-level or multi-institution coordination experience
  • Failing to demonstrate specific knowledge of public benefits systems and how they intersect with higher education
  • Not showing understanding of the difference between managing relationships with 31 institutions versus managing a single program

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Student Basic Needs Coalition!

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