Working Title:
Retention and Recruitment Spec Ojibwe Teacher Trng Program - Range C
Institution:
Bemidji State University
MSUAASF Range C
Bargaining Unit / Union:
211: Minnesota State University Association of Administrative Service Faculty
City:
Bemidji
FLSA:
Non Job Exempt
Full Time / Part Time:
Full time
Employment Condition:
Unclassified - Limited Academic (Fixed Term)
Salary Range:
$47,845.00 - $93,809.00
Job Description
Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as a Retention and Recruitment Specialist – Ojibwe Teacher Training Program (OTTP) . The Retention and Recruitment Specialist for the OTTP is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive recruitment and retention strategies to support student enrollment, persistence, and successful completion of the Ojibwe Teacher Training Program at Bemidji State University. This position builds and sustains strong relationships with high schools, tribal communities, prospective students, and current students across Minnesota. The Specialist serves as a central relational connector within the program, ensuring seamless, culturally grounded, and positive student experiences from initial recruitment through program completion. This role does not include classroom teaching responsibilities.
Responsibilities of the Retention and Recruitment Specialist OTTP include:
Statewide Recruitment and Outreach. (40%).
Developing and executing strategic recruitment plans targeting high schools, tribal schools, and community organizations across Minnesota.
Conducting in-person and virtual presentations to prospective students, families, counselors, and community partners.
Representing the Ojibwe Teacher Training Program at college fairs, community events, and tribal gatherings.
Building sustained partnerships with tribal education departments and school administrators.
Maintaining accurate recruitment data and reporting metrics.
Student Retention and Success Support. (35%)
Providing individualized support and proactive outreach to students enrolled in the program.
Connecting students to academic advising, tutoring, financial aid, and student support services.
Monitoring student progress in collaboration with faculty and advisors.
Assisting with transition support for new students entering the program.
Supporting culturally affirming programming and community-building activities.
Program Integration and Collaboration. (15%)
Working closely with the Ojibwe language teaching team to ensure coordinated communication and student support.
Participating in program planning meetings and strategic initiatives.
Contributing to the development of culturally responsive recruitment and retention materials.
Administrative and Reporting Duties. (10%)
Maintaining accurate recruitment and retention records.
Preparing reports for institutional leadership and grant-related documentation if applicable.
Managing travel logistics and outreach budgets in compliance with university policies.
Salary Range:
Depends on Qualifications; Range C ($47,845 - $93,809)
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s degree in Education, Student Affairs, Indigenous Studies, or a related field, plus one (1) year of related professional experience, or a Bachelor’s degree plus two (2) years of professional experience in a relevant field, or three (3) years of professional experience in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of post-secondary training, education and/or professional experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of Ojibwe communities and educational pathways.
Experience in recruitment, outreach, advising, student services, or community engagement.
Strong interpersonal, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet university travel requirements.
A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
Preferred Qualification
Fluency or working knowledge of the Ojibwe language.
Experience working with tribal schools or tribal education departments.
Experience supporting retention initiatives in higher education.
Experience working in private and/or public higher education environments.
To facilitate the review, assessment, and evaluation process, please ensure that your application and/or resume clearly demonstrate fulfillment of the minimum and preferred qualifications of the position. The application materials submitted will be utilized for salary placement purposes.
Working Conditions:
Must have a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record as frequent travel is required (generally within the state of Minnesota, but some out-of-state travel is necessary).
Evening, weekend, and overnight travel will be required.
Work conducted in high schools, tribal communities, university settings, and community locations.
Office-based work including computer and phone usage.
Physical Effort:
Maintaining a stationary position for long periods of time. Positioning self to move through buildings and locations (traverse, ascend, descend).
Ability to move / transport recruitment materials and displays (up to 25 lbs).
Other Requirements
All applicants must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment. The University regrets that we are unable to offer H1-B sponsorship at this time.
Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Minnesota State University Associate of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAASF) – see agreement.
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to MinnState’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.
BSU is a tobacco free workplace ( see policy ) .
A complete application will include the following attachments:
Cover letter, which addresses the required qualifications and your specific interest in working at BSU.
Resume / Curriculum Vitae.
Inquiries about the position :
Anton Treuer, Academic Affairs – School of Humanities
Email: [email protected]
If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application, contact Mary Miller at [email protected]
Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)
Externally Funded; Full-time / Non-Exempt; Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Telework (Yes/No)
Telework currently not available for this position.
About
UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY
WHY BEMIDJI:
It’s more than a job. It’s an opportunity for the extraordinary.
On the idyllic shores of Lake Bemidji, cradled among the limitless natural beauty of the North Woods and neighbored by Minnesota’s three largest Indigenous nations, Bemidji State University offers opportunities for the extraordinary.
Bemidji State University has been ranked as one of the top 30 public institutions in the Midwest region by U.S. News & World Report each year since 2019. BSU offers its diverse student body a comprehensive spectrum of opportunities with nearly 120 undergraduate degrees and emphasis areas in more than 50 areas of study, 14 pre-professional programs, and 14 graduate programs and certificates.
As Bemidji State continues its second century of service, our vision is simple: we educate people to lead inspired lives. To achieve this, BSU centers diversity, equity and inclusion as a core value and strives to create a campus culture in which all members are free to be their authentic selves. BSU also proactively engages with Indigenous communities in northern Minnesota and nationwide toward its goal of becoming a destination university.
BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, the third-largest system of higher education institutions in the United States. It shares a unique alignment with Northwest Technical College, with administration and student services generally having dual responsibilities to serve both campuses. Through this alignment, NTC students can take advantage of services, support, activities, and opportunities at BSU that expand and enhance their college experience — such as full access to BSU’s library and the ability to live in BSU’s on-campus resident housing.
For the first time, a joint strategic planning process will guide the future directions for both institutions. The schools are pursuing four shared strategic priorities: student success, the Nisidotaading initiative, northern distinction, and telling our story. These priorities will serve as the foundations for master planning processes for facilities, academic programs, fundraising, information technology, intercollegiate athletics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, among others.
The Nisidotaading initiative — named for an Ojibwe phrase meaning “building mutual understanding” — is creating a statewide center of excellence. It will develop communities of practice meant to help Minnesota State colleges and universities better educate their campus communities on historical trauma and lived experiences of their Indigenous populations, and how to most effectively guide Indigenous students toward their educational goals. In addition, BSU is the first university in the United States to expose all of its students to a course on Indigenous people before graduation.
Bemidji State University acknowledges that it is located on land and water that is the current and ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe and Dakota. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide, forced assimilation, and efforts to alienate the Indigenous inhabitants from their territory here. We honor and respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land, retained tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and cultural resilience. Indigenous people are spiritual and physical caretakers of this land to which we all belong. Bemidji State University respects these sacred lands, stands with the community members from these Nations, and will fight injustice in all its forms.
At Minnesota State, the work we do is more than just a job. In their pursuit of purpose, connection, and growth, our employees play a critical role on our campuses. They develop policies, provide essential services, and work to improve the well-being and quality of life for our students and for all Minnesotans. Minnesota State is committed to equity and inclusion, and we invest in our employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities. Unlock your potential through possibility.
The City of Bemidji
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College lie amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. Bemidji State occupies a wooded campus along the western shore of Lake Bemidji while Northwest Technical College lies just three miles east, near Bemidji’s robust industrial district.
The city sits between Minnesota’s three largest American Indian tribal nations: the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Nation and the White Earth Nation. When settling the Bemidji area in 1750, the Ojibwe people named the lake Bemidjigamaag, which means “a lake with crossing waters” as the Mississippi River flows in from the south and exits on the east. Today, a city proper with a population of around 15,000 serves as a regional economic and cultural hub for about 100,000 Minnesotans.
Located just minutes away from a thriving downtown Bemidji, both the BSU and NTC campus communities have convenient access to affordable restaurants, fine-dining experiences, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores — including a natural foods co-op — city parks, and nearly unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities. Small, locally-owned shops and art sculptures line Bemidji's downtown streets, while national chains are also found in and around the area. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows, restaurants offer weekly live music performances, the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits, and annual festivals bring the community together throughout the year.
Additionally, the North Woods setting means students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities available at their fingertips year-round. With more than 400 lakes — and a 240-acre research forest owned by BSU — within 25 miles of the city, there is easy access to kayaking, canoeing, swimming, boating, paddle boarding, hunting, hiking, biking, foraging, fishing, and more. An expansive network of multi-use trail systems is available for running, cross-country skiing, single-track or fat-tire biking, and skijoring. Further, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing lie just north of Bemidji at the Buena Vista Ski Area.
Bemidji is also near two of Minnesota’s 66 state parks: Lake Bemidji State Park, which sits along Lake Bemidji’s northern shore, and Itasca State Park, home to the majestic Mississippi River Headwaters. Both parks are popular recreational and camping destinations where locals and tourists gather for sailing, swimming, and fishing during the summer months, and skating, hockey, curling, and—yes—more fishing in the winter.
Of course, no tour of Bemidji is complete without a visit to — and a selfie with — its two most famous residents: the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and his trusty companion, Babe the Blue Ox. The famed duo, which has greeted visitors to Bemidji since 1937, is on the National Register of Historic Places and was once ranked by Kodak as the second most-photographed statue in America.
For further information About BSU visit our website at http://www.bemidjistate.edu .
Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0
Other Resources:
Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/
218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/
Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/
Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji
Statement of Notice
Bemidji State University prohibits discrimination and sexual violence of any kind. Contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have concerns regarding discrimination and/or sexual violence.
Per Minnesota State System Procedure 1B.3.1 , all universities and colleges must provide contact information of their Title IX Coordinator.
Megan Zothman, Campus Human Resources Officer & Title IX Coordinator
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Phone: (218) 755-2502
1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Deputy Hall, Room 335, Bemidji, MN 56601
Bemidji State University is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Consumers with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.
Benefits Information:
At Minnesota State, we take your well-being and work-life balance seriously. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that features low-cost medical and dental insurance with affordable deductibles, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and pre-tax healthcare and dependent care accounts with a roll-over option. To further support your holistic health, employees also have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, legal, and financial counseling. Detailed plan details, rates, and coverage choices can be reviewed directly via the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) website.
To support your life outside of work, our package includes 12 paid holidays, generous vacation and sick time, and six weeks of Paid Parental Leave. We also help you secure your financial future with a robust Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement accounts, and various investment options. Furthermore, we invest in your growth by providing dedicated professional development and tuition waivers for both you and your dependents. Please note that specific benefit eligibility and coverage levels may vary depending on the type of position, employee classification, and collective bargaining agreements.
Desired Start Date:
09-21-2026
Position End Date:
06-30-2027
Open Date:
07-15-2026
Close Date:
08-19-2026
Posting Contact Name:
Teresa Kay Vincent Hanson
Posting Contact Email:
[email protected]