Job Description

Here's what you should know:

This role is a hybrid role and is a combination of in person and remote work.

At KIPP NJ, our mission states that we prepare our students to change the world. We believe that, for most of our students, a Bachelor’s degree is the stepping stone for students to pursue professional and personal success. We also believe that this is not the only path to professional and personal success, and are committed to supporting our students who choose a non-college post-secondary pathway. In addition to offering a strong college-prep program and career exposures in our schools, we are committed to providing quality job-readiness programs in our high schools, focused on ensuring our students develop the skills necessary for success in a quality post-secondary program of their choosing. We believe in the power of relationships, and are committed to ensuring our students have the support needed to matriculate to and ultimately complete their post-secondary program, and move toward their career goals.

KIPP New Jersey’s KIPP Forward team is looking for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway Counselor to support Camden (and also Newark) alumni who choose to pursue a pathway other than college. As the CTE Pathway Counselor, you will be responsible for implementing an intrusive and holistic academic, financial, and social-emotional advising model that will empower alumni as they progress towards their goals. As a CTE Pathway Counselor, you will be responsible for a caseload of CTE, Military, and Workforce students, and will work to support them as they apply to and complete certification programs and seek progressive professional pathways leading to an upwardly mobile career. You will maintain partnerships with local CTE providers, companies and unions to place alumni into programs and workforce opportunities that will ultimately set them up for success in attaining strong careers and financial freedom.

Here's what you'll be doing:

Intrusive Alumni Advising & Coaching

• Support a caseload of KIPP Camden (and some Newark) alumni persisting in CTE programs and Progressive Professional Pathways, through regular outreach and check-ins which include, but are not limited to, advisement towards certification, individual career plans, and personal goals.
• Support a caseload of KIPP Camden (and some Newark) alumni who are in the workforce through targeted outreach which provides opportunities for employment and re-enrolling in post-secondary education
• Assist alumni in completing and analyzing an interest/aptitude assessment
• Build and maintain a programmatic & local workforce guidebook for alumni not in college.
• Regularly disseminate targeted workforce and employment opportunities to alumni via KIPP Forward Career Newsletter and other methods of communication such as social media.
• Work with KIPP NJ alumni to prepare professional resumes and other application materials for jobs and internships
• Work with KIPP NJ alumni on caseload whose future plan is to matriculate to a 2 or 4 year university
• Create and facilitate programming for alumni (ie. resume workshops, skill building, labor markets, interview prep, etc) to support them in securing employment or maximizing their employment options.
• Stays current on the most in-demand industries in the area and turnkeys that information to students and teammates

Reenrollment

• Use creative strategies to connect with alumni who are currently unenrolled from a school or program.
• Assist alumni through reenrollment process ensuring all alumni complete matriculation items in a timely manner

High School Career Support

• Collaborate with the KIPP Forward Career Readiness (CCR) team at our Camden & Newark high schools on the introduction of CTE programs and progressive professional pathways to students in high school, recommending quality local programs and supporting with program connections, exposures and applications as needed.
• In collaboration with the KIPP Forward Camden & Newark teams, support related initiatives/programs leading to a strong transition of all students pursuing a non-college post-secondary pathway following high school.

Partnership Maintenance

• Maintain partnerships and build relationships with key stakeholders at local CTE programs, unions and local workforce companies so that alumni gain access to CTE job training and employment opportunities in their career field of interest.
• Regularly check in on performance of CTE participants and program quality by conducting partnership site visits for persisting CTE/Workforce alumni.

Data Reporting & Management

• Track meeting notes and student data – both qualitative and quantitative – consistently and accurately in alumni database (Salesforce).
• Collect and track employment data on alumni not in college.
• Demonstrate a results-oriented mentality by analyzing key data points (ex: certification graduation status, % successful monthly contact, etc.) and effectively using the data to drive results in advising sessions with students.

Qualifications

Must Haves:

• Bachelor's degree
• 3-5 years’ experience working with young adults and/or families, particularly those who are underrepresented.
• Experience managing projects or processes and collaborating with internal and external colleagues resulting in a documented track record of personal and professional success.

Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (specifically Excel) and Google Workspace
• Experience with database management and reporting (such as Salesforce, Overgrad, etc.)
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organization skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Superb customer service skills and love and support for families and children
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Adept at data analysis and strong content knowledge; ability to extract meaningful insights and actions from data
• Growth mindset

Abilities

• Commitment to do whatever it takes, whenever it needs to be done, to ensure our alumni have what they need to be successful
• Ability to build strong relationships with students, families & external partners that effectively move students towards certifications and career goals.
• Ability to proactively problem solve; anticipate challenges before they occur
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and generate creative solutions
• Ability to develop and manage multiple projects simultaneously and comfortably with ambiguity
• Experience developing and planning programs including career development training sessions.
• Ability to troubleshoot and manage high stress situations with a calm and positive demeanor
• Ability to work evenings and weekends
• Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college; and students may begin that path to self-sufficiency via careers that do not require a bachelors degree.
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated student achievement results on own caseload
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honor and support a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives
• Commit to professional growth

Nice-to-Haves

• Previous experience in an educational or non-profit setting
• A car for travel to local schools and programs between Newark and Camden.

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop, and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area.