Job Description

The Opportunity

Counseling services can transform college and career dreams into a reality. Evidence has shown that the lack of access to information and guidance on college admissions and financial aid is a prohibitive barrier for many low-income families. In the absence of good information, many families develop misconceptions about what it takes to get into and graduate from college or vocational schools. By employing a diverse range of outreach efforts – from individualized, one-on-one meetings to large-group workshops and seminars – the KIPP Forward program closes the information divide for KIPP Texas students and families, breaking down the barriers to career success.

The goal of the Postsecondary Transition Advisor is to help students transition successfully from high school to college, technical programs, and careers and aims to ensure that all of our students are provided with the necessary information, guidance and coaching needed to reach their post-secondary goals. The **** Postsecondary Transition Advisor will work closely with KIPP high school seniors and the college and career counseling team, along with other KIPP teammates to ensure KIPPsters have completed all of the necessary and critical tasks through completion of their first semester after high school. This role includes significant student outreach to schedule advising sessions, monitor progress towards goals, and promote enrichment opportunities. Once KIPPsters enroll in their postsecondary program, the Postsecondary Transition Advisor will provide continual support and resources for KIPPsters throughout their first year of college. The College and Career Transition Specialist will be responsible for collecting data, maintaining a student caseload and preventing summer and semester melt as KIPPsters matriculate, enroll and complete their first year of postsecondary programs.

Duties and Essential Job Functions

• Oversee the successful transition of high school seniors into college, training, and careers * Develop positive, appropriate, meaningful relationships with students, parents, college and financial aid advisors, and fellow staff members and teachers. * Engage in one-on-one conversations with current KIPP high school seniors about their postsecondary plans and assist each student with postsecondary enrollment or transfer, orientation, financial aid verification (review and accept awards, loan counseling, SAP eligibility, graduation requirements, etc.), and ensure student registration. * Engage alumni in career readiness programs, in soliciting internships, and helping alumni prepare for internships. * Develop and deliver college and career transition lessons to high school seniors during senior seminar class * Collect and track matriculation steps and critical forms (Financial Aid Award Letters, Final high school transcripts, FERPA forms, etc.) * Create data reports for the regional leaders and the Persistence Team
• Support a caseload of alumni during the first year of their postsecondary programs * Engage in ongoing and consistent outreach to students and alumni using various communication methods - i.e. email, calls, social media, texting technology, etc. - and track progress of all contact with KIPP alumni * Provide advising and coaching to help alumni navigate the critical challenges often faced by underserved communities when enrolling into college and training programs or starting careers * Collect and review critical data (benchmarks, transcripts, financial aid, etc.) to support alumni persistence * Successfully transition alumni to their permanent college and career advisors after the first semester/year
• Update and Maintain the Alumni database * Track and maintain records of student contact information changes, advising meetings, pulse-checks, matriculation steps, benchmarks and verification of enrollments of alumni in college using the Alumni Database (Salesforce); * Assist with data collection for annual report and program evaluation; * Prepare marketing, publicity materials and reports as needed;
• Collaborate with the team and other stakeholders to support postsecondary transition and success * Collaborate with staff at postsecondary institutions to gain access to resources and engagement opportunities on college and university campuses and other postsecondary institutions and maintain a record of support services and contact information. * Connect with local partners and resources to develop and deliver comprehensive transition programming for all pathways during the summer months (i.e. money management, budgeting, building credit, etc.) and academic tutoring initiatives for alumni in need of academic intervention. * Partner with existing bridge programs to enroll students to prepare for transition * Maintain communications with high school faculty and staff on resources available to support KIPPsters to and through college, career, and beyond * Collaborate with the Forward and High School teams to:
  • Host KIPP Forward programming and informational events (i.e. application events, parent meetings, career exploration opportunities, college-readiness and transition workshops, college partner events, volunteer events, and socials) events for students and families
  • Develop an effective early alert system and intervention plan for struggling students
  • Arrange college visits and opportunities for HS students to connect with alumni in college
  • Recognize achievement and motivate alumni by mailing care packages, distributing rewards, highlighting success stories at KIPP schools and on social media;

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
• Experience with college enrollment, retention, degree attainment and financial aid processes
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required
• Professional development course provided by the KIPP Foundation, and other college and career readiness partners, is essential
• Prior experience working with college students and helping them achieve academic success, primarily first-generation, minority, and low-income students
• Strong active listening (i.e. seeks to understand the needs and motivations of students.) and coaching skills
• Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the cultures of the community served
• Demonstrates a growth mindset with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback
• Outstanding project management skills, with an ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and meet agreed upon deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines
• Proficiency using computers, printers, copy machines, fax machines, scanners, and telephones
• Strong command in using the internet and social media websites

Travel Requirements

• Able to travel to KIPP campuses, local college/university campuses and other career/training campuses as needed.
• Able to travel for home visits with alumni and families as necessary

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits

As a full-time KIPP Texas employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Texas’ benefit plans. KIPP Texas offers a robust variety of benefits choices with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, life insurance, and disability plans.

KIPP provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.