Director of College Access and Persistence (NY)

Who We Are

Excellence Community Schools is a charter management, non-profit organization. The mission of the Excellence Community Schools is to prepare young people to compete for admission to and succeed in top public, private, and parochial high schools by cultivating their intellectual, artistic, social, and emotional, and ethical development through the Bronx Charter School for Excellence (Bronx Excellence) and the Stamford Charter School for Excellence (Stamford Excellence). Our network of schools accomplishes this by offering a challenging and rigorous academic curriculum - which at the earliest of grades, has an eye towards college preparation. We achieve this in a supportive and caring environment that always has high expectations of our students.

Who We Need

We seek dedicated, ambitious, and committed individuals to student success and education reform. Qualified candidates must demonstrate records of achievement, high degrees of personal responsibility, and the drive to do whatever it takes to ensure that every child achieves academic success. This individual must be committed to excellence, lead by example, and see collaboration as a key component of success.

Job Overview

The mission of the Excellence Advancement department is twofold. First, it exists to support our students’ transition to the best possible high placement options that will aid in their progression towards college graduation and career readiness. Second, the department provides an array of services that support ECS students while they are in high school and college. These services include high school success counseling, enrichment and internship program placement, and job and career advising. This multivariate approach focuses on the development of the whole child, prioritizes empowering our families through access to information and exposure, and targets transforming the communities of our students’ upbringing.  

The Director of College Access and Persistence reports to the Managing Director of Excellence Advancement. The successful candidate will liaise with the Director of High School Success to build relationships with our high school aged alumni. S/he will also lead the team providing direct services to our alumni to ensure their success on varied paths to excellence beyond graduation from an Excellence Community school. The Director will shape the department to accommodate a growing alumni base and expand upon the services offered to alumni and their families. 

Specific Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise staff that supports enrichment, internship programs and college and career readiness.
• Develop and deliver content/services based on student need
• Facilitate the team’s efforts to promote alumni admission to and graduation from top colleges and universities. 
• Manage all aspects of our college alumni scholarship fund
• Develop relationships with college access programs, coordinate college trips for alumni, and research and inform alumni of scholarships and Fly-In programs to top colleges and universities. 
• Assist alumni and families with completing financial aid for both access programs and college applications including but not limited to FAFSA and CSS/Profile applications. 
• Collaborate with HS Success to establish an infrastructure that engenders post-graduation relationships and prioritizes relevant student academic achievement and family contact information. 
• Monitor alumni credit accrual to ensure on-time graduation and to encourage academic support when needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Excellence Community Schools alumni/families via email, social media, and virtual and in-person workshops and site visits to colleges (as needed). 
• Collaborate with the Director of Career Readiness and Job Development to ensure alumni are prepared for life after college.

Requirements

• At least three years of experience in college admission, access, or opportunity programs, education, or nonprofit organizations.
• Ability to communicate and work with multiple stakeholders within and outside of the organization.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills. Fluency in Spanish is a plus. 
• Experience with diverse communities or working collaboratively to engage youth in community-building, social and emotional learning.
• Experience with counseling or supporting families.
• Experience with supporting students with diverse learning styles and needs
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines. 
• Demonstrated commitment to educational opportunity and equity for underrepresented youth. 
• Quick learner with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback. 
• Holds expectations for high performance of self and alumni.
• Actively seeks out and participates in professional development activities.
• A Master’s degree is preferred, Bachelor’s degree is required. 

Benefits

• Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary range $75,000-$95,000.
• Health Insurance, dental, vision & 403b Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off/Paid Sick Leave/Parental Leave/FMLA
• Short-term, Long-term Disability benefits and Life Insurance