Postsecondary Access Coach

We’re looking for two passionate, detail-oriented individuals to join our growing team as Postsecondary Access Coaches. We seek candidates who care deeply about education equity and are committed to supporting all students to reach their postsecondary goals. We encourage applications from College AIM alums and other applicants who have first-hand experience navigating the path to and through college as a student of color, first-generation college student, and/or low-income college student.

The Postsecondary Access Coaches will serve as members of College AIM’s Postsecondary Access team, reporting directly to Program Manager for Postsecondary Access. Coaches will thoughtfully guide and fiercely support students and their families, grades 9-12, through the entire college search, application, admission and financial aid processes. Coaches will run in-class workshops, provide individual college advising, lead college visits, maintain relationships with students, faculty and staff at partner high schools, assess student progress,  and communicate results to the Program Manager for Postsecondary Access.

The Person

You’re a good person, not just a good employee.

• We need a self-starter who believes in doing the work.
• You love seeing others succeed and don’t always need to take the credit.
• You’re team-oriented, leading when appropriate, but you’re not too proud to do some of the grunt work.
• You have an unwavering belief that a student’s socio-economic status, race, zip code, gender, sexual orientation, physical differences and learning differences should not determine their life and educational opportunities

We want an inspirational relationship builder.

• To describe you, people say, “They believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself!” You know how and when to push people, allowing them to achieve more than they thought possible.
• You’re deeply empathetic, and this characteristic allows you to connect with young people and their families, and lead them to accomplish big goals.
• People trust you inherently, because they know you care about them, are committed to their success and are consistently reliable.
• You’re here to roll up your sleeves and do the work, not just to check a box or talk about it.
• You take initiative and get stuff done.
• You’re organized, consistent, reliable and responsible.

The Role

The Postsecondary Access Coach responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Meeting 12th grade students, individually and in small groups, to help them build strong college lists, submit competitive college applications and complete all necessary financial aid processes.
• Following up with 12th grade students to ensure that all key application steps are completed, including interviews and document submission.
• Crafting individualized letters of recommendation for all 12th grade students on the caseload to highlight each student’s unique strengths and experiences.
• Ensuring that 12th grade students have a variety of postsecondary options beyond traditional four-year colleges to match their interests, including technical colleges, work readiness programs, military and community colleges.
• Facilitating relationship building between College AIM’s success team and 12th grade students during the spring of, and summer after, their senior year.
• Running engaging group workshops for 9th-11th grade students to build college awareness, college “wish lists” and strong college preparation.
• Supporting 11th grade students during the summer between junior and senior year to prepare them for the college and financial aid processes.
• Leading single-day and overnight college visits to help students find the right fit.
• Serving as a school-wide expert and disseminating information to students and families on all things college including, but not limited to, features of individual colleges, the application process, SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER testing, FAFSA and other financial aid, and external scholarships.

Essential Qualifications

• Proven ability and strong desire to connect with people from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds.
• Self-awareness, sensitivity and a commitment to a growth mindset.
• Ability to be punctual, reliable mode of transportation, driver’s license preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with attention to detail.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Suite and Zoom.
• Experience tracking meeting notes and data, both qualitative and quantitative, consistently and accurately.
• A nuanced knowledge of the changing landscape of college admissions.
• Bachelor’s Degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• We encourage applications from College AIM alums and other applicants with first-hand experience navigating the path through college as a student of color, first-generation college student, and/or low-income college student.
• Experience working in the college access field, admissions, financial aid or otherwise coaching students of color, first-generation students and/or low income students on their postsecondary paths.
• Ideal candidates will have positive energy and true patience! 

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual compensation will start at $42,360, with opportunities for advancement in the organization and salary increases in the coming years.
• 100% Employer Paid Health insurance (current group plan is with Kaiser Permanente).
• 100% Employer Paid Dental insurance (current group plan is with Beam Dental).
• Unlimited PTO – We have adopted this policy because it embraces two key parts of our organizational culture: trust in each other and a great work-life balance. We trust that our team cares deeply about students and will do everything in their power to ensure student success. This policy balances the team’s dedication to students with College AIM’s dedication to the individuals doing the work.
• Fantastic Fridays — School buildings empty quickly on Friday afternoons and college students tend to be work-averse on Fridays, so we don’t expect you to work late on Fridays either. We shut down by 3 pm on Fridays throughout the school year and are closed entirely on Fridays in the summer!

Application Process & Start Date

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through May 11, 2022. If the position is filled before that date, the application process will be closed.  
• To apply, email your resume and cover letter to ayanna.zulu@collegeaim[dot]org Include “Postsecondary Access Coach” and your name in the subject line, and in your cover letter make sure to include your “why” — explain why this work is important to you.
• Anticipated start date is June 1, 2022.