College Success Coordinator

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned College Success Coordinator to support our College Success Office.

The College Success Coordinator will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.

The College Success Coordinator will join the College Success Office team that provides student outreach, academic support and guidance, financial aid advisement, college transfer assistance, summer and winter internship opportunities, and community building efforts within our program. The ideal candidate will have the ability to create a supportive environment and can easily build rapport and professional relationships with students, staff, parents, and the college community, while maintaining systems to improve retention and graduation outcomes.

For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know.

• Master’s degree preferred in higher education, counseling, student administration, guidance, social work, or related area
• At least 2+ years of experience in providing direct services in an educational, social service, or non-profit environment, providing mentoring, coaching, academic advising, personal, and/or career guidance and advice

• Knowledge of higher education, financial aid, student development theories, engagement, and high-impact best practices in higher education
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to complete tasks accurately and in a timely manner
• Demonstrated experience working with low-income, first-generation students, and adults
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Outlook

• Manage and track all college students in the College Success Office using the appreciative advising model, focusing on college transition/persistence/completion, vocational programs, and career readiness
• Maintain frequent and regular contact with students and Counselors to monitor progress and to troubleshoot academic, financial, and socio-emotional issues
• Provide bi-weekly supervision with College Counselors
• Create and maintain professional development plans for each College Counselor to provide quality services to college students
• Monitor and track overall retention, persistence, on-track, and graduation goals to ensure College Counselors are working towards and meeting goals
• Conduct data quality control and assurance check-ins every month to ensure the data required is complete and accurate
• Partner with the fellow Lead Counselor, Specialists, Assistant Director, and Program Director to execute academic and social programs
• Lead teams in the collecting and recording of college data for 100% of caseload, including but not limited to transcripts, bills & schedules, financial aid: FAFSA, TAP, Pell, graduate confirmation, etc.
• Provide support to counselors around frequent and regular contact with students to monitor progress and to troubleshoot academic, financial, and socio-emotional issues
• Utilize stakeholders within the community, organization, and families to ensure participants know that they are supported (may require home visits if deemed necessary)
• Attend 3-5 school visits per semester for high-risk students and schools that have a high number of participants to meet with the Administration (will require travel)
• Ensure that all students are placed on caseloads
• Collaborate to transition and onboard team members as needed
• Partner with counselors to ensure that college graduation is happening within 6 years or less of initial matriculation to college
• Partner with the Assistant Director to create student seminars and events for participants
• Partner with the Assistant Director to identify professional development training for College Counselors to ensure best practices in student engagement, career exposure,…