Position: Coordinator, College Guidance and Transition
Department: College Guidance and Transition

Reports to: Associate Director of College Guidance and Transition

Location: Hybrid In-Person

Status: Full-time Non-exempt

Start Date: Spring 2023

Since 2003, The Opportunity Network (OppNet) has ignited the drive, curiosity, and agency of historically and systematically underrepresented students on their paths to and through college and into thriving careers, powered by our commitment to access and community. This year, OppNet will reach more than 10,000 students of color nationwide to support them in achieving their college and career goals.

All of the work OppNet leads is in service of realizing our vision of a nation connected through vibrant communities and networks actively in pursuit of social justice and educational equity – a nation where all young people can freely create their path to enduring success that honors their passions, ambitions, and full identities.

• Galvanize Community While Celebrating the Individual

• Maximize the Power of Storytelling

• Center Social and Racial Equity Relentlessly

• Activate Solutions Through Assets, Not Deficits

• Pursue Impact That Lasts

The Coordinator, College Guidance and Transition (CGT) will help lead the highest quality student-driven college guidance and transition programming. Inclusive of supporting the 12th grade OppNet Fellows with honing their sense of college “fit, curating a “best fit” college list, completing all college application and financial aid requirements, assessing financial aid packages, and making their final matriculation decision.

The Coordinator will also specialize in coordinating resources for the entire CGT program for 11th grade through college first-year OppNet Fellows, inclusive of scholarship opportunities, personal writing support, financial aid and wellness support, examining student need and helping incorporate student voice and choice within the curricular and programmatic scope of the CGT program. The Coordinator will work with outstanding students, enjoy the freedom to create and collaborate, and seize a real opportunity to create social change.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to connect with high school and college-level students from historically underserved and underrepresented communities, with an awareness and familiarity of the overall college application process and a level of comfort in supporting students navigating their first year transition into college. With regards to coordinating aspects of the CGT program, the candidate should have some project management experience, with demonstrated abilities to keep a project moving towards successful completion, within budget and deadlines. Understanding metrics and competences and connecting to various projects within the department, along with effective cross-departmental communication, attention to detail and strong organizational skills are essential for success in this role. Relevant experience in curriculum development for students and supporting student wellness needs is a plus.

In addition, the ideal candidate will personally connect to the important work we do and value diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) across the organization. The candidate will demonstrate an awareness of the needs and challenges faced by high school and college-level students from historically underserved and underrepresented communities. The candidate will demonstrate DE&I values by actively participating in all organizational-wide learning sessions and self-reflection as well as working with others to enact changes that contribute to meeting the organization’s DE&I goals. The candidate should possess outstanding professionalism and discretion, organization and attention to detail, energy and initiative, the ability to prioritize and complete a variety of tasks on time, and a willingness to work on a wide range of assignments.

What You Will Be Doing

Individualized College Guidance and Transition Support (40%):

• Advise and support a caseload of 25-30 high school seniors and their families throughout the college application process through one-on-one meetings and group sessions in which students will: create balanced college lists, complete applications, and identify and apply for various types of financial aid

• Work with Fellows and volunteers to develop and edit personal statements, supplemental essays, and essays for scholarships

• Support the completion of financial aid forms and coordinate provision of relevant resources for financial aid applications (FAFSA, TAP, CSS Profile, etc.) and conduct financial aid counseling for Fellows and families

• Liaise with college admissions officers to advocate for Fellows throughout the decision process, ensure that all college contacts are up to date, and build upon relationships with admissions teams at colleges across the country

• Conduct 1:1 check-ins with a designated caseload of 20-25 first-year college Fellows and conduct campus visits at local campuses throughout the fall and spring semesters

• Follow up with College Fellows to provide relevant resources to manage issues they are facing on campus, e.g. academic challenges, socio-emotional challenges, adjusting to college life, connecting with professors, etc.

Overall Program Coordination (45%):

• Collaborate with the Curriculum & Facilitation and Wellness Support teams to design and deliver student-driven high quality and high impact events and services

• Serve as support for coordinating scholarship opportunities, including, but not limited to sharing scholarship information with Fellows, working with the CGT team to track scholarship opportunities on Salesforce and liaising with the Strategic Advancement Team regarding institutional scholarship partnerships

• Liaise with the Wellness Team with monthly Student Wellness & Support meetings and to design wellness initiatives and strategies to support 12th grade and 1st year Fellows navigating their college transition

• Liaise between the Student Services and Operations and CGT team for the Student Board of Directors

• Coordinate and support the planning of college visits for 11th and 12th grade Fellows, including the annual February mid-winter college trip and Summer Institute college trip

• Coordinate and support planning of weekly workshops, annual intensive/plenary-based workshops and ongoing opportunities such as 11th grade College Application Boot Camp and 12th grade College Transition Boot Camp events, College Access and Success Symposium and the fall College Essay Coach program

• Maintain detailed records on Fellows’ admissions decisions, financial aid packages, GPAs, test scores, etc.

• Track data, statistics and competencies related to OppNet programming for reporting and evaluation purposes

• Support CGT Team with analysis and reporting out of metrics, findings, competencies, etc

• Provide coordination and facilitate sessions on college access, transition, and success for all OppNet Fellows

• Provide individualized support to in-college Fellows through one-on-one check-in meetings and evaluate Fellows’ progress based on a predetermined rubric

• Lead recruitment visits/information sessions at area high schools, review annual OppNet applications for rising juniors and interview prospective Fellows

Organizational Learning, Development, and Program Reflection (15%):

• Participate in organization-wide DEI learning sessions, equity working groups, and optional identity-based affinity groups

• Attend weekly team meetings, All Hands meetings, All Staff meetings,team retreats, and annual institution-wide retreat

• Develop professional and personal intentions as they relate to OppNet’s DEI commitment, incorporated into annual performance reviews.

Requirements to Work for OppNet

• OppNet requires that all employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including new hires, unless an exemption has been approved.

• Hybrid In-Person: Candidates for this position must be available for regularly scheduled and ad hoc meetings that require a physical presence with NYC-based OppNet stakeholders regularly

We take a thoughtful and deliberate approach to generating salary offers that take into account previous work experience, the role you’re entering into, and equity within OppNet. Equity is important to us and it is critical that our compensation approach ensures equity across the organization. Hence, we make every effort to make our first offer our best offer because we want to ensure equity and demonstrate that we value you and your work from day one.

The hiring salary range for this role is $59,447 - $65,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

At OppNet, eligible employees can enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical coverage (health, dental, and vision), an HRA, Flexible Spending Account, family leave (up to 100% coverage for twelve weeks), life insurance, and retirement benefits. Full-time employees can participate in our 403(b) retirement benefit program with up to a 3% employer match. Additionally, we offer generous time off from work with up to 58 fully paid non-working days (through a combination of vacation, sick, and holidays).

Please use this link https://tinyurl.com/3acw25tw to apply.

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The Opportunity Network is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment, and we are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified applicants. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We recognize that diverse teams make the strongest teams and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.