College Readiness Specialist

HCZ requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Accordingly, successful candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit proof of vaccination prior to commencement of employment.

The Center for Higher Education and Career Support (CHECS) provides year-round academic, administrative and emotional support as well as financial and career preparation to participants of HCZ’s Promise Academy high schools and afterschool programs. Our mission is to ensure that our participants are provided the resources and guidance needed to be successful in college and beyond. The main components of the CHECS include: student outreach, academic support and guidance, financial aid advisement, college transfer assistance, summer and winter internship opportunities, and community building efforts within our program.

We are seeking a College Readiness Specialist to support HCZ Promise Academy high school and afterschool students matriculating into a two or four-year college/university or enrolling in a vocational certification program. The College Readiness Specialist will work closely with high school counselors and coordinators as well as CHECS colleagues to ensure proper college and professional program matches for students regarding school community, size, location, student to faculty ratio, academic interests, financial aid, and extracurricular interests. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of the practice, procedures, and trends in college admissions, college counselling, and academic advising. Successful candidates will also have demonstrated experience with programs and resources that support the college application process, matriculation, and overall academic success of at-risk student populations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with the high school site counselors and coordinators to improve the college and vocational program matching process and ensure best practices for participants transitioning from high school
• Advise high school students as well as parents on high school graduation requirements, the college process, and professional education opportunities
• Conduct ongoing meetings with stakeholders on high school student achievement and success
• Create a college process guide for high school site college coordinators and counselors
• Revamp CHECS’s Advance to Start Summer Bridge Program according to the year’s class
• Research successful college/university summer bridge programs to identify policies, practices, procedures, and best practices for preparing students for successful matriculation
• Coordinate program events such as the Annual College Expo, CHECS’s College Signing Day, Senior Week, Parent Financial Aid Night, On-Site FAFSA nights, and other high school to college transition programs
• Work with CHECS colleagues on transitioning high school students to their CHECS Lead Counselor
• Manage student files and documentation (FERPA, Intake, Clearinghouse, high school transcript and diplomas, and freshman accountability contracts).
• Develop and implement college matching, admissions, and college success trainings and professional development for high school site college coordinators and counselors
• Design professional development opportunities to the needs of students
• Prepare and implement intervention plans for late high school graduates and senior students in summer credit recovery courses including but not limited to tutoring, counseling, career guidance, and other resources
• Follow up on issues and trends in college admissions, higher education, testing, as well as keeping up-to-date about specific colleges and maintaining membership in professional organizations: The National Association of College Admission Counseling, College Board, etc.