College & Career Success Advisor, Talent Search

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $61,500 - $65,000

Position Summary

The Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center (DDC) at Columbia College works with low-income and first-generation college bound youth between the ages of 12 and 27 from low income communities to ensure their high school graduation, college access & enrollment, and college persistence and completion in support of a productive transition into responsible adulthood success to, through, and beyond college.  Reporting to the Executive Director and working collaboratively with DDC staff, the College & Career Success Advisor, Talent Search leads the design, implementation, monitoring, and refinement of high-quality program activities to support the college transition, persistence and success of DDC college-enrolled students as well as the career exploration and readiness of all DDC students and alumni. 

THIS IS A GRANT-FUNDED POSITION. CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT IN THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT UPON ONGOING SUFFICIENT FUNDING.

Responsibilities

• PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND REFINEMENT
  • Develop, coordinate and assist in the planning and execution of high quality programming and services to support student transition and success to/in college.
  • Build and manage a caseload of DDC college-enrolled students to support their college persistence and success through individualized advisement sessions.
  • Develop group workshops that help students with establishing goals and action plans to routinely support and track progress to goal attainment; and special activities and events (e.g. reunions, care package mailings, etc.). 
  • Responsible for the research and development of college resources and supports needed for DDC college-enrolled students to access.
  • Work in partnership with the Director of College Access Programs in the development, implementation, monitoring, and facilitation of DDC's Career Readiness curriculum across DDC's 9th through 12th grades and alumni cohorts. 
  • Design, lead, and manage all career exploration and success events (e.g. career panels/convention, resume/mock interview workshops, informational interviews, job shadowing, internships, etc.)
  • Cultivates relationships, initiates communications, and liaises with key partners to establish and/or deepen relationships) to support collaborative efforts to assist DDC college-enrolled students with college persistence, success, and career exploration.
  • Researches, identifies, and disseminates information related to career opportunities (e.g. internships, graduate school & scholarships, jobs, etc.) and processes to support all DDC students and alumni in their progress from college to career.
  • Manage, track, and ensure the quality of alumni college persistence and career readiness data; including entering and updating all information in the DDC's Salesforce database.
  • Trains and supervises student workers.
  • Provide supervision, instruction, and support for the residential Summer Academy program-which engages nearly 60 local 9th and 10th grade students living and learning on campus. Includes some evening and overnight supervision of the residential staff and minors. Using independent judgment to follow proper protocol for various issues as they arise (student conduct issues, crisis management, medical emergencies).

• ADMINISTRATION
  • Secures space and manages other logistical matters to support career readiness and alumni programming needs.
  • Manages all efforts to collect, enter, and track accurate data (e.g. college transcripts, graduate school enrollment/completion, career readiness program/event participation, careers, etc.) on a timely basis for career readiness and alumni program activities.
  • Participates with other DDC staff in the data analysis efforts to routinely assess programmatic impact and to develop strategies to refine work for greater impact.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, social services, psychology, non-profit administration, or other relevant field required.
• Minimum of two years of related experience required.
• Knowledge of student success strategies to improve college success and persistence.
• Knowledge of various postsecondary pathways other than college (i.e. trade, certification programs, gap years, military).
• Knowledgeable about the ever-changing career trends across all dominant industries.
• Demonstrated understanding of the overall path of a college student including but not limited to enrollment, registration, student life, academic and other resources.
• Experience working with students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience with developing, teaching, facilitating, and leading workshops.
• Demonstrated commitment to post-secondary access for NYC school students.
• Must have a strong demonstrated effective organization and project coordination skills.
• Ability to manage complex tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to build productive relationships with various stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Capacity to effectively use data for results-orientation and problem- solving.
• Detail-oriented and self-directed, with relentless accountability to deadlines.

*Must be able to work evenings (usually until 6:30pm) and weekends (usually Saturdays from 8am to 4pm) when students are attending programs and for special events*

*Must be able to work overnight, at least three nights, during the five-week residential Summer Academy*

**Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be considered**

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in related field preferred.
• Experiencing navigating the complex process, application, and determination of financial aid.
• Experience with the NYC public school system.
• Experience with academic planning, college and career counseling, teaching high school youth and college students.
• Spanish fluency.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.