Director, Onward

The Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF) is a comprehensive supplemental education and youth development organization that works to help motivated students develop the intellectual curiosity, academic ability, social values, and personal resilience they need to ensure success in school, career, and life. HEAF identifies scholars in middle school and supports them until they graduate from college through a variety of after-school, Saturday, and summer educational and youth development programs.

Position Description:

HEAF is seeking an energetic and dynamic Director to oversee all aspects of the college exposure for HEAF students and families. That includes managing the Onward team, working with HEAF 12th-grade students through their application journey and supporting students currently in college. The Onward Director should have a range of knowledge regarding effective college counseling skills for high school students, partnership management, effective lesson planning and workshop leadership, and the ability to promote HEAF’s mission statement. Our ideal candidate should also have a keen understanding of various college application forms and should be able to assist students in obtaining the necessary documentation needed for the college application and matriculation process. The Onward Director will also build out HEAF’s through college support ensuring that students have everything they need to graduate from college. This position manages the Onward Manager and reports to the Senior Director of Programs.

Job‌ ‌Type:‌ ‌Full‌-‌Time‌ ‌ ‌

Schedule:

The staff schedule is set based on the annual programming calendar. The standard schedule is Monday-Friday but must be able to work Saturdays and some evenings as dictated by programming needs.

Academic Year (Hybrid 2-3 days in office) Monday- Friday 11:00 am-7:00 pm

Summer Quest (July & August): Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Staff Management and Development

• Supervise‌ ‌and manage‌ ‌one full-time Student Success Manager and part-time seasonal instructors.
• Create a positive and successful team culture.
• Collaborate ‌with‌ the Senior Director of Programs ‌to‌ ‌hire, ‌onboard‌, and train ‌program‌ ‌staff‌.
• Research‌ ‌and‌ ‌coordinate‌ ‌external‌ ‌professional‌ ‌development‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌for‌ ‌program‌ ‌staff’s‌ ‌continuous‌ ‌education‌ ‌and‌ ‌growth‌. ‌ ‌
• Set‌ ‌departmental‌ and individual team ‌goals‌ ‌and‌ ‌objectives‌ ‌that support HEAF’s mission.

College Exposure & Application Management:

• Coach graduating seniors through the college application process, both in one-on-one meetings and group sessions. Assist students in finalizing their individual college lists, managing the application process, completing financial aid forms, identifying and applying for scholarships, and assessing matriculation options and award packages.
• Promote a diverse and individualized college application process including the exploration of HBCUs and schools outside of NYC.
• Oversee the planning of college visits and admission workshops in person and virtually, and support college exposure events for all HEAF students.
• Focus on student matriculation support at the end of the school year.
• Liaise with school officials and parents/guardians through each phase of the college application process.
• Using Salesforce, maintain records of student progress during all stages of the college application process.
• Ensure positive and healthy maintenance of our relationships with partnered school staff. Coordinate with guidance counselors in each partnered high school to effectively manage the process of each graduating senior.
• Ensure curriculum aligns with HEAF’s goals pertaining to academic, social, and emotional development.
• Manage the development of a scholarship process with the goal of students going to college with as little debt as possible.
• Stay current on college applications and support trends to ensure that we are providing relevant guidance.
• Oversee the planning of events such as college tours, College Decision Day, Onward Winter Conference, Summer Transition Series, etc.

Through College Support:

• Develop and implement Transition to College Curriculum for graduating high school seniors.
• Create relationships with diversity offices, and other on-campus organizations to ensure students are supported while in college.
• Provide one-on-one support and advising to students currently enrolled in college.
• Maintain, collect, and report student data on an ongoing basis, such as degree audits, resumes transcripts, and financial aid.
• Foster community by planning events during college breaks and over the summer.
• Consistently share summer internships, scholarships, and other opportunities for college students.

Qualifications:

• Minimum‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌Bachelor’s‌ ‌Degree‌ and at least 4 ‌years‌ ‌of‌ college-focused program development. Experience with high school-aged or college students is preferred.
• Commitment to HEAF’s mission and supporting students through their middle, high school, and college journey.
• Strong understanding of the college application and financial aid process.
• Experience with people management and developing high-performing teams.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment. Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced and changing educational environment.
• Exceptional communication, Interpersonal, organizational, and written skills
• Extensive planning skills and execution of planned events are important.
• Ability to track and analyze data and present outcomes. Experience with Salesforce is a plus.
• Proficiency in multiple project management and budgeting.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Compensation: $70k annually

HEAF is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.