Director of College and Career Counseling

School Leadership Team Responsibilities 

Participate on the Schools Leadership Team and grade-level leadership team to share crucial college and career knowledge and keep leaders aware of students goals and progress towards their postsecondary plans 

Lead department meetings and professional development related to KIPP Forward. Includes: 2x a month meeting with Counseling team to review data 

Facilitate Monthly Match Meetings with high school leadership KIPP Forward leadership regional leadership and the counseling team. 

Facilitate and encourage strong communication between high school and KIPP Forward staff teams and departments to continually improve outcomes. 

College and Career Counseling Leadership 

Lead execution of Counseling and Match strategy including support of an Early Decision cohort and development of a strong personal statement for every Senior 

Establish system to ensure every Junior and Senior meets 1:1 with their counselor 2x per year Effectively plan the organization and time management of the team in planning parent nights college visits guest speakers career exploration trips and other postsecondary access programming Implement and manage special initiatives and programs that grow college and career readiness skills and exposure for students 

Establish and maintain relationships/partnerships with colleges and universities summer programs and scholarship organizations; maintain current and formalize new partnerships with external organizations to increase available options for career and summer programs. 

Serve as main point of contact for college admissions representatives actively managing those relationships building new relationships that could serve students and advocating on behalf of students with additional appeals for admission and financial aid when necessary Maintain current knowledge on policies and updates on postsecondary education financial aid and special populations (undocumented students students with special needs IEPs) and share implications and changes that impact our students 

Be knowledgeable to advise and coach all students including all postsecondary pathways and students with unique circumstances through the postsecondary planning and application process Organize family engagement workshops related to postsecondary education options 

Support Nudge for Match program including opt-in campaigns and incorporation of content into counseling 

Team Management 

Develop an inclusive positive and effective team culture by developing ambitious team goals building the teams competencies. 

Create a collaborative team with consistent communication with key stakeholders teammates and families. 

Provide professional development to College and Career Counselors and College Readiness Teachers in the form of department meetings and when beneficial outside workshops conferences visits or trainings as well as co-planning mid and end of year team step backs.

Provide training to high school staff on how to support students in the college application process including writing letters of recommendation. 

Directly manage junior and senior college and career counselors supporting with student postsecondary guidance coaching and goal setting to define success for the semester/year and beyond.

KIPP:Forward 

Observe counselors conducting 1:1s with students 2x per year and provide feedback 

Conduct weekly one-on-one check-ins with direct reports and participate in weekly one-on-one check- ins with the School Leader and the Regional Managing Director of KIPP Forward (or Director of Postsecondary Match) along with mid-year and end-of-year evaluations 

Progress monitor all postsecondary access goals 

Oversee KIPP Forward campus team expenditures 

Goals and Data Management 

Collaborate with KIPP Forward Director and High School leader to set yearly student-centered bottoms- up goals aimed at increase in BA/BS enrollment ECCC and overall postsecondary enrollment 

Maintain constant and consistent communication on the data progress of students with key stakeholders including but not limited to: KIPP Foundation College personnel CBOS Career Partners school and regional leadership and state leadership along with students and families 

Plan and lead cyclical data review at Monthly Match Meetings with leadership to compare progress against milestones assess areas for improvement and adjust plans to achieve intended outcomes 

Set up utilize train and support counselors with various student management platforms to track progress monitor and submit student data including but not limited to Salesforce Overgrad Google suite etc. 

Ensure pertinent data is collected entered and updated not limited to: college matriculation expected HS graduation year enrollments GPAs wish lists applications submitted contact owners etc. Successfully maintain all required systems and data management (Overgrad Salesforce) 

Instructional Leadership 

Collaborate with high school leader to ensure year-long Junior and Senior seminars are scheduled and staffed 

Observe seminar at least 1x a week and provide feedback to seminar instruction 

Serve as lead for KIPPs College Knowledge and Career Success Curriculum; Manage seminar curriculum development and revision 

Ensure implementation of seminar assessments and regularly review data with seminar instructors 

Other Responsibilities: 

Serve as the main liaison to the KIPP Foundation on HS Match and College and Career Counseling initiatives including: scholarships personal statements College Knowledge and Career Success Curriculum Early Decision You Science 

Attend monthly Director of College Counseling meetings with KIPP Foundation 

Qualifications :

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree from an accredited four-year institution

Preferred Education and Experience:

Masters degree preferred.

Experience working with high school students and their families in the college counseling field strongly preferred

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

Experience in leading high-performance and diverse teams

Resilience strong work ethic and outcomes orienteddemonstrated ability to balance competing priorities under stress and follow through despite sometimes tight or back to back deadlines

Previous experience in using data to drive decision making strongly

Comfort with working in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment

Strong interpersonal skills; Ability to work with a wide-range of people including teachers parents students alumni corporate partners vendors and admissions personnel

Ability to project plan organize and prioritize with a collaborative spirit

Fast learner with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback

Proven written and verbal communication skills

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a stationary position often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a cell phone copy machine and computer printer.

Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

Communicating with others to exchange information.

Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move up to 20 pounds occasionally.

Work Environment:

Able to meet school schedule (i.e. 7:08am-4/5pm - depending on Professional Development days)

Able to work evenings holidays and weekends as necessary

Travel Requirements:

Able to travel to for KIPP National Professional Development 1 or 2 times per year

Additional Information :

As a full-time KIPP Kansas City employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Kansas City benefit plans. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits with competitive rates including medical dental and vision options as well as life insurance fertility and disability plans.

KIPP Kansas City provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer we hire without consideration of race religion creed color national origin age gender sexual orientation marital status veteran status or disability

Compensation

Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. Additionally KIPP KC offers a comprehensive benefits package including health coverage and retirement.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Contract