Higher Pathways Manager

Higher Pathways Program Manager

Reports to: Educational Equity Director Status: Full-Time, Exempt

At the Social Justice Learning Institute, we are dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of youth of color by empowering them to take hold of their educational future using research as a tool for community and social change. We train students to conduct research on problems in their community using a rigorous yearlong curriculum while providing basic academic support (i.e., tutoring, homework assistance, academic counseling, etc.) and college preparatory education.  Our youth learn what it takes to achieve academically in order to go to college and become civically engaged, solution oriented and critical participants in the democratic experience. We envision an educational system where youth become engaged citizens who discover their best talents and apply them to help improve the world they live within.

Job Summary

The Higher Pathways Program Manager manages all aspects of College Persistence and Workforce Development.  This position is responsible for creating, planning, implementing and supervising activities of the College Success Counselor and Career Readiness Counselor who work with all SJLI alumni to support their continuance and completion of their college education and career path.

The Career Readiness Counselor is responsible for providing our Alumni a wealth of useful information in key areas for workforce success, creating programming and training that utilizes well researched solutions to give SJLI Alumni the necessary skills and certifications to get gainfully employed into a career, start & establish a business, and even have a space for business incubation and skill development. For career pathway development, the Counselor will work with various partners, government agencies, local businesses, job training entities and potential employers to identify and build job and career opportunities for our SJLI youth program participants and alumni.

The College Success Counselor is responsible for ensuring that our Alumni are prepared for and excelling while in a 2 or 4 yr college or university as well as those who need support on how to resume their education. Importantly, this position is responsible for tracking our alumni on their college path and collecting data on youth being served. This position works closely with the Higher Pathways Manager to create reports that reflect the current landscape of our efforts towards postsecondary planning for Urban Scholar Seniors.

The Higher Pathways Manager will keep track of where our alumni are on their journey.  This position will also work alongside other Regional Managers to create a report that reflects the current landscape of our efforts towards postsecondary planning and workforce development for graduating urban scholars. Additionally, he or she must maintain an overview of the various contracting, program service delivery, reporting and evaluation activities.

Position Summary:

Provide individual and group interventions for SJLI alumni who are currently in college or employment programming. This program provides a range of youth development services to promote access to and persistence in college and career.

Responsibilities:

With support from the College Success Counselor, the Higher Pathways Manager will lead efforts to:

Coordinate Alumni Post-Secondary Planning

• Coordinate a plan to support SJLI alumni’s persistence through their college and or career path.
• If needed, work with families to bolster college knowledge and engagement in the importance of continuing the college path.
• Collaborate with the team to review and monitor students’ financial arrangements and financial aid to ensure maximum aid is attained and students can budget appropriately.

College Persistence

• Design and refine SJLI’s college counseling model with an eye toward long-term college persistence for SJLI scholars.
• Monitor and support SJLI alumni academic and non-academic persistence goals (e.g. organizational skills, self-advocacy, grit) while they are in college.
• Oversee individual counseling to a cohort of SJLI alumni enrolled in college to maximize their opportunities for success in college. Subjects include class registration, financial aid procedures, social service needs, academic support and personal concerns.
• Directly supervise and train Urban Leaders (current college students who serve as peer mentors to program participants).
• Develop and maintain relationships with college personnel to provide the necessary support needed for degree completion including academic advising, mentoring, financial aid assistance, scholarships, educational workshops, textbook funds, and public transportation assistance.
• Develop academic monitoring and early warning systems to address risks to college retention.
• Act as a liaison between Urban Scholars Seniors, SJLI alumni and colleges.
• Support the  coordination of 1 on 1’s with SJLI alumni  to provide assistance for college re-entry, including financial aid,  FAFSA, college, and scholarship application assistance.
• Identify the need for alumni scholarship awards and/or needed alumni resources.
• Collaborate with the Educational Equity Director to develop a Budget to support the College Persistence work
• Other duties as assigned

With support from the Career Readiness Counselor, the Higher Pathways Manager will lead efforts to:

Workforce Development

• Lead workforce partnership development
• Lead workforce development implementation for all alumni
• Act as a liaison between Urban Scholars Students, Urban scholars Alumni and work related opportunities.
• Support the coordination of 1 on 1’s with Urban Scholars alumni to provide additional job, internship, & other work related application assistance.
• Collaborate with the Educational Equity Director to develop a Budget to support the Workforce Development work
• Other duties as assigned

Data Tracking and Reporting

• Ensure consistent contact with Urban Scholars Alumni at the colleges is being maintained
• Ensure database that tracks Urban Scholars Alumni college &/or career status is being maintained
• Generate monthly reports updating status of youth on caseload in the areas of college persistence and workforce development
• Manage and Track SJLI alumni scholarship awards

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, counseling or related field
• Background in college and career counseling (strongly preferred)
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to the Social Justice Learning Institute goals, guidelines, and principles
• Passionate about college access and completion for low-income scholars, first-generation scholars, and scholars from ethnically underrepresented groups in higher education
• Deep understanding of the evolving college admissions landscape
• Excited to work relentlessly and creatively to tackle college persistence challenges with SJLI Alumni
• Knowledge of college admissions and financial aid process
• Able to maintain confidentiality
• Possesses a valid Driver’s License
• Able obtain a live scan clearance
• Available to work on weeknights and weekends upon the request of management and attend team and staff meetings/trainings
• Possesses fantastic written and verbal communication skills, including strong public speaking skills
• Able to form strong relationships with a wide range of constituents, including, but not limited to, parents, scholars, staff, leadership, and college admissions officers
• Ability to initiate, plan, and execute concurrent, deadline-driven projects from beginning to end with flawless attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment
• Experience in working with young people from the youth development perspective
• Highly computer literate
• Familiar with online database entry and tracking
• Demonstrated ability to engage students on a regular basis with consistent follow up, as necessary
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (Masters preferred) in education, psychology, social welfare, or related field
• 3 – 5 years of experience in a similar non-profit role

COVID Workplace Safety Requirements

This position is currently hybrid with remote and in office activities, 5 days a month. Occasional requirements include interacting with employees, donors, vendors and others who may or may not be vaccinated or recently tested. You can wear personal protection equipment (PPE) at your discretion. SJLI adheres to the directives provided by the LA County Department of Public Health protocols. Currently, weekly COVID testing is offered to all SJLI team members, as part of our COVID-19 Prevention Plan.