College Access Coordinator

Mission

Partnering with families, we equip low-income, high-achieving students with access to resources and opportunities to enter top colleges and graduate with minimal to no debt.

Position Overview

La Vida Scholars seeks a College Access Coordinator to join our team and support 200+ high school students and their families through the college application process and transition to college. Working in tandem with the program staff, this position will be responsible for promoting early college awareness, supporting the college application process, networking with colleges and universities, and developing relationships with students and families.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; Associate’s degree will be considered
• 1-3 years of experience in college access, secondary education, and/or higher education
• Spanish fluency strongly preferred
• Experience teaching, facilitating, and/or curriculum development is a plus
• Commitment to a mission and culture rooted in social justice and inclusion
• Hands-on experience in college readiness, post-secondary success, and the acquisition of professional, social-emotional, and self-efficacy skills for young adults
• Demonstrated understanding of the cultures and communities we serve in Lynn & Chelsea, MA
• Clear vision of strategies that allow students from underrepresented backgrounds to achieve successful college admittance, enrollment, and retention
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a cohesive team
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, provide strategic thought leadership, and interact well with a variety of constituent groups
• Receptive to a culture of feedback and reflection, engaging in continuous learning and self-growth
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and ability to multitask, problem-solve, meet deadlines, and pay close attention to detail
• Ability to produce quality work deliverables that are on-time, complete, and free of errors
• Understands and practices the principles of positive youth development, with strong relationship building skills

Primary Responsibilities

College Access

• Provide advisement in selection and admissions process for post-secondary opportunities, specifically at competitive and highly ranked four-year public and private universities
• Provide advisement in all aspects of financial aid process including scholarships
• Facilitate weekly classes for seniors on topics related to college access, readiness, and success
• Create systems and strategies to effectively communicate college deadlines, criteria and requirements to students and families
• Adhere to strict deadlines and timelines, ensuring students complete timely applications
• Collaborate with interdepartmental staff in the facilitation of agency-wide programming and events
• Network with college admissions, scholarship, and other higher education professionals to enhance organization visibility and reputation leading to the active recruitment of our students
• Collect and maintain case records pursuant to data-management procedures

Early College Awareness

• Work one-on-one with high school students to develop and set individualized educational and career goals as related to post-secondary opportunities and alternative options
• Provide special events, workshops, and presentations on college access, affordability, and the value of higher education to scholars and families
• In collaboration with team, coordinate a minimum of 4 college visits a year, both local and out-of-state
• Facilitate weekly classes for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to prepare them for college and career readiness
• Collaborate with school administrators and staff on an ongoing basis to ensure program participation and success, including attendance at all relevant school meetings

Family and Community Engagement

• Co-facilitate monthly parent meetings/workshops
• Organize college and career skills workshops as well as social events for alumni during winter and summer breaks
• Develop and maintain strong, meaningful relationships built on trust with families and students
• Support recruitment of future La Vida Scholars, processing applications and conducting interviews