Community College Transfer Specialist

About ScholarMatch

Founded in 2010 by author Dave Eggers, ScholarMatch began as a scholarship crowdfunding platform and has since evolved into a full-service college access and persistence organization.

At ScholarMatch, we are committed to supporting first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds earn a bachelor’s degree within five years. We’re working towards realizing our vision, where all students have access to higher education, support to persist to graduation, and opportunities to succeed in fulfilling careers.

Our ultimate goal is to nurture a community of young people who can successfully navigate the higher education landscape, confronting its challenges, breaking barriers, and redefining success on their paths to graduation and beyond. Education opens doors to opportunity and social mobility by allowing students a chance to build fulfilling careers. However, the road to higher education is paved with challenges that can be particularly daunting for first-generation college students. At ScholarMatch, we strive to change this scenario for underserved young people by offering them comprehensive support services focusing on individualized college and career advising, targeted scholarships, and ongoing mentorship all the way to college graduation and the launch of their careers.

Learn more at ScholarMatch.org.

Position Description

ScholarMatch is seeking a full-time, non-exempt Community College Transfer Specialist to play an important role in our growing non-profit. The Community College Transfer Specialist will support ScholarMatch’s new STEM Transfer Program and manage a caseload of community college students planning to transfer to a four-year institution and earn their bachelor’s degree. This position reports to the Senior Director of Programs and Compliance.

This position is ideal for a candidate who has a passion for our mission, strong relationship-building skills, excellent advising skills, experience working with community college students, knowledge of the transfer system, and interest in using data to improve effectiveness and advance our mission. This position is remote, but candidates must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. Occasional travel, in-person event attendance, and evening or weekend hours may be required.

This is a union position and is grant funded until May 31, 2026 with a possible extension based on available funding.

Primary Responsibilities

Your primary responsibility through the STEM Transfer Program is to successfully manage and support a caseload of STEM major students -- providing expertise and mentorship, helping them navigate the often confusing terrain of the transfer process, and providing documentation, followup, and administrative support necessary to the success of our students and organization.

• Meet individually with students to assess their transfer plans, review their application materials, and support them with transfer admissions and financial aid applications
• Develop curricula for group coaching sessions on topics such as balancing life responsibilities with applying for transfer, best practices for transfer applications, belonging in college, financial planning, transfer logistics, and STEM career options
• Identify and connect students with appropriate resources including mentoring programs, scholarships, STEM research opportunities, and financial support
• Develop and implement trainings for ScholarMatch volunteer college coaches around community college and transfer options; provide ongoing support to coaches as they work with students on transfer application components
• Stay updated on the latest programs and resources available for navigating transfer in California, such as ASSIST, ADT, TAG, Transfer Pathways, etc.
• Stay updated on the latest programs and resources available to support transfer students at four-year institutions
• Administer student surveys and log meeting and interaction data; review and analyze data for continuous improvement of the program
• Review, edit, and solicit feedback on Community College Ready Milestones
• Compile information and data for various reports; check and ensure accuracy of the data
• Maintain and update ScholarMatch’s online resources around community college, transfer, and STEM pathways
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with community college partners

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two (2) years of professional experience, expertise, and knowledge around issues facing first-generation, low-income college students
• Two (2) years of experience with the California community college transfer process to the UCs, CSUs, and private institutions, including strong understanding of transfer requirements and articulation agreements, particularly for STEM students
• Experience and comfort in engaging in direct communications with students
• Experience in either academic advising, counseling, or student coaching
• Experience with supporting students with financial aid
• Advanced proficiency in Google Suite and database management
• Must have excellent written communication skills
• Must be able to to hold sensitive information confidentially, and navigate urgent and/or sensitive student issues with care, maturity, and responsibility
• Must be able to perform all functions of this position within what would be deemed to be reasonable accommodations
• Must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of personalities throughout the organization
• Must be comfortable working in an anti-racist organization with a diverse group of external callers and visitors and internal staff at all levels

Preferred but not Required

• Bilingual (e.g. Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog)
• Knowledge of Basecamp and Airtable
• Experience in macOS operating systems and related applications