College Counseling Director

[Priority Deadline of February 4th], applications will still be accepted after this date.

Our Impact: Our scholars are leaders on more than 300 college campuses nationwide, including at partner institutions like Middlebury College, Tulane University, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. They graduate at rates that are three times the national average for first-generation students, proving what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. One year after college, 80 percent of our alumni are employed, and by age 30, they earn an average of $89,823—outpacing the national median and demonstrating the long-term economic mobility a bachelor’s degree unlocks.

These outcomes are the result of a deliberate approach that supports scholars to minimize student debt, secure paid internships, and reduce the need to work excessive hours while in school—ensuring they can focus on learning, leadership, and personal growth. By preparing our scholars to capture the full value of their degree, we position them to thrive in the 21st-century economy and lead lives of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power.

Our Values

At College Track, our values drive the way we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our passion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged. 

• COMMITMENT: With every choice and every decision, we center the 10-year promise. 
• PASSION: It is the fire that drives us, and we’re in it for the long haul.
• JOY: Energized by the hopes, ambitions, and growth of our scholars, we celebrate the impact of our community.
• AUTHENTICITY: What each brings to the table contributes to deep and trusting relationships.
• EXCELLENCE: Every day is better than the last, we’re always learning, always progressing, always evolving.

Position Overview 

The College Counseling Director (CCD) reports to the Executive Site Director and is responsible for leading college counseling outcomes at their site. As the ultimate college counseling expert at the site, the College Counseling Director leads site-level college counseling and matriculation strategy to implement College Track’s College Counseling Playbook priorities and College Counseling Philosophy. With the ESD, and in accordance with organizational priorities and philosophy, as well as the requirements and deadlines driven by local or state context, the CCD co-develops and implements a site-based strategy that ensures scholars are matriculating to partner universities and are on track to matriculate to a 4-year college or university. The CCD manages and coaches the College Counselor + Advisor through check-ins, observation and training to ensure alignment in counseling strategies and real time data collection. The CCD divides and assigns scholar caseloads to the College Counseling Team and also manages a caseload of juniors and seniors to provide individualized college counseling as well as participation in college readiness programming like family meetings, financial aid workshops, and Writing Institute. 

Primary Responsibilities 

Lead College Counseling and Matriculation Strategy at the Site

• Lead goal setting process with site college counseling team to develop annual strategic plan for meeting matriculation goals and executing college counseling programming  
• Track and maintain scholar college application, financial aid, and matriculation data (college aspiration lists, admission decisions, FAFSA completion, matriculation steps, etc.) using Salesforce, standardized spreadsheets, and additional platforms
• Meet high expectations for scholar college application, matriculation, and partnership goals and ensure FAFSA/alternate state-based financial aid completion as the ultimate content expert at the site
• Develop a site-based college exposure strategy that follows College Track’s program requirements, centers College Track’s college partners and ensures scholars have visited four colleges in person by the end of 11th grade
• Build relationships and collaboration with key stakeholders like College Track Partner college/university representatives, partner high school college counselors, partner high school leadership, etc. 
• Collaborate closely with the College Thrive team to understand college scholar trends in order to inform college counseling strategies in the College Going phase of the program and to ensure a strong transition for graduating high school seniors
• Serve as the primary liaison between the central College Counseling Strategy team and the site 

Management and Coaching

• Manage the College Counselor + Advisors (CCA) at the site, completing weekly one-on-one check-ins to delegate responsibilities, ensure alignment and program fidelity, clarify questions and provide consistent feedback
• Equip CCAs with caseload management tools and strategies to integrate use into their day-to-day workflow, ensuring tracking and data collection is happening in real-time and on-time to a high standard
• Observe CCA leading individualized college counseling meetings, individualized and group family meetings, college clinics, Writing Institute sessions, and more to provide feedback with clear action steps to improve college counseling

Caseload Management and College Readiness Programming

• Divide and strategically assign junior and senior scholar caseloads to the site’s College Counseling Team
• Manage a diverse caseload of ~65 high school juniors and seniors, including undocumented students, ensuring each student has the support they need to matriculate to a four-year college
• Provide individualized, one-on-one college counseling to students, ensuring students complete FAFSA, their college applications, and receive financial aid and scholarship application support
• Assess, track, and report leading indicators (like attendance, college application submission, and financial aid completion) in service of driving student outcome metrics including: percentage of students who matriculate to partner colleges, percentage of students who submit FAFSA, and more.
• Lead specialized clinics and family meetings related to college readiness, including topics such as: financial aid, the college application process, and scholarships
• Support in the preparation for and facilitation of key College Counseling-focused LEAD lessons for seniors and, occasionally, juniors
• Lead Writing Institute to support students in writing drafts of their personal statements before the start of 12th grade.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications 

First and foremost, the College Counseling Director will be a fierce advocate for College Track’s mission to equip scholars confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Additionally, candidates bring with them the following skills, experience, and knowledge:

• Minimum 3+ years of experience as a full-time College Counselor supporting 12th graders through the application, financial aid, and matriculation processes in CA, CO, LA, MD and/or the District of Columbia; experience should be within the past 5 years
• Minimum Bachelor’s degree with master’s degree preferred 
• Program area expertise: knowledge of financial aid and scholarships, including supporting students in applying for FAFSA and relevant state-specific financial aid applications
• Program area expertise: knowledge in key college application processes like Common App or state-specific applications in CA, CO, LA, MD and/or the District of Columbia (e.g. University of California system, California State University system, University System of Maryland, etc.); existing relationships with, or ability to develop relationships with, key admission and financial aid staff at colleges of interest, especially CT’s college partners
• 2+ years of experience in staff development, coaching, management, and training
• Demonstrated success in analyzing scholar data, including transcripts, and developing targeted, data-driven interventions
• Ability to identify and solve problems that may arise during the application, financial aid, and matriculation processes
• Ability to give and receive upward, downward, and sideways feedback regularly. 
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks as needed.
• Working knowledge of relevant software and tools, such as learning management systems and presentation software.
• Ability to work in-person, at site 11am-7pm Monday-Friday, or site specific hours.
• Driving is required for this role. A valid driver’s license, ability to pass College Track’s driver's clearance process and ability to meet College Track's auto insurance company guidelines is required.
• Physical Requirements: Site Roles: alternating between sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, standing, typing on a keyboard, manipulating a mouse to use a computer's operating system/internet, and more active work such as moving around an office environment, communicating with scholars/stakeholders, (conveying and receiving information), classroom management, far visual acuity, near visual acuity lifting/carrying/moving objects (20 pounds).

Compensation and Benefits

This position is Full-Time and exempt with a full compensation range of $79,000.00 - $99,000.00 with the exact compensation depending on experience. However, as someone new to the role, you can expect an offer between $84,000.00 - $88,999.00 to ensure internal equity while leaving room for salary growth during your time in the position.

College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work-life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 23 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 23 paid office closures and holidays in your first year of employment.  Learn more about benefits here (bit.ly/JpBs22).

What Else You Should Know

• This is an In-person role based at the College Track Site.
• Travel may be needed for this position
• While we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, we especially encourage applicants who identify as first-generation college graduates to apply for open opportunities on staff.
• College Track is an equal-opportunity employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. College Track does not discriminate based on race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.