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About the Role

The College Access Specialist works across Middle and High School programs to build a college-going culture and promote awareness of the link between higher education and professional careers. This role focuses on supporting high school juniors and seniors in RHI's Youth Leader program by co-creating a 'right-fit' college roadmap and providing comprehensive college-readiness support.

Responsibilities

Develop and facilitate programming to expose and prepare participants for college, including early awareness programming for 6th-10th graders.
Coach an estimated caseload of 40-50 juniors and seniors on college preparedness.
Lead the college application process for college-bound participants and advise on a variety of post-secondary options.
Develop workshops, events, and trips that will support, inspire, and inform participants about the skills needed to pursue higher education and other post-secondary opportunities.
Mobilize resources to connect participants with relevant resources important for post-secondary success.
Coordinate financial aid and FAFSA workshops; assist students and parents with navigating the financial aid/FAFSA process.
Coordinate scholarship application process.
Coordinate with program leadership in youth development to provide differentiated college prep support to participants according to their individual plans, in small group and one-on-one settings.
Support with College/University partnerships.
Analyze report cards to co-develop improvement plans with participants.
Work closely with students' guidance counselors or college advisors for additional assistance.
Develop and lead parent workshop series on post-secondary options and processes.
Connect with parents/guardians regarding the financial aspect of the college application process.
Track youth progress and provide consistent documentation/progress notes in the Salesforce Database and other tracking systems.
Attend staff and planning meetings.
May be assigned other duties and responsibilities as determined by the Executive Director or an assigned member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree required.
Work experience in college access, readiness, or exposure (at least 2 yr) is strongly preferred.
Knowledge of the college application process and financial aid is required.
Experience teaching or facilitating groups.
Computer skills; experience working with Google Suite and Salesforce.
A resident of Red Hook preferred.

Skills

Excited about community-based youth development work.
Knowledge of the New York City public education system, the college application process, and college retention services.
First-hand experience with youth programming and/or working with first-generation college students is preferred.
Strong knowledge of CUNY/SUNY systems; understanding of colleges nationwide and their academic offerings.
Extensive knowledge of FAFSA/TAP NYS financial aid processes.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
Proven ability to serve as a role model in an after-school setting.
Ability to create and implement an educational plan.
Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire youth, provide needed support, show patience, and maintain a positive attitude.
Knowledge of the Red Hook community.
Demonstrated ability to work individually and as part of a team.

Location

Red Hook, Brooklyn

Work Type

Full-time
Hybrid

Experience Level

At least 2 years of experience in college access, readiness, or exposure is strongly preferred.

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree required.

Salary/Compensations

$50,000-$55,000 annually.

Benefits

Employee assistance program (EAP) with 12 counseling sessions per year.
403b retirement plan.
Flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent, and commuter expenses.
Life insurance.
Flexible hybrid work schedule.
PTO days (prorated based on work schedule).
Summer Fridays, when possible.

About the Company

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based nonprofit working to improve the lives of residents in Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex.
RHI believes that social change begins with empowered youth and that change in communities should come from within.
RHI nurtures young people to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community, and society.
Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of RHI's approach.
RHI's model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities to interrupt systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities.
Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future.
RHI has been nationally recognized for its innovative, place-based approach to social change over its 20-year history.
RHI creates a culture of excellence with ten core values: community leadership, mutual respect, welcoming space, strengths-based perspective, trust, high expectations, encouragement, inspiration, holistic approach, and adaptability.

Equal Opportunity

RHI actively engages individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to embracing diversity across all areas and aspects of the organization.
RHI believes that an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards individual differences and embracing an inclusive and equitable environment is indispensable to building a successful organization.
RHI is committed to community hiring and supporting the job prospects of Red Hook residents.
As an equal opportunity employer, RHI is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or any other characteristic or basis prohibited by applicable law.