College Access Specialist

Red Hook Initiative • New York, NY

4d • $50,000 - $55,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex. RHI focuses on empowering youth and fostering community-led social change. The organization nurtures young people to be resilient, healthy, and inspired, envisioning themselves as co-creators of their lives and community. RHI's model emphasizes youth development, community building, and community hiring, providing residents with the tools and resources to overcome systemic barriers and inequities. With a 20-year history, RHI is recognized for its innovative, place-based approach to social change, guided by ten core values: community leadership, mutual respect, welcoming space, strengths-based perspective, trust, high expectations, encouragement, inspiration, holistic approach, and adaptability.

The College Access Specialist will work across RHI's Middle and High School programs to cultivate a college-going culture and highlight the connection between higher education and career paths. A primary focus will be supporting high school juniors and seniors in RHI's Youth Leader program by helping them develop a personalized college roadmap aligned with their post-secondary aspirations. This role involves providing comprehensive college-readiness support, including facilitating college-readiness programming and financial aid workshops, assisting with scholarship applications, educating parents about the college application process, and building relationships with college admissions counselors. The Specialist will also develop and lead an early college awareness program for 6th-8th graders and manage summer College Access programming for the Freedom School program.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree required
• 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

Nice To Haves

• Work experience in college access, readiness, or exposure (at least 2 yr) is strongly preferred
• A resident of Red Hook preferred
• 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.
• Must have 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.
• Excited about community-based youth development work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and facilitate programming to expose and prepare participants for college, including early awareness programming for 6-10th 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 (trips, panels, and college tours/fairs).
• Mobilize resources to connect participants with relevant resources important for post-secondary success (SAT courses, college prep mentors, additional tutoring, school/placement visits, etc.).
• Coordinate financial aid and FAFSA workshops; assist students and parents with navigating the financial aid/FAFSA process.
• Coordinate scholarship application process, including Jordan WINGS, SUNY Geneseo, and other notable programs and partnerships.
• 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 (i.e., FAFSA/TAP, income documents).
• Track youth progress and provide consistent documentation/ progress notes about observed needs 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 (SLT).

Benefits

• employee assistance program (EAP), which includes 12 counseling sessions per year
• 403b retirement plan
• flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses
• life insurance
• a flexible hybrid work schedule
• PTO days (prorated based on work schedule)
• "Summer Fridays," when possible

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level