11th/12th Grade College Navigator - Seidler Foundation

Kirkwood Community College•Cedar Rapids, IA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The College Navigator, Seidler Foundation, supports the college’s mission and strategic initiatives by providing intensive, coordinated support to Seidler Foundation scholarship awardees. The role helps market the 11th- and 12th-grade scholarships at assigned high schools, working with school staff to identify eligible applicants and raise awareness of the program. The Navigator mentors 11th-grade awardees during their senior year of high school, from scholarship award through graduation, helping them prepare for college and meet scholarship requirements. Support includes college applications, FAFSA completion and financial-aid understanding, and connecting students with additional scholarships and assistance. The Navigator also supports an assigned caseload of 12th-grade awardees enrolled at Kirkwood Community College (KCC), providing individualized and group advising, tracking student progress, connecting students to campus and community resources, and helping them maintain eligibility, engage in leadership opportunities, and complete a postsecondary credential at KCC and beyond. This is a grant-funded position hired and supervised by KCC to support Seidler Foundation scholarship awardees through college completion. The position works at assigned high schools and at KCC and is not remote. Some evening and weekend hours are required; the typical schedule is either 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The Program Manager, Seidler Foundation, coordinates the work schedule, which may vary by day and week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in higher education, student services, secondary education, social work, counseling, or a related field.
At least two years of experience in public school settings and/or higher education.
Experience in career pathway programs or academic advising at a college or university.
Understanding of college planning, transition, and student-success processes and practices.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated experience managing student caseloads or cohorts.
Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a diverse team.
Demonstrated ability to work with students with diverse needs and backgrounds.
Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
Ability to work at assigned high schools and KCC; this is not a remote position.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of college transition and success processes and practices, as well as processes for transferring to a bachelor’s degree program.

Responsibilities

Participate in specialized training and ongoing professional development, mentoring, and meetings with the Seidler Foundation and its collaborators.
Meet regularly with the Seidler Foundation Program Manager and the 11th Grade College Navigator Coordinator to share updates, seek information and feedback, and discuss role improvements or support needs.
Market the 11th- and 12th-grade scholarships by maintaining positive, frequent relationships with staff and leaders at assigned high schools, raising program visibility, and answering questions.
Mentor and advise 11th-grade awardees individually and in groups during their senior year of high school.
Help 11th-grade awardees understand and meet scholarship requirements, complete college admissions applications, submit the FAFSA, and understand financial aid and college costs.
Help awardees identify and apply for additional financial aid, scholarships, tuition assistance, and public assistance.
Research and promote college-planning opportunities, including ACT testing, FAFSA completion, campus tours, workshops, application fairs, and ICAN sessions; facilitate College Student Ambassador visits in coordination with the 11th Grade College Navigator Coordinator.
Remind students to complete the Senior Year Eligibility Check Form by June 15 and, when possible, conduct early outreach to 10th graders about the scholarship opportunity.
Contact assigned 12th-grade awardees during the summer to introduce the role, explain available support, and identify challenges.
Attend KCC New Student Orientation and meet students and their families.
Collaborate with KCC to support students and connect them with campus resources.
Track and document student progress toward KCC and Seidler requirements and contact students who face challenges or fall below eligibility requirements.
Plan and participate in group meetings for 12th-grade awardees at KCC and provide individual advising.
Develop working knowledge of KCC courses, programs, policies, and procedures, including admissions and financial aid.
Remind students to complete the Senior Year Eligibility Check Form by June 15 after high school graduation and the Annual Renewal Form by June 1 after their first year of college.
May participate in school-sponsored awardee recognition ceremonies.
Attend the annual 11th- and 12th-grade awardee Orientation.
Participate in informal ongoing and formal annual performance evaluations.
Perform other related duties as assigned.