College Retention & Success Specialist

SGA YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES NFP•Chicago, IL

just now•Onsite

About The Position

The College Retention & Success Specialist provides comprehensive case management, academic coaching, career readiness, and wraparound support to college students in SGA's Higher Sights program. The Specialist partners with colleges, families, employers, and community organizations to increase college persistence, semester-to-semester retention, graduation rates, and successful transitions into careers or graduate education. The role combines intensive student coaching, data-driven case management, crisis intervention, financial aid navigation, workforce development, and outcome reporting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Counseling, Student Affairs, Psychology, Human Services, or related field required.
Minimum three years of experience in college access, retention, advising, case management, youth development, or related services.
Knowledge of higher education systems, FAFSA, financial aid, scholarships, and student support resources.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice.
Student engagement and motivational interviewing.
Academic coaching and case management.
Strong presentation, workshop facilitation, and public speaking skills.
Partnership development with colleges and employers.
Data management and outcome tracking using Microsoft Office and ETO or similar systems.
Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's preferred.
Experience serving first-generation, low-income, and historically underserved students preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain an active caseload of approximately 50–60 college students.
Develop individualized Student Success Plans with academic, career, financial, and personal goals.
Conduct a minimum of two contacts per month using in-person, virtual, phone, or campus visits.
Monitor enrollment, GPA, credit completion, persistence, and graduation milestones.
Provide coaching on executive functioning, study skills, time management, and self-advocacy.
Assist students with registration, degree planning, FAFSA, scholarships, emergency aid, and financial literacy.
Troubleshoot enrollment, academic probation, housing, transportation, technology, and financial barriers.
Coordinate referrals to tutoring, disability services, counseling, and campus resources.
Connect students to internships, employment, externships, networking, and career exploration.
Facilitate workshops on professional skills, leadership, financial wellness, graduate school, and career readiness.
Support resume development, interviewing, and LinkedIn/profile building.
Maintain timely case notes, service documentation, consent forms, and participant records in ETO or other systems.
Coordinate services with colleges, families, employers, mentors, and community partners.
Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews and continuous quality improvement.
Recruit eligible participants and maintain engagement.
Prepare newsletters and student communications.
Track performance measures and assist with grant reporting.
Perform other duties as assigned.