Director of College & Career Access - 1.0 FTE at Jefferson High School

Sioux Falls School District•Sioux Falls, SD

About The Position

We want YOU here! The Promising Futures Fund, a Sioux Falls non-profit, in conjunction with the Sioux Falls School District is seeking a leader for a new Promising Futures College & Career Access program to support and assist high school students and prepare them for postsecondary opportunities. The Promising Futures Fund funds the program. The Director of the Promising Futures College & Career Access program will supervise a team of College & Career Advisors in each of the four public high schools in the Sioux Falls School District. The Advisors will work directly with high school students to help on all facets of applying for 4-year universities, 2-year technical colleges, military opportunities and jobs directly in the workforce. Work will include facilitating the college application process, assistance with all aspects of financial aid and scholarships and the exploration of career fields. Additionally, workshops in financial aid, military pathways and other career pathways will be sponsored by the College & Career Access teams as well as planning trips to college campuses and technical schools. A program will be designed for each grade, beginning in 8th grade in our middle schools and through their senior year. There is a special focus on supporting students from low-income backgrounds and first-generation college students, but programs should be available to any student.

Requirements

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in education, human services, counseling/social work, business administration, or a related field.
The Director of College & Career Access will be managing College & Career Access Advisors in four public high schools in the Sioux Falls School District.
The ideal candidate will have experience managing a medium-sized team, experience building and implementing a new program and the ability to coordinate across several teams and buildings.
Constant hearing, hand-eye and mind-eye coordination; frequent repetitive motions with wrists, hands and fingers, scheduling, sitting, speaking, walking, talking, and writing are required.
Experience with digital tools for document creation, editing, and meeting facilitation (e.g., Canva, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet).
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create positive relationships.
Strong organizational skills.
Ability to plan, organize, and work collaboratively with other teams.
Ability to travel to various program sites and community locations with occasional evening and overnight duties.

Responsibilities

Design and implement Promising Futures College & Career Access program including staff trainings, data reporting, goal setting, individual program design and implementation of the overall program.
Communicate with the President of the Promising Futures Fund no less than weekly of all activities pertaining to the design and implementation of the program and all scheduled activities.
Manage the day-to-day activities of the College & Career Advisors (CCA’s) across all four high schools and direct all aspect of this Promising Futures College & Career Access program.
Participate in the hiring of College & Career Advisors.
Advocate for underrepresented and first-generation college students, providing additional support and resources where needed.
Coordinate the Promising Futures 8th Grade Program to include facilitation of college and technical school visits, academic days & extra-curricular trips.
Maintain direct metrics and research for 8th Grade & High School Programs.
Provide support to the CCA’s with helping students explore college majors, research programs, and understand the college and technical school application and enrollment process.
Provide individual support to students and families for financial aid options, including the FAFSA, scholarships, grants, and loans.
Assist in educating students about coursework for high school credit at the Career & Technical Education Academy and the opportunities to utilize this coursework to prepare for a technical school education or to go directly into the workforce.
Coordinate workshops and informational sessions on topics like college admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and career readiness in conjunction with school counselors.
Organize campus visits and events that help students explore careers in a variety of fields.
Provide students opportunities for job shadowing, apprenticeships, mentorships and internships.
Maintain effective communication with the school administration, counselors, teachers, students, and parents regarding college and career matters.
Coordinate with Admissions teams and Financial Aid officers at universities and technical colleges.
Ensure CCA’s maintain accurate records of student activities, applications, and financial aid statuses.
Prepare reports on the success and challenges of college and technical school readiness initiatives to be shared with Promising Futures leadership and school district leadership.
Build a budget for each high school program, track program expenditures, reconcile purchases, and maintain financial documentation to ensure compliance with Promising Futures Fund policies and Sioux Falls School District processes and policies.
Ensure grant compliance, manage supporting documentation, paperwork for audits, and evaluate the effectiveness of programs with data.
Performs other duties as assigned.