GEAR UP College & Career Success Advisor

Green Dot Corporation•Los Angeles, CA

4d•$73,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

The GEAR UP College and Career Success Advisors are responsible for the coordination of programming, data and communication aspects of the U.S. Department of Education as part of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant. This role provides college access services to students beginning in sixth and seventh grades, following them through their first year of college. The position will require travel between Green Dot’s central office and our various school sites. This is an in-person, grant-funded position ending on June 30, 2032, but will be evaluated annually as the position is contingent on the Department of Education’s annual approval to continue funding.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in any discipline; preferred degree(s) in education, public policy, sociology, or a related field.
A minimum of 3 years or more working in a secondary or postsecondary education.
At least one or two years of successful work experience in delivering educational support services to disadvantaged students, preferably with educational equity or college access programs is preferred.
Possess basic knowledge of high school graduation and college entrance requirements.
Possess basic knowledge of academic programs, including curricula and admissions requirements at higher education institutions.
Possess basic knowledge of higher education institutions (UC, CSU, CC, Private Colleges), and the ability to explain procedures to youth, parents, and school representatives.
Strong organizational, analytical, interpersonal, oral, & written communication skills.
Proficient in technology platforms such as Google Office, Microsoft Office, and other computer apps.
Can organize and plan complex projects and activities.
Can meet deadlines and handle multiple projects.
Exhibit flexibility and high social-emotional competence.
Can establish rapport and relationships with high school personnel, students, families, community members, university departments and faculty members.
Dependable, humble, have a sense of humor, and a rock-solid commitment to Green Dot’s mission and the communities we serve.
Will need to pass a TB test and background check at the time of offer.

Responsibilities

Develop positive relationships with GEAR UP students and families and provide individual support to students to ensure access to college and career information and planning tools.
Provide comprehensive college access and success services and programs for middle and high school students, including academic planning and preparation, career exploration, tutoring, mentoring, college visits, financial planning, summer enrichment activities, annual orientation events, and college application completion.
Implement an after-school college and career lab program that includes peer tutoring and workshops.
Collaborate with various Green Dot Departments, school site teams, and external partners to align and revise project activities, budget, and metrics.
Collect, enter, track, and analyze data related to GEAR UP activities for required U.S. Department of Education annual progress reports, as well as general project operation.
Create and maintain GEAR UP communications, including writing and design for print, website, newsletter, social media; and manage GEAR UP best practice documents.
Manage all contracts and payments with GEAR UP schools, partners, and contractors.
Track partner cost share, including completion of cost share forms and monitoring.
Participate in professional development at the local, regional, and/or state level; attend GEAR UP meetings and trainings when needed.
Assess students’ needs, set academic goals, and formulate a comprehensive plan for assistance in collaboration with each student, parent, teachers, counselors, other agencies and community partners.
Help support students in the classroom by providing a curriculum and navigating the CCGI platform milestones that include goal setting, academic monitoring, career and college research, and life plans.
Communicate regularly with parents and/or guardians of students on roster to discuss academic progress, obstacles and needed efforts by students and parents; should include person or virtual face-to-face contact, phone, e-mail and other as-needed communication opportunities.
Help increase family knowledge of career and college opportunities through workshops.
Strategically coordinate college persistence efforts at schools.
Support students to access dual enrollment opportunities.
Create best practices for engaging students and their families in applying to best-fit colleges, understanding/maintaining/improving college financial aid packages, preventing summer melt, and creating survival plans for the first year of college.
Examine how College affordability, Financial Literacy, social-emotional coping strategies, and preparing for the rigor of college courses play a role in increasing persistence.
Manage the development of technical college persistence platforms to inform key metrics leading towards increasing college persistence outcomes.
Engage various stakeholders of persistence outcomes through an annual report.
Participate in Green Dot and individual professional development programs.
Attend and participate in all team meetings, including Persistence Team meetings and Persistence professional development.
Plan and participate in weekly one-on-one meetings with the manager.
Participate in other events aimed at promoting or developing Green Dot and its schools.
Perform other duties as needed to achieve GEAR UP goals.

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible to participate in Green Dot’s benefit plans, effective on the first of the month following their date of hire.
No-cost premium (for employee only) and low-cost premium (for entire family) HMO option via Anthem Vivity - a network that includes some of the best hospitals in the nation (Cedars Sinai, Huntington Memorial, Torrance Memorial, UCLA and more).
Medical PPO and EPO options
Dental and vision care coverage (100% employer-paid options)
Employee Assistance Program (100% employer-paid)
Life and AD&D Insurance (100% employer-paid)
Optional Term Life & AD&D Insurance
Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance (100% employer-paid)
Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care)
Monthly parking for Central Office-based employees (100% employer-paid)
Wellness programs and resources
Financial planning/coaching access
Optional non-matching 401(k) plan
Potential for remote work opportunities (occasional or recurring)
Potential for annual performance-based compensation increases
Potential for annual bonuses
Potential for stipend work opportunities
Approved family care and/or medical leave (unpaid)
Generous paid time off for an overall work-life balance