GEAR UP First Year College Advisor, Pahrump (Part-time)

Nevada System of Higher Education•Pahrump, NV

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The GEAR UP First Year College Advisor (FYCA) is based at the Pahrump Center in Pahrump, Nevada. The FYCA works directly with high school students, guiding them through graduation, and continuing intensive advising through their first full year of college or postsecondary training. The primary objective is to build early college awareness, navigate the admissions and financial aid pipeline, and deliver intrusive advising to ensure successful first-year college persistence. Grant-Funded Position: This position is currently funded through May 31, 2027, with the possibility of extension into subsequent years, contingent upon the availability of grant funding.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, Social Work, Higher Education Administration, or a closely related field, preferred but not required.
Minimum of 2 years of experience working with youth, preferably in a high school counseling office, college access program (e.g., TRIO, GEAR UP), or higher education student affairs.
Deep understanding of the distinct cultural, financial, and institutional barriers faced by low-income, first-generation, and historically underrepresented students.
Advanced proficiency navigating federal financial aid processes (FAFSA), college application platforms, and standardized testing procedures.
Access to reliable transportation for travel between high school campuses, partner universities, and regional student events; ability to work select evenings and weekends.
Resume/CV – List a detailed description of the major duties that you performed as part of each job. You must demonstrate that you qualify for the position and your education and experience must be clearly documented.
Cover Letter
Three Supervisory References – Please make a note if you do not want your present employer contacted unless necessary to determine your qualifications for the position.
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

Deliver individualized academic advising to ensure students complete college-preparatory coursework, explore career pathways, and build balanced college lists.
Guide students through college applications, entrance exam preparation (ACT/SAT), and institutional admission requirements.
Coordinate and execute mandatory FAFSA/WASFA completion workshops, scholarship searches, and financial aid award letter review sessions for families.
Organize college campus visits, financial literacy workshops, and summer bridge activities to familiarize students with postsecondary environments.
Maintain high-touch outreach during the critical summer months between high school graduation and college day-one to finalize enrollment, housing, and tuition payments.
Deliver proactive, regular check-ins (in-person or virtual) with college freshmen to monitor academic performance, mental health, and social adjustment.
Connect first-year college students to existing on-campus support networks, including tutoring, counseling, disability services, and peer mentoring.
Assist first-year college students with second-semester course registration, satisfactory academic progress (SAP) monitoring, and early FAFSA renewal.
Strictly document and track all student contacts, workshops, and milestones in the designated database to comply with federal grant reporting mandates.
Act as the primary liaison between high school administration, partner college retention teams, and parents/guardians.