Manager, College Access & Preparedness

Job Description

Success Academy is a high-achieving, leading-edge network of 53 K-12 public charter schools serving over 20,000 scholars throughout New York City.

We are redefining what's possible in public education.

Success Academy has reimagined public education, creating an innovative K-12 school model that is preparing current and future generations of children with the subject mastery and skills to succeed in college and life.

We are seeking leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit and a high standard of excellence to join our high school community, and propel our efforts to put thousands of New York City kids on a trajectory of educational excellence.

We are set apart by our intensive focus on college preparedness, ensuring that our mainly minority and low-income students gain not only admission to college but also the skills to flourish in and graduate from college in four years.

To help these scholars in the college process, we need a results-driven Manager, College Access & Preparedness to join our school-based College Access & Preparedness team.

This individual will play an integral role in the school, developing the College Access & Preparedness Counselors towards a sky-high bar of excellence, and cementing a culture of intrinsic scholar investment and preparedness throughout the school community.

This position reports to the Principal of the High School of the Liberal Arts.

What sets us apart :

Through the CAP team's comprehensive college counseling (with a focus on the most selective colleges), 100% of SA graduates are accepted to colleges where they can persist and graduate in 4 years.

On average, more than 75% are accepted to selective colleges with high 4-year graduation rates.

We are laser-focused on the financial aid aspects of college access. Over two-thirds of our seniors earn college acceptances with award packages that meet their family’s financial need.

SA graduates are remarkably persistent in college after they go through their CAP process; to date, more than 85% of SA graduates remain matriculated in college.

Manager of College Access & Preparedness responsibilities include, but are not limited to :

• Tightly managing the CAP team against individual, team-wide, and institutional benchmarks for college applications, college acceptances, financial aid access, and continuous program improvement;
• Attracting, developing, and retaining outstanding talent to progress in leadership positions within the CAP team and the wider SA community;

Achieving 100% acceptance to colleges that meet scholars’ full need by :

• Supporting counselors to curate college lists and application strategies with scholars, based on their academics, preparedness skills, and family's financial background;
• Training and supporting counselors and faculty to develop exceptionally strong letters of recommendation for scholars;
• Building strong working relationships with college admissions counterparts;

Leading scholar and parent workshops, with support from faculty and school leaders, to share knowledge on the college admissions and financial aid processes

Upholding and elevating our vision of college access and scholar preparedness across the school community, so that every faculty and staff member is aligned to the CAP team in coaching preparedness skills (time management, self-advocacy, gratitude).

Uphold vision for CAP across their school community, in alignment with the Network’s vision.

Communicate and advocate for CAP vision to school staff to ensure that all stakeholders consistently uphold a high bar of excellence.

Skilled in proactively identifying problems and investigating the root cause. Consistently develops appropriate high-impact countermeasures

Builds buy-in across a diverse audience of stakeholders, speaking with confidence and authority

At all times, demonstrates alignment between their beliefs and their actions, with utter commitment to integrity (alignment between their actions and beliefs).

Identifies a wide locus of control, taking responsibility for whatever is necessary to achieve their goals, and persevering in the face of challenges.

Relationship Management & Accountability

Improves the relationships / visibility between CAP and School communities (Influences and bridges the gap for the school community)

Builds and maintains strong working relationships, inside and outside the SA community, and holds others accountable to these standards.

Effectively manages and sets clear expectations for the school community to meet CAP goals and vision.

Consistently holds Senior CAP Counselors and CAP counselors accountable through direct feedback, naming gaps or lapses in performance.

Judgment & Prioritization

Consistently demonstrates adaptability, flexibility, and agile thinking in ambiguous situations and are able to delegate across team to resolve an unexpected challenge.

Consistently demonstrates critical thinking and ability to correctly prioritize situations.

Understands and aligned with SA and school vision to ensure proper prioritization, exercising best judgment when solving a problem.

Ownership & Learning Orientation

Demonstrates accountability for their outcomes, metrics, and responsibilities.

Owns areas of self improvement and is receptive to feedback. Can self-identify growth areas.

Makes necessary changes in performance in alignment with CAP expectations and seeks support from peer group.

Deeply committed to SA’s values of grit, humility, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves. Will always jump in wherever necessary and eager to fill all knowledge and skill gaps.

Communication

Provides honest, straightforward feedback to others aligned with school’s vision while maintaining a positive working relationship.

Excels at written and verbal communication; can lead any conversation to desired outcome.

Clearly defines expectations and outcomes for others; adapts communication style based on audience.

Understands and demonstrates that a key component of skillful communication is listening.

We invite you to apply if you :

• Have a demonstrated track record of developing and retaining talented individuals to become leaders in an organization and / or community;
• Are deeply driven to incorporate scholar preparedness into the Success Academy vision to deliver world-class education to all scholars ;
• Are passionate about college access and graduation for low-income, first-generation, and / or underrepresented scholars in higher education;
• Communicate with utter clarity and precision in written and verbal contexts;
• Are comfortable with implementing effective classroom management techniques;
• Are able to form strong relationships with a wide range of constituents;
• Have a deep understanding of the evolving college admissions landscape, with an emphasis on the highly selective institutions and programs that meet full financial need (preferred);

Can fluently navigate the complex financial aid application process (preferred); and

Are intimately familiar with the student experience of being first-generation, low-income, and / or an underrepresented minority on a college campus (preferred).

To apply, please upload a cover letter and resume that outlines your candidacy. Your cover letter should explain in detail your qualifications for the position as they relate to the job description as well as any anecdotes you feel differentiate your candidacy.