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Assistant Director, College Persistence & Advising

New York, New York, United States

Note for Internal Candidates 

While this role is visible on our external job board, internal applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Internal candidates will be prioritized in the review and selection process. If you are a current SEO employee interested in this opportunity, we invite you to apply and continue your professional journey with us.  

Title: Assistant Director, College Persistence & Advising  

Department: SEO College Scholars 

Report to: Director, College Persistence & Advising 

Compensation: $85,400 - $100,500 

FLSA: Exempt 

Employee Type: Full-Time, Regular 

Location: New York, NY 

Work Arrangement: Hybrid - 3 days/week in the SEO office at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005 

ABOUT SEO  

Founded in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement, SEO closes educational and career opportunity gaps for 7,000 ambitious young people annually.    

SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public high school students in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Miami into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, 85% of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and 80% are first-generation college graduates. All are welcome to apply. 

 
POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Assistant Director, College Persistence & Advising oversees a team of College Persistence Advisors (CPAs) while directly supporting a caseload of Scholars to ensure their academic, personal, and professional success in college. This role balances staff management, student advising, and program leadership by providing coaching and supervision to direct reports, advising Scholars individually, and driving program outcomes through data-informed practices. The position collaborates across teams to design and implement training, refine program strategies, and advocate for students with internal and external stakeholders. With a focus on serving first-generation and low-income students, this role requires strong leadership, case management, and program management skills to foster equitable outcomes, enhance student engagement, and strengthen persistence through college completion. 

Staff Management (40%)  

  • Manage 1-3 College Persistence Advisors who are accountable for all regular SEO supervisory responsibilities (e.g., day-to-day task oversight, career development, compliance, objective setting, and performance reviews).  
  • Provide ongoing one-on-one clinical coaching to direct reports, leveraging coaching training to enhance their professional development and performance.
  • Manage project outcomes that require successful delegation of responsibilities. 
  • Suggest, create, design, and assist implementation of effective training on a range of topics relevant to college success to both Scholars and CPAs. 
  • Participate in select College Scholars leadership team staffing and strategy sessions. 

Direct Student Management (20%)  

  • Manage and engage one-on-one a cohort of up to 50 Scholars remotely and in person, ensuring that all Scholars receive equitable support. 
  • Advise Scholars in college preparedness, academic support, personal support, and career development support throughout their time in college. 
  • Provide case management services for Scholars who need support with basic needs. 
  • Apply the College Scholars Advising model in directly working with students, implementing intentional use of skills and tools that uphold College Scholars’ pillars or advising.  
  • Reinforce and discuss linkages and relationships between Scholars’ instructional program and their desired occupation/career.  
  • Proactively monitor Scholars' well-being and safety, identifying and addressing potential concerns through timely intervention and appropriate support services. 
  • Foster rapport with students through consistent and non-judgmental communication in advising sessions, as well as through proactive identification of supports that address the unique needs of first-generation and low-income students. 
  • Maintain student confidentiality.   

Indirect Student Management (10%)  

  • Advocate for students with universities and other stakeholders.  
  • Maintain, collect, and report student data on an ongoing basis, such as degree audits, resumes, transcripts and financial aid completion for purposes of reporting, institutional research, and institutional effectiveness.   
  • Assess engagement of the assigned cohort to ensure that outreach efforts and re-engagement strategies are implemented when needed to foster student retention and success. 
  • Document student case notes promptly and accurately into Salesforce database.   
  • Utilize Salesforce systems, as necessary, to aid in the delivery and reporting of advising services.   

Program Management (20%)  

  • Lead and collaborate with CPA team in identifying program wide Scholar trends within and across cohorts as related to engagement, college success, career opportunities, and overall well-being. 
  • Manage the monthly advising timeline, expectations and outcomes with your direct reports. 
  • Develop or support in the development of financial aid supports and resources for College Scholars. 
  • Monitor the usefulness of programmatic resources for Scholar use, including but not limited to appeal templates and letters of recommendation. 
  • Collaborate with 12th grade team on 12th grade strategy and college admissions.  
  • Act as liaison between the College Scholars Operations team and the Advising team to communicate on program wide strategies and share updates when needed. 
  • Oversee and facilitate smooth student transitions between cohorts, ensuring minimal disruption to academic progress and student well-being. 
  • Attend and actively engage in programming workshops designed to increase student success in college and the high school to college transition and act as CPA coverage for workshop facilitation. 
  • Participate in or attend occasional evening and weekend work are required, dependent on program needs.   

Program Strategy & Planning (10%)  

  • Develop onboarding processes for your direct reports, as well as contribute to team onboarding strategizing. 
  • Support in the development of mental health resources, including referral partners and processes. 
  • Assist in safety planning protocol dissemination through training your team and contributing to protocol modifications. 
  • Assist and co-lead the dissemination of the CPA Professional Development Plan. 
  • Engage in internal professional development opportunities around student support through ongoing and regular feedback and coaching for continued growth. 
  • Actively participate in relevant external professional development conferences and workshops to stay current on best practices and emerging trends in the field. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

  • Master’s degree required, preferably in Social Work, Counseling, School Counseling, School Psychology, or related field from an accredited university.  
  • 7+ years graduate school field placement or work experience in education or related field; Minimum of 2 years of experience working in an advisory/counseling capacity with college students at SEO or a similar college access-success program and demonstrated high proficiency in student and cohort management. 
  • Prior experience working with high school and college students required.  

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS 

  • Demonstrates unequivocal passion for closing the opportunity gap and driving and inspiring student achievement. 
  • Self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively in a group, is team-oriented, has a growth mindset and is willing to do what it takes to get the work done (whether it is their specifically assigned task or not).  
  • Proficiency in utilizing advising skills and tools to aid junior staff in their development as advisors and clinicians.  
  • Demonstrates the necessary professionalism to serve as a manager and coach for junior staff members.  
  • Ability to delegate tasks and managing projects.  
  • Exceptional communication skills: verbal, written, interpersonal (phone and in-person). 
  • Highly detail-oriented and organized approach to tasks while able to meet competing deadlines.   
  • Track record of working toward continuous impact and improvement and an orientation toward creating new solutions. 
  • Proficiency in project management of initiatives that have team or program impact. 
  • Highly proficient at utilizing data systems to inform practice, familiarity with Salesforce required. 
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Drive. 

 
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS   

SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to put people first and foremost.  

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.  

EEOC Policy 

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment. 

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status. 

If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent. 

THE ORGANIZATION 

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential. 

SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results. 

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/.  

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