Scholar Advocate - Adult Learner & College Match Savings Program

ABOUT KC GREAT JOBS

KC Scholars (dba Great Jobs KC) (www.greatjobskc.org) is a 501(c)(3) college scholarship and tuition-free job training program. Its goal is to support persistence and increase the college completion rate for low- and modest-income students across the six-county, bi-state service region and secure family-sustaining careers. The organization was designed to change thousands of individual lives and transform the region by preparing the local future workforce and contributing to the regional economy. The KC Scholars Scholarship Program awards traditional college scholarships to high school juniors, adult learner scholarships to adults 18 years and older, and college savings match awards to high school freshmen. The Great Jobs KC program provides tuition assistance to approved career training programs in high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, information technology, logistics/warehousing, manufacturing, and service careers. With the support of Great Jobs KC, adults 17+ and older can learn the skills needed in one year or less to secure a job with family-sustaining wages. Great Jobs KC supports all its Scholars throughout their college or job training and into their first year of employment.  

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reports to: Program Manager – College

Location:  Kansas City, MO, Remote/Field (technology provided)

Status: Exempt, Full-time

Salary:  Annual salary based on experience

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, PTO, Holidays, leave program, 401k including employer contribution, and others

Operating hours: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm CST

Key Performance Indicators:

• Ensure 95% of Scholars in cohort meet regularly with Scholar Advocates.
  • Ensure 95% of Scholars in cohort meet with Scholar Advocate monthly to complete a progress monitoring check-in for the fall and spring semester.
  • Ensure 95% of Scholars in cohort attending college for the first time meet with Scholar Advocate within the first two months of the first academic year.
  • Ensure 95% of anticipated graduating Scholars in cohort meet with Scholar Advocate for Graduation Check-In within the first two months of the graduation semester.
• Ensure 95% of Scholars in cohort complete the Enrollment Data Form by the set deadline per semester.
• Ensure 80% of Scholars in cohort complete college credits based on enrollment status to be on-track for graduation within 5 years or less.
  • 80% of part-time enrollment status Scholars in cohort earn at least 6 college level credits towards degree per semester.
  • 80% of ¾ time enrollment status Scholars in cohort earn at least 9 college level credits towards degree per semester.
  • 80% of full-time enrollment status Scholars in cohort earn at least 12 college level credits toward degree per semester.
• Ensure 80% of Scholars in cohort complete at least one career readiness opportunity through their respective campus or a KCS approved program per semester.
• Ensure 80% of scholars in cohort attain employment with salaries of $45K or more through ongoing support for one-year after graduation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The College Scholar Advocate – Adult Learner and College Savings Match (Advocate) is a team member in enacting processes/systems, communication, and college advising and persistence coaching and support related to our Adult Learner and College Savings Match (CSM) program components from the time the Scholar enters college through college completion within a six-year timeframe and into the first year of employment. The Advocate is on the team that has responsibility for and shares accountability for achieving benchmarks set by KC Scholars regarding annual college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates.

The ideal candidate should have the ability to:

• Work in a mobile and remote environment.
• Travel from and to work, as well as weekly visits to post-secondary network institutions as assigned for an academic term (up to 240 miles from Great Jobs KC office; mileage reimbursement or rental vehicle)
• Work some evenings and weekend hours.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Serve as an advocate for a cohort of Adult Learner and College Savings Match Scholarship awardees.
• Assist scholars to discover and progress towards their academic and career goals.
• Assist scholars to identify and address barriers to academic success, including connecting them to resources on and off campus.
• Conduct virtual and/or in-person meetings one-on-one and in groups; send and respond to emails, phone calls, and texts as needed for above points and scholarship administration.
• Serve as a liaison between the KC Scholars Program and offices/programs of assigned Post-Secondary Network institutions that support scholars, programmatic goals, and the role’s key performance indicators.
• Serve as an active member of the Scholarships Team, specifically the College Team, contributing to strategic thinking and action and ensuring high-quality coaching and support for all KC Scholars.
• Participate in strategic thinking and acting directly related to Adult Learner and College Savings Match scholarship program components and achieving the Key Performance Indicators listed above.
• Help identify Scholars for special events and invitations, such as luncheons, media opportunities, newsletter articles, speaking opportunities, and more.
• Help assess effectiveness of supports and processes related to Scholars transitioning to and in college on a continuing basis and suggest calibration to 1) keep pace with program scaling, 2) prepare for future growth opportunities, and 3) ensure that supports provided can be linked to demonstrable results and the program goal of 80% college completion. 
• Maintain and follow KCS policies and institutional documents that describe processes, specifically related to supporting and communicating with Scholars.
• Assist with planning and delivery of required orientations and college planning education/workshops for Adult Learner and College Savings Match Scholars.
• In tandem with Scholarships team members, work with post-secondary network staff, including student support personnel, advisors, and financial aid officers to ensure collaboration, address gaps or challenges, and ensure aligned and accurate communication to students.
• Make recommendations about identified roadblocks or gaps that prevent Scholars from persisting in and completing college and propose action steps to be taken.
• In tandem with the Program Manager – College and under direction of the Director of College Programs, research, analyze, and synthesize information as needed to demonstrate the impact of the program components, developing presentations and reports that use effective data visualization techniques to clearly communicate program outcomes.
• Provide Scholars-specific content for cohort newsletters, overall program communication, and training.
• Assist with development of programs and initiatives to help with outreach and increase awareness of KC Scholars in the community.
• Attend meetings and events as needed, serving as a representative of KC Scholars to external stakeholders.
• Other related activities and duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education:

• An undergraduate degree is required, while an advanced degree is preferred.  

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 3+ years of relevant experience in complex college access and completion programs which support first-generation, low-income high school students to and through college, including specific knowledge related to successful support strategies for college persistence and completion.
• Proven and successful experience collaborating with other organizations to achieve program goals.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment with the ability to set and meet clear deadlines.
• Prior experience with Salesforce or other Customer Relationship Management software.

Additional Knowledge, skills, and competencies:

• Deep command of knowledge and practice of financial aid, academic requirements, college enrollment, and college persistence – specifically for students historically underrepresented in higher education.
• Passion for increasing college access and completion, especially among students who may be first-generation, low-income, and/or a member of a demographic group traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education.
• Quick learner with the ability to develop a solid understanding of the content, processes, deliverables, and overall objectives.
• Personal values system that encompasses the highest standards of honesty, confidentiality, integrity, loyalty, and professional ethics reflective of the ability to succeed in building and maintaining positive relationships with Scholars and stakeholders.
• Excellent, culturally competent, communications skills (written, verbal, research skills, presentation skills, facilitation skills).
• Creative and strategic thinker with good judgment and ability to make independent decisions and solve problems in a changing environment.
• Strong organizational skills, well-developed process skills, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task and meet multiple competing deadlines.
• Desire for feedback and ability to use it to drive quality.
• Strong computer skills and the ability to learn new applications and complex features as needed.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Power Point, Excel, and Teams).
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Physical requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
• Ability to work in a mobile and remote/field environment.
• Ability to travel from and to work, as well as weekly visits to post-secondary network institutions as assigned for an academic term (up to 240 miles from Great Jobs KC office; mileage reimbursement or rental vehicle)
• Ability to interact with others via technology, face-to-face and collectively.

To apply, please follow this link, and be prepared to upload your resume.

Great Jobs KC firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state, or local law.