Success Coach

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) creates and coordinates services that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Driven by the needs of residents, DHSP’s extensive services and programs touch almost every sector in the city: from newborns to senior citizens, from school-aged children to homeless families, from non-profit organizations to local employers.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The College Success Initiative (CSI) is an effort of the City of Cambridge and its school and community-based partners to support the college persistence of students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Campus-based coaching is one of CSI’s critical strategies to help students make a successful transition to college and to stay on track to graduate.

The Success Coach is one of a team of coaches who support graduates of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) and graduates of the Community Learning Center’s Bridge to College program who attend UMass Boston (UMB) or Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC). Services begin prior to graduation and support students from matriculation to graduation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the CSI Director, the coach’s specific duties include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Collaborate with CRLS Guidance staff to arrange meetings with UMB/BHCC -bound students.
• Support students to finalize their matriculation, orientation, enrollment, and registration processes, and complete financial aid and verification requirements.
• Triage level of coaching support based on needs and engagement of students and implement appropriate services.
• Coordinate with college staff to ensure that students make a successful transition to college and connect students with campus-based resources and supports.
• Provide 1:1 and small group coaching support to current and prior cohorts of CSI students to resolve academic, financial, and non-academic challenges.
• Refer students to internship and work opportunities, partnering with the Office of Workforce Development.
• Monitor students’ academic progress and keep detailed records in CSI Smartsheet database.
• Refer students who decide to stop out to appropriate resources and re-engage if they decide to return.
• Engage parents/family members to support students’ successful transition to higher education.
• Collaborate with colleages to plan and implement events and programs for students
• Attend monthly institution-based meetings for success coaches to stay abreast of campus policies and procedures.
• Assist City and community-based program staff to help them better support the students they work with in the college planning process.
• Actively engage in and support the Department's Race and Equity Initiative
• Participate in a monthly Community of Practice for coaches

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 3 to 5 years’ experience providing college access/persistence coaching
• Experience with the financial aid application and verification process

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated skills in communicating with and effectively engaging first generation to college students, low income, immigrant, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students
• Ability to work collaboratively with higher education, city, public school, and community partners
• Strong time-management and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint; Calendly
• The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, WORKING CONDITIONS, WORK FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOMODATIONS:

• Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer
• Ability to answer phones and maintain multiple files
• Ability to lift a minimum of at least 10 lbs.
• Ability to travel to meetings within the city
• The position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City’s Telework Policy, depending on operational needs
• Be comfortable to work primarily in a standard office environment with moderate noise level, telephones, personal computers, printers, and other office equipment.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Vacation, personal and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Sick incentive pay eligibility
• Management bonus
• 14 paid holidays
• City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement, Blue bikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Please upload the below documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter