Director, College Access & Post-Secondary Success

LINK Unlimited Scholars is where hard work meets heart work. The work is demanding and fast-paced, but deeply rewarding. We push ourselves because our Scholars deserve nothing less. If that doesn’t scare you AND you’re adaptable, driven, and ready to invest in changing the trajectory of our Scholars lives and our city’s future, then we invite you to join our team!

We LINK students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, especially Black students, with the resources and support needed for success as they advance to, through, and beyond college.

Chicago’s educational system amplifies persistent inequities, creating deep and lasting opportunity gaps for historically underrepresented students, particularly Black students. LINK’s goal is to mitigate the effect of these systemic and structural forces by improving and increasing educational opportunities and access for students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, especially Black youth in Chicago. By equipping our Scholars with the knowledge, skills, resources, and social equity that further college completion and career placement, LINK is increasing the economic mobility and stability of historically underrepresented students and cultivating a diverse leadership pipeline for our city.

Since 1966, we have successfully supported over 2,500 low- to moderate-income students. In the 2025-2026 academic year, we will serve 300+ Scholars (Jr. LINK, High School & Collegiate Scholars). Our Scholars represent more than 60 Chicagoland neighborhoods, with a focus from ten South and West Side communities: Auburn Gresham, Austin, Bronzeville, Englewood, Garfield Park, Greater Grand Crossing, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Shore, and Washington Park.

Position Summary

The Director, College Access & Post-Secondary Success leads the vision, strategy, planning, and execution of LINK’s college access and collegiate success programs. This role ensures Scholars are accepted into 4-year universities with the smallest debt load possible and are supported to persist through graduation. The Director manages LINK’s Project College counseling program, collegiate Scholar support systems, external partnerships, scholarship opportunities, and evaluation of outcomes.

Program Strategy, Design & Delivery

• Lead the design, vision, and execution of a comprehensive College Access and Collegiate Scholar post-secondary success strategy ensuring it aligns with LINK’s mission and goals for our Scholars.
  • In alignment with organizational annual goals, establish annual team goals and strategies to achieve them.
• Oversee Project College counseling program including FAFSA, essays, financial aid navigation, and application workshops.
  • Stay current with trends and changes in college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities to provide up-to-date information to Scholars.
• Recruit, hire, and manage 6–10 contractual College Specialists to deliver curriculum and counseling with excellence, including:
  • Provide one-on-one and group counseling sessions to Scholars on college selection, application procedures, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, etc. o Assist Scholars in identifying their strengths, interests, and career goals to help them make informed decisions about their post-secondary education.
  • Review and provide feedback on college and scholarship application materials, including essays and personal statements.
  • Maintain accurate records of Scholar interactions, program activities, and college and scholarship applications, acceptances, etc.
• Serve as a liaison between College Specialists and LINK staff.
• Ensure programming is aligned to industry standards and incorporates best practices in college access and persistence.
• Develop and maintain a library of college counseling resources, including guides, templates, and online tools.
• Lead planning and execution of LINK’s annual Scholar Celebration event, in collaboration with other Directors of Programs, to honor Scholar achievements and milestones.

Collegiate Scholar Post-Secondary Support

• Develop and implement a comprehensive program to support Collegiate Scholars in their academic, personal, and professional development.
• Research and analyze data to understand trends and key areas where collegiate support is needed.
• Implement strategies to support Scholar persistence through graduation with a focus on minimizing student debt load.
• Collaborate with the Program Team to ensure smooth transition from high school to collegiate programs.
• Plan and oversee programming and touchpoints for Collegiate Scholars to sustain engagement and success.

Data Analysis & Strategic Direction

• Collect, track, and analyze outcomes across admissions, persistence, and graduation metrics.
• Develop and maintain systems and tools for tracking collegiate progress and debt outcomes.
• Track and analyze college counseling outcomes, including applications submitted, acceptances, admissions, scholarships, financial aid packages, and total scholarship/aid amounts awarded.
• Ensure timely documentation and data entry by College Specialists; monitor for accuracy and completeness.
• Use data to inform program improvements, report outcomes, and guide strategic decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Build and sustain partnerships with colleges, universities, scholarship providers, and nonprofit partners to support our Scholars to, through, and beyond journey.
• Engage families and parents as partners in the counseling and financial aid process.
• Lead LINK’s partnership with Jordan Wings, serving as the primary liaison with program partners.
  • Ensure nominated Scholars submit strong, timely applications and receive coaching throughout the process.
  • Monitor Scholar progress, provide guidance, and support Scholars who are finalists or winners.
• Ensure Scholars are nominated and apply for prestigious scholarship opportunities (e.g., Posse, QuestBridge, Gates) and others to help make college affordable.

Leadership & Supervision

• Lead and manage College Specialists and ensure they execute LINK’s college counseling curriculum with fidelity.
• Collaborate with 2–3 Program Coordinators in a project-based manner, providing clear direction, coaching, and day-to-day oversight to ensure project plans are executed with excellence, on time, and aligned to LINK’s goals, while also fostering Coordinators’ professional growth.
• Collaborate with peer Directors and co-lead initiatives to ensure Scholars experience holistic, seamless support across programs (e.g. Scholar Orientations, Kick-Off, etc.).
• Create detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring projects are completed on time and within scope.
• Work collaboratively with departments to ensure project success.
• Clearly communicate organizational priorities and translate them into actionable tasks in guiding team collaboration and Scholar outcomes.
• Model and reinforce LINK’s values in daily work, decision-making, and expectations of others.
• Manage program budget and allocate resources effectively.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree REQUIRED in Education, Counseling, Higher Education, or related field. Master’s degree or higher preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional work experience REQUIRED.
• Minimum of five (5) years of direct College Access or College Counseling experience REQUIRED, including demonstrated success supporting high school students through admissions, financial aid, and scholarship processes.
  • Experience working with students and families in the nonprofit sector, preferably with Black students, highly desired.
• Strong experience in designing and delivering College Access curricula.
• Program event management and facilitation experience required.
• Experience providing post-secondary support to collegiate students (academic, personal, and/or persistence services).
• A minimum of five (5) years Supervisory experience that has included full or part-time direct reports is REQUIRED.
• Strong knowledge of FAFSA, financial aid navigation, selective admissions, and scholarship opportunities.
• Track record of coaching or managing others to deliver high-quality College Access programming aligned with best practices.
• Proven ability to design, lead, and evaluate college access programs and Scholar persistence strategies.
• Strong track record of supporting students to access external scholarships and reduce college debt load.
• Experience building and sustaining partnerships with colleges/universities, scholarship providers, and nonprofit partners to support students.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work at a rigorous pace, prioritize multiple projects/assignments, communicate about challenges, plan, and most importantly, follow through to meet deadlines and objectives.
• Strong experience using data systems to monitor outcomes (applications, acceptances, scholarships, financial aid), track staff deliverables, and enforce accountability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to speak in public, engage, and build relationships with diverse stakeholders (Scholars, Parents, Mentors, Volunteers, etc.).
• Ability to independently lead strategy, planning, and execution without the need for detailed oversight or step-by-step direction; proactively identify challenges, propose solutions, and drive work forward aligned with organizational goals.
• Strong experience using data to drive and achieve programmatic outcomes, programmatic improvement, and demonstrate impact, including survey design and analysis.
• Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: Ability to break down tasks into manageable sections to make informed decisions to tackle a larger problem.
• Proven ability to operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, including ownership, accountability, efficiency, and hustle to achieve results in evolving environments.
• Proficiency in project management tools (preferably Basecamp) and data platforms (Salesforce preferred).
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, or similar software with the ability to learn new or updated software.

Characteristics

• Embodies LINK Unlimited Scholars’ mission, vision, and values with integrity and consistency.
• Demonstrates an entrepreneurial mindset: resourceful, proactive, and innovative; takes full ownership and accountability for results and works with the urgency and hustle needed to deliver for Scholars.
• Operates with a solution-oriented, can-do attitude; persistent and proactive in addressing challenges.
• Flexible and adaptable, thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments, and comfortable working with ambiguity.
• Scholar-centered: prioritizes the needs and outcomes of Scholars above personal convenience.
• Resilient and growth-minded: seeks feedback, learns quickly, and continuously improves.
• Collaborative and community-minded; builds strong relationships with staff, Scholars, families, and partners.
• Creative and forward-thinking; unafraid to pivot when necessary.
• Exercises sound judgment and discretion, with an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Work Schedule

Full-Time, Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, but requires 40-50 hours per week. Hybrid schedule: remotely twice a week (Mondays & Fridays) and in-office Tuesday through Thursday. Must also have flexibility to work on occasion Saturdays and evenings to support programming or other organizational events.

Compensation

Salary range $75,000-$85,000. Our salary scale is intended to align with experience relative to THIS position. Those with the least amount of directly relevant experience are considered at the lower end of the scale, while those with the most directly relevant experience are considered toward the top of the scale. Candidates should be prepared to share their salary expectations and explain how their background and experience align with the responsibilities of THIS position.

Full-time employees are eligible for health, dental, and vision insurance, Retirement, PTO days, 11 Holidays, and a holiday shut down from Christmas Eve through New-Year’s Day.

LINK Unlimited Scholars is an equal opportunity employer.