College Success Coordinator

The Program – Reaching Forward

Through our “Reaching Forward” programming, we work directly and continuously with the 600+ Promise Scholars attending 17 different Connecticut colleges and universities, and growing to 800+ Scholars by the start of the academic school year in August. Our Scholars are 78% students of color, 81% low-moderate income, 68% first-generation, and 100% talented. Reaching Forward staff visit campuses throughout the year for in-person meetings or gatherings, reach out frequently through text and social media, offer “office hours” for Scholars, communicate with key folks on each campus, and encourage Scholars to reach back and ask for help as needed. The Reaching Forward work is grounded in a Cohort model where the Promise Reaching Forward Team connects with Scholars, connects them with each other, and connects them to key people, supports, and services on and off their campuses. Scholars take annual surveys, which are used by staff to better understand their successes, challenges, and needs. Our goal is to increase the number of Scholars who become “Ambassadors” to support our work and each other on campuses across CT. They are an important part of the Promise Cohort. The Reaching Forward Team is also responsible for gathering and analyzing data about our Scholars in order to support them better and to inform our practice. The goals of Reaching Forward are to be engaged with Scholars as they make college decisions in their senior year of high school, assist Scholars during the summer transition before college, be very active and available as a resource during the first weeks and months of college, connect continuously to help Scholars navigate successfully throughout college, work with Scholars in preparing them for internships and careers, and always be viewed as an available responsive resource. Our metrics include high rates of first-year persistence (above 85%), and we will have our first four-year graduates in May 2026.

As a College Success Coordinator, your alignment with the mission and passionate ability to serve our Reaching Forward programming is to ensure that Waterbury Promise Scholars are afforded the skills, opportunities, and resources to succeed in their college journey. Creating a sense of belonging for every scholar and supporting their unique individual needs. You will be part of the Reaching Forward Team to coordinate opportunities, build positive relationships with our college partners, host events, and support scholars with resources at their institutions, community-based organizations, Waterbury Public Schools, and other members of the Waterbury Promise community.

The Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Primary objective - you will be a part of the Reaching Forward Team that ensures the college success of 800+ active scholars. Specifically, you will be a key point of contact for the new cohort of 2025, which will consist of nearly 200-275 Scholars, and you will build positive relationships with these Promise Scholars, host events, and create a Waterbury Promise Scholar Guide.
2. You will coordinate resources, connect and bridge the transition to college, and be readily available to answer questions concerning financial aid, bursar, housing, campus life, academic advisement, and more.
3. Help to implement a schedule of programming to target scholars' needs at critical points in their college journey.
4. Continuously look for ways to improve/enhance our engagement, connection, and support for Promise Scholars.
5. Cultivate and manage new and existing relationships with college partner contacts on campus.
6. Be an important “face/spokesperson” of Waterbury Promise and its Reaching Forward programs with various audiences and in various settings.
7. Work with the Reaching Forward team to facilitate a smooth transition to college for first-year scholars.
8. Work with the Director of Development and Community Engagement to help scholars access and prepare for career opportunities. Coordinate career readiness initiatives and the annual internship event.
9. Collect and analyze data (through an integrated online college success platform) on Scholar experience to inform best practices and strategies.
10. Other duties assigned by the Executive Director.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

1. Ability to work creatively with a variety of stakeholders, including Waterbury Public Schools, Higher Education entities, community leaders, students, and families.
2. Knowledge about and/or familiarity with education-related issues.
3. Knowledgeable of the barriers many low-income, first-generation students face and have experience working to dismantle those barriers.
4. Excellent writing and communications skills with the ability to inspire scholars, support and measure milestones
5. Strong computer skills, including basic competency in Microsoft Office and other online data management platforms.
6. Well regarded in and connected to the local community and the higher education landscape.
7. Well organized; can operate independently to achieve results and effectively manage multiple tasks.
8. Ability to set clear, measurable, and tangible short and long-term goals.
9. Make connections, determine fits, and solve challenges to create opportunities.
10. Use data analysis to drive strategy and action.
11. Proactively seek feedback, practice active listening, and act on feedback as necessary.
12. Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
13. Seek to understand and celebrate the unique identities of the individuals you interact with and support.
14. Ability to develop relationships and cultivate partnerships with school faculty, team members, and community partners.
15. Ability to be a team player, a problem solver, to follow complex directions, interpret data and to be a multi-tasker.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in education, counseling, human services, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• At least three years of experience in college advising, success coaching, or a related field.
• Ability to develop relationships and cultivate partnerships with school faculty, team members, and community partners.
• Ability to be a team player, a problem solver, to follow complex directions, interpret data, and to be a multi-tasker.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with good judgment in decision-making.
• Hold a valid Driver’s License, a good driving history, and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, counseling, or related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• One year of experience in retention programs.
• Experience using an early alert/advising database system.

The yearly full-time salary is $55,000. Work Hours are 9 am to 5 pm (with some flexibility), and weekend involvement as needed.

As a mission-based organization, we believe in supporting the needs of our team members so they can achieve success! This full-time role offers the support below to foster work-life integration.

Overview: Benefits as a Full-time Employee

Insurance

1. Low-cost Health & Dental Insurance
2. Life Insurance coverage
3. Long-term Disability coverage
4. Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage

Retirement

1. 401K Plan with 5% of your salary contributed by Waterbury Promise. You will also have the ability to make voluntary contributions.

Time off Entitlements

1. Sick Time
2. Vacation Time based on years of full-time service

Mileage

1. Mileage while on the job (i.e., traveling to and from a job site) is reimbursable upon request based on the standard IRS reimbursement rates.

Additionally, this role offers the support below to foster work-life integration.

1. Remote-Flexible Hybrid Work Schedule (In-office Team Meetings & Executive Director Check-ins, host of community events, and additional projects)