College Access Manager

The Organization

At Thrive Scholars, our goal is to see talented low-income students of color develop inter-generational wealth and financial security, and become the diverse corporate, civic, and academic leaders our country so desperately needs.

Our comprehensive, data-driven, high-touch program model focuses on the key inflection points that can be the difference between just graduating from any college, and graduating from a top college with the grades, degree, career skills, and network needed to thrive in any career. Over our six-year program, Scholars benefit from admissions and intensive academic preparation before college and a comprehensive set of academic, personal, social-emotional, financial, and career supports throughout college.

The Program

The two primary components of our High School program are the Summer Academy and college counseling.

• Summer Academy is a 6-week rigorous academic preparation program that gives students 210+ hours of instruction in college-level writing and math taught by college professors, to ensure that Scholars have the preparation they need to excel academically in selective college settings. Our Summer Academy for rising high school seniors typically takes place at Amherst College, but due to COVID, will be a virtual model for the summer of 2021.

• Throughout Summer Academy and during their senior year of high school, Thrive Scholars provides group-based and individual college counseling programming to students, ensuring that students are competitive applicants at selective colleges where they receive low-loan or no-loan financial aid.

The Position

Thrive Scholars is looking to recruit a dynamic, student-focused, and results-driven College Access Manager to equip our students for the selective admission and financial aid process at Top 100 colleges and universities. The College Access Manager provides tailored college guidance and admissions support for a caseload of approximately 55 academically and personally motivated students from across the country. Additionally, the College Access Manager will leverage program design and project management skills in supporting the planning and logistics of the Summer Academy program.

Reporting to the Director of College Access, the College Access Manager works closely with their fellow Access Managers, as well as colleagues on the College Success and Career teams. This position can be based in Boston or Los Angeles. Once Summer Academy returns to an in-person model in summer 2022, the College Access Manager will be expected to be on-site at Summer Academy during the six-week program.

Key Responsibilities:

• College Counseling (70%): The College Access Manager will have the opportunity to develop and implement college counseling programming with a specific emphasis on selective college admissions for a cohort of approximately 55 students from across the country. College counseling programming includes planning and facilitating student workshops and webinars, leading campus visits, guiding application strategy and providing feedback and support, providing financial aid support, writing letters of recommendation, and conducting individual in-person and virtual meetings with students and families.

• Summer Academy Logistics (20%): The College Access Manager will meaningfully contribute to the planning of Summer Academy, including hiring, onboarding and supporting seasonal staff, logistical preparation, and designing and planning enrichment and recreational programming.

• Student Recruitment and Selection (10%): The College Access Manager will work with the program team to recruit and select new students to the program each year. Student recruitment involves facilitating information sessions at schools and community-based organizations and supporting the student application and selection process.

The Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s Degree with two or more years of professional experience required
• Minimum of two years of experience in college admissions, financial aid, or college counseling, with a focus on selective colleges
• Goal-oriented, motivated by impact and results
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead presentations and workshops
• Highly skilled relationship-builder, who is able to build trusting relationships with high school students as well as parents, guidance counselors, college admissions professionals, and community-partners
• Passion for working with low-income students of color, and expertise in the experience of first-generation students in selective college admissions
• Effective in taking initiative and prioritizing short term and long-term needs in a fast-paced work environment involving multiple projects and stakeholder
• An entrepreneurial attitude and focus on continuous improvement and innovation
• Strong organizational skills and ability to document and manage detailed data
• Ability to leverage technology to provide remote support to and maintaining strong rapport with students across the country

Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000

Thrive Scholars offers a robust compensation and benefits package including high-quality health and dental insurance, three weeks of paid vacation, generous professional development funding, and access to an employer-matched retirement plan. This is a full-time exempt position.

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Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Knowing its importance to the success of our work, Thrive Scholars is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. We appreciate your time and will review and respond to all applications received.

For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org