Director of College Access

The Organization: 

Destination: College (DC) is a 501c3 with the mission to: facilitate college readiness for economically disadvantaged student athletes through mentoring and academic tutoring; assist with all aspects of the college admissions and financial aid process; and support our students towards a successful completion of college. Through our staff and network of local volunteers, DC currently provides academic support to high school students in the Mount Vernon Central School District. Since its founding in 2006, DC has helped hundreds of low-income students gain acceptance to colleges best suited to their academic, and financial needs. DC’s college retention rates far surpass the national average for similarly situated students.

Specifically, DC offers, at no cost, onsite tutoring, mentorship, SAT test preparation, college guidance, and assistance with all aspects of financial aid. College counseling is also provided including college entrance transition, navigation of college procedures, and financial aid execution. Destination: College is led by our Executive Director, who reports directly to the Chair of our Board of Directors, and is administered by our Director of College Access, Director of College Success, and our team of dedicated volunteers.

The Opportunity: 

Destination: College is looking to hire our next Director of College Access (DCA), a critical position in the organization and responsible for overseeing support and advisory to high school students throughout their college application process. The DCA reports to the Executive Director and works collaboratively with the other part-time staff position, the Director of College Success. This is a part-time year-round position with reduced hours in the summer months.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support high school students in the college application process including school selection, essay development, preparation and submission of applications including but not limited to The Common Application, interview preparation, the H/EOP process, financial aid applications, scholarship identification, loan counseling, entrance forms and college campus visits
• Develop and lead all financial aid programming and workshops for students and families  
• Train and support DC volunteers in the college application and financial aid processes 
• Refer students to the Director of College Success for support once matriculated in their school of choice
• Be an advocate for the students for successful college placement
• Coordinate college campus visits for students including arranging for tours, meetings with H/EOP coordinations, and any other logistics
• Be available onsite at Mount Vernon High School in the College Center 2-3 days a week, and available via phone/email during off-site work hours
• Attend DC fundraising events, annual alumni reunion, annual off-site organizational meetings, and school events on weekends or evenings when relevant
• Provide Executive Director programmatic updates in preparation for meetings with the Board of Directors 
• Collect, analyze and utilize data for reporting, program improvements, decision-making, and fundraising purposes
• Meet weekly together with the Executive Director and the Director of College Success to ensure collaboration and continuous programmatic quality improvement
• This part-time position is year-round, with a heavier workload during the academic school year and requires an in-person presence at Mount Vernon High School 2-3 days a week. Additional hours can be remote upon discussion and approval from the Executive Director. Some evenings and weekends may be required for special events throughout the year

Key Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred (or related experience with both the college application process and the college experience)
• Demonstrated commitment to DC’s mission and target population 
• Demonstrated commitment, interest, and ability to work with our target population (high school aged students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds)
• Demonstrated experience with the college application process including current best practices in essay development and the financial aid process and timelines (FAFSA, TAP, CSS profile, EOP/HEOP requirements)
• Sensitivity for complex students’ and family circumstances and needs
• Demonstrated ability to monitor workflow independently and meet multiple goals and deadlines
• Excellent writing and editing skills 
• Excellent listening skills
• A can-do, pro-active and collaborative approach to support student success, and a willingness and ability to work within the constraints of a small non-profit organization
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite 

Supportive, collegial, and collaborative team

Opportunity to engage directly with program constituents

Paid time off for school holidays, sick and vacation days upon request

Ability to work remotely when not needed on-site at the College Center

Flexible work schedule

Reduced summer hours