College and Career Success Director

TITLE: College and Career Success Director 

DEPARTMENT: College and Career Success

REPORTS TO: Chief Programs Officer

SALARY: $84,000 - $90,000 based on experience

FLSA: Exempt

HOURS: Full Time; 40+ hours/week

START DATE: ASAP

Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) Heart of Los Angeles helps young people overcome barriers through exceptional, free, integrated programs and personalized guidance in a trusted, nurturing environment. 

Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Support, Positive Communication and Inclusion.

POSITION SUMMARY

Heart of LA’s College and Career Success Director is responsible for overseeing the development, coordination, and facilitation of Heart of LA’s College and Career Success programming. The ideal candidate for this position will have 5+ years of experience in College Access & Success work, specializing in underserved low income first generation students of color. The Director works in collaboration with Heart of LA’s leadership team and Heart of LA’s Chief Programs Officer to ensure the continued success and development of the secondary and postsecondary streamlines. The Director develops programming and curriculum for HS junior and senior college access and enrichment programming (LEAL) as well as for Heart of LA’s Alumni and Scholarship Recipient network, involving holistic college and career supports. The Director is also responsible for working with Heart of LA leadership to strengthen and develop strategic partnerships to foster growth of the program and secure exceptional opportunities for our youth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Management

• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of our widely recognized program supporting first generation young people of color achieving pathways out of poverty through college and career success.
• Oversee review and revision as necessary of college & career success program design and curriculum.
• Oversee facilitation of programs supporting college access, career readiness, and academic & professional persistence towards excellence.
• Supervise College and Career Success staff members including the College and Career Success Manager, LEAL (High School) Program Manager, Senior College Access Counselor, and two College Success Retention Advisors.
• Coordinate with Heart of LA’s Family Services department to support families accessing resources to overcome barriers to success.
• Support a culture of inclusion within programming and operations which celebrates differences and promotes understanding, harmony and equity.
• Identify, develop, and maintain partnerships with College Access networks (SoCalCAN, NSPA, etc.), collaborative program partners, and program consultants, contractors, and vendors as it pertains to the College Access and Success programs.
• Develop and oversee implementation of Heart of LA's College and Career Success annual program budget.

College Access Program

• Develop, manage, and oversee outreach, enrollment and facilitation of College Access Junior Programming for 50+ juniors and 60+ seniors (new students and those already enrolled in other Heart of LA programs)
• Develop, manage, and oversee facilitation of comprehensive financial aid curriculum that focuses on FAFSA, CSS profile, Dream Act, financial literacy, and scholarships
• Oversee all Heart of LA Scholarships, application process, retention & renewal.

College Success Program

• Develop, manage, and oversee facilitation of Heart of LA's College Success support and resources network to regularly engage and support Heart of LA Alumni including academic action planning, financial aid management, and social-emotional support
• Oversee the development of the Alumni Network to support alumni ages 22+ including the development of programming and oversight of record keeping
• Oversee development and implementation of career development and job readiness programming for Heart of LA Alumni to ensure college and career success, including “Heart of a Mentor” career mentoring program
• Oversee the tracking of student data in conjunction with Heart of LA's Development and Grants department
• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of our Persistence Scholarship program. Continue to build relationships with community colleges to expand the support the team provides to students.

Scholarship Program

• Work in collaboration with Heart of LA’s Executive Team to grow its scholarship program in scope and impact, including funding sources
• Manage the Heart of LA Scholarship Recipient cohort of  220+ alumni, including maintaining strong connection with all Scholars, developing and improving systems to maintain regular contact and compliance with scholarship requirements.
• Oversee the disbursement and management of Heart of LA's approximately $1 million Scholarship Budget including the Scholarship Application and Scholarship Committee process.

  Academics and Enrichment for Grades 11-12, known as LEAL (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Lead)

• Oversee and direct the growth and development of Heart of LA’s High School Academic and Enrichment Program for 11th and 12th grade (LEAL).
• Oversee the development of Heart of LA’s HS workforce readiness and career development curriculum 
• Oversee academic case management, tutoring, and the creation of individual student development plans for LEAL students
• May perform other departmental duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or equivalent experience required.
• Ideal candidates should have a minimum 4 years of experience working in the field of college access, preferably specializing in working with first generation students of color.
• Program design and implementation experience
• Experience with data management systems and program evaluation
• Experience with event planning and project management
• Experience leading in a dynamic and fast paced environment
• Experience supervising staff
• Must be a positive role model for the Heart of LA community upholding and promoting by example our core values
• Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
• Knowledge and experience with Trauma Informed Practices is beneficial.
• Must pass CA DOJ background check

BENEFITS

• Employer-paid medical benefit
• Employer-paid vision and dental benefit
• Employer-paid life insurance benefit
• Employer-paid mental health benefit
• 403b retirement plan available with employer contribution
• Paid holidays benefit in excess of 20 days annually with birthday off, including 1 week of summer break and winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day
• Paid vacation benefit to include one week during the first year, 2 weeks during 2nd year, and increasing to 3 weeks by 3rd year
• Paid sick time benefit of 10 days annually
• Paid parking or transportation stipend

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The building environment does not provide air conditioning and heat in all areas. Outdoor work is expected in some cases.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others.  The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities.