Academic Career Advisor

About Destiny Arts CenterDestiny Arts Center (DAC) is a nationally recognized leader in creative youth development and a vital cultural institution in Oakland. For nearly four decades, Destiny has been an artistic home for thousands of Bay Area youth and families, a place where young people find their voices, build their talents and relationships, and experience belonging.Our mission is to inspire and ignite social change through the arts. Through dance, martial arts, theater, and other movement arts, we support young people in becoming peaceful, powerful, and creative individuals who contribute to stronger, healthier communities.Position SummaryDestiny Arts Center is an Oakland-based arts organization that uses movement (dance and martial arts), music, and visual art to help young people figure out who they are and where they’re going. The Academic & Career Advisor bridges that work with the concrete, practical work of graduation requirements, college applications, financial aid, job readiness, and family advocacy.This is not a school-based or county-office role. The Advisor works in a building where someone is rehearsing down the hall, and where a young person who struggled in an IEP meeting last week may be leading a dance cipher this week — an environment that changes how young people show up and what becomes possible for them.As part of Destiny’s Care team, the Advisor partners closely with the Youth and Family Support Specialist so that educational support is integrated into a broader ecosystem of wraparound services, grounded in a strengths-based, holistic approach that recognizes academic achievement is deeply intertwined with social, emotional, cultural, and creative well-being.The role centers on high school students (ages 13–18) and young adults (ages 18–24) working toward graduation, navigating college or trade programs, or building stable footing in the workforce. The Advisor also provides lighter support and referrals for younger students (ages 5–12) and stays connected to families throughout each young person’s journey.As an exempt position, this role is expected to exercise independent judgment and discretion in managing a caseload, prioritizing competing family and program needs, developing workshop content, and representing Destiny in institutional and community settings, rather than working a fixed, hourly schedule of tasks.Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesAcademic Success & Postsecondary Navigation (Ages 13–24)This is the core of the role. The Advisor is the primary point of contact for students and young adults moving through high school completion and whatever comes after, and works closely with each student to co-create a roadmap that honors their unique academic, creative, and personal goals.Guide students through California A-G requirements, credit recovery options, and graduation pathwaysSupport college applications across community colleges, UC, CSU, and private institutionsHelp young adults complete GEDs or re-enroll in school after time awayTrack grades and academic standing for students on Destiny's performance companies, working alongside schools and partner organizations to keep performance opportunities and academics in balance, and stepping in with extra support as neededOwn the financial aid process, including FAFSA, Cal Grant, the California Dream Act, and WIOA/WIA workforce grants — demystifying award letters, the true cost of a degree, and scholarship and work-study optionsProvide light academic mentorship for younger students (ages 5–12), focused on study habits, executive functioning, and a love of learningSupport families navigating IEP processes and school-based accommodations, serving as a liaison between Destiny, school personnel, and caregivers without replacing special education servicesHelp students and families recognize and leverage skills built through dance, martial arts, and theater as transferable assets for the classroom, a job site, or a creative careerWorkforce Readiness & Youth EmploymentThe Advisor helps young people get ready for work, find it, and keep it — including Destiny’s own youth staff.Develop and lead workshops on resumes, LinkedIn, interviews, and navigating workplace dynamicsConnect participants to internships, job shadows, apprenticeships, and vocational programsHandle the administrative side of youth employment: work permits, labor law basics, I-9s, and W-4sSupport Destiny Arts Center’s own youth staff and camp counselors through hiring and onboardingCo-develop workforce-readiness workshops with the Youth and Family Support Specialist and external partners, building transferable skills such as goal setting, professional communication, and time managementFinancial LiteracyFinancial literacy is woven directly into the advising relationship as a practical extension of each student’s real goals, not an abstract lesson.For college-bound students: demystify FAFSA and award letters, the true cost of a degree, and scholarship or work-study optionsFor students entering the workforce or a trade: cover budgeting basics, pay stubs, taxes, and opening a first bank accountFor young artists: teach how to price a performance, negotiate a rate, manage inconsistent income, and understand contractsReinforce concepts through periodic financial literacy workshops developed with the Youth and Family Support Specialist and outside expertsFamily Advocacy & Community EngagementFamilies need someone who knows the systems and will show up with them, not just point them somewhere.Advocate alongside parents and caregivers in institutional meetings, including IEP and financial aid meetingsHost workshops that help families understand what they’re entitled to and how to ask for itStay connected to young people and families dealing with housing instability, system involvement, or other real barriersCommunicate in a culturally responsive way that acknowledges the systemic barriers many students face, ensuring advising feels relevant, affirming, and community-rootedProgram Operations & ReportingThe behind-the-scenes work that keeps the program accountable and connected across Destiny’s ecosystem of services.Maintain accurate case notes and records tied to each student’s individual goalsPull data and write narratives for grant reportsCoordinate with teaching artists and outside partners so students don’t fall through the cracks between programsPartner with the Case Manager to ensure academic support is integrated into Destiny’s broader wraparound service modelQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Counseling, or a related field — or equivalent experienceAt least 2 years of experience working directly with young people in youth development, case management, school counseling, or a related settingWorking knowledge of California A-G requirements, college and financial aid systems, and IEP processesComfortable facilitating groups and leading workshopsBilingual in Spanish and English preferred; culturally responsive in communication styleDemonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, manage a varied caseload, and prioritize competing needs with minimal direct supervision, consistent with this position’s exempt classificationWork Environment & ScheduleThis role is based on-site at Destiny Arts Center in Oakland, working alongside teaching artists and programming rather than in a school or county office. As an exempt, salaried position, the schedule may require some evenings or weekends for workshops, performances, or family events, with flexibility to manage time and workload accordingly. This role is not eligible for overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).Powered by JazzHRNuOFv2DxM3