Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success

About UsNamed after the first Black American to graduate from college in the United States, Alexander Twilight Academy (ATA) is a free, longitudinal catalyst and high school and college access organization that provides hard-working, high-potential students from under-resourced backgrounds with the highest-quality educational and life-enriching opportunities. Through rigorous, year-round academic programming, support, advocacy, enrichment, and mentorship, ATA prepares middle school students to earn admission to and thrive at the nation's top high schools, colleges, and beyond. ATA makes a long-term commitment to serve each student and family we admit from middle school through college and beyond. ATA develops leaders who will change the world and catalyzes the next generation of great thinkers, creators, and changemakers to live meaningful lives of passion and purpose.Piloted during the summers of 2018 and 2019 and launched, in earnest, during the 2019-2020 school year. ATA has grown by adding a new cohort of rising 6th grade students each year. ATA now serves seven cohorts of students in grades 6-12. Alexander Twilight Academy has placed 100% of its students into the Boston Exam Schools and prestigious independent day and boarding schools with a cumulative total of over $52M of financial aid and is at an incredibly exciting inflection point because our oldest cohort, who will be entering their senior year this fall, will be the first cohort from ATA to apply to college!It is an incredibly exciting time to join our team, as ATA is continuing to grow and scale the size of each new rising 6th grade cohort we admit, while fully building out the high school and college aspects of the model with robust programming, support systems, career exploration, internship training and placement, and college guidance.About the OpportunityWe are looking for an Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success (commensurate with experience) to lead in an innovative, scaling, mission-driven organization. This position will be instrumental in placing our first cohort in college and all future cohorts to follow, all while building upon the groundwork of high school success programming for Alexander Twilight Academy’s current and future 9th-12th grade students. The Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success will be involved in the expansion of the high school success programmatic offerings, work as an on-the-ground advocate for ATA students and families, and serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director and Director of High School Success and College Guidance. The Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success will lead all aspects of high school support and will make a multi-year commitment to ATA. This position will report to the Executive Director and the Director of High School Success and College Guidance.About YouYou are firmly committed to educational access, equity, social justice, and ATA’s mission and vision.You are entrepreneurial, scrappy, and relentless in pursuit of getting the best outcomes for each student and family we serve.You are an excellent communicator and can confidently build relationships with students and families from diverse backgrounds.You are highly responsive and cultivate strong partnerships with multiple stakeholders including colleges, school leaders, tutors, guidance counselors, and other key supporters in the ATA network.You have familiarity with the landscape of independent schools in New England and/or Boston Public Schools.You are steeped in process, are highly organized, and have a strong attention to detail.You have exceptional follow up and follow through, showing relentless persistence in closing out key tasks.You are receptive to feedback and unafraid to take proactive steps to make improvements and/or solve problems.You are a successful multi-tasker and thrive when managing concurrent projects under tight deadlines.You have worked in higher education or at a school or CBO setting and ideally have experience or interest in advocacy work.You have high expectations for what success looks like from an academic and student perspective.About the RoleAs the Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success you will guide talented, under-resourced students through high school and the entire college admissions process. You will provide individualized support to ensure students are admitted to and thrive at top-tier colleges and universities.As the Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success you will be responsible for the following scope of work:College Guidance work:Advise a specific caseload of high school students, helping them identify "best-fit" schools and manage the college application process.Lead workshops and sessions on college essays, interview preparation, the application process and strategy, as well as financial aid.Guide students on college tours both inside and outside of MassachusettsAssist students and their families in navigating complex financial aid forms to maximize need-based aid and secure scholarships.Build close relationships with the college counselors at each high school our students attend.Build ATA’s name recognition and brand amongst colleges as we place our initial cohorts of students in college and continue to bolster those relationships for years to come.Guide students on college tours both inside and outside of MassachusettsHigh School Success work:Conduct bi-monthly individual check-ins with high school students to build relationships, address concerns, and provide guidance on navigating life at independent and the Boston Exam schools.Support monthly cohort meetings intended to build community, drive student engagement, and support students navigating high school.Closely monitor and track student performance to ensure strong candidacy for the college and post-secondary opportunities of their dreams.Design and execute intervention strategies for high school students in need of additional support, ranging from academic tools to mental health resources.Facilitate strong partnerships and lines of communication with student support teams and leadership at independent schools and the Boston Exam schools to ensure student needs are met.Support bi-annual site visits to independent schools and the Boston Exam schools to check in with students and meet with school administrators.Identify and secure professional development and summer learning opportunities for high school students, including internship opportunities, career talks, and networking opportunities.QualificationsBachelor’s Degree required. Master’s in Education or Counseling preferred.3+ years of professional experience in schools, nonprofits and/or the public sector is preferred.Experience with college guidance programming is preferred.Experience with independent high schools and/or admissions is a plus.Fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and/or Portuguese is preferred.Availability to work a flexible schedule - some Saturday and evening work is required. Overnight travel for college tours is expected 1-2 times per year.A valid driver’s license required, and an ability to travel to various high schools, primarily located in New England.The DetailsThis is a full-time role with expectations and benefits commensurate with all full-time roles at ATA.Location: Our team works together in our Jamaica Plain office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with optional remote days on Wednesdays and Fridays; During the 6-week Summer Leadership Program we are in-person every day.Benefits: We offer a strong benefit package including healthcare, dental, vision, a 401K plan, and a generous PTO policy with holiday closures.Compensation: Salary for this position starts at $80,000 commensurate with experience.How to Apply:Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@alexandertwilightacademy.org with the subject line “Associate or Assistant Director of College Guidance and High School Success”Alexander Twilight Academy is an equal-opportunity employer and does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.