Director of College Program

College Possible Omaha

About College Possible

As one of the largest and most successful college access and success programs in the country, since 2000 College Possible has helped put more than 59,000 students from disinvested communities on the path to economic mobility via completion of a college degree. Its proven near-peer coaching model, delivered by recent college graduates serving as AmeriCorps members, provides high-touch interventions proven to help students navigate and overcome the most common barriers to college access, retention and degree completion. Nationwide, College Possible students are three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree within six years than their peers from similar backgrounds.

College Possible is a growing nonprofit coaching students from low-income backgrounds to and through college to break the cycle of poverty and empower the next generation of leaders. Our model has earned national recognition: the inaugural Evergreen National Education Award recognized our leadership in increasing access to and success in college for students from low-income backgrounds. It also earns to pof-field results: a Harvard study found that the program more than doubles a student's chance of enrolling in a four-year college, and our students are four times more likely to become college graduates than their low-income peers. College Possible has a budget of $33 million, more than 128 full-time employees and more than 321 AmeriCorps and VISTA service members. During the 2021-22 school year, we will reach an estimated 21,245 students in all 50 states, with the support of 169 partner high schools and 107 partner colleges.

College Possible is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks to build a diverse workforce to create impact in partnership with the communities we serve. We welcome a diverse pool of qualified applicants. For each of its positions, College Possible is mindful about what best serves our students, and seeks to hire staff with relevant experience, skills and aptitude, and a commitment to the power of education. To learn more read our Diversity and Inclusion Plan.

Headquartered in Saint Paul, MN, College Possible operates regional sites in Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA; College Forward in Austin, TX; and has Catalyze partnerships in California, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. Learn more at CollegePossible.org.

Your Role as Director of College Program

The Director of College Program Omaha will have a special focus on college and career success including external partnerships. They will ensure our college students are receiving necessary career support by connecting into career resources at their respective colleges and also within our city. This position will also provide career readiness training to our AmeriCorps coaches. This position will work with the college team to help ensure the quality of the College Possible program, providing input and support in overall program management and organizational leadership.

Site-Based Program Leadership and Delivery: Oversee the high-quality implementation of the College Possible curriculum and program components to ensure that the program is operating with fidelity to the national model. Provide daily support, guidance and supervision to Program staff (and Corps members) to ensure excellence in service, troubleshooting issues as they arise, evaluating performance through check-ins and working with staff to ensure the highest quality of service to students, sites, and Corps members. Alongside the national program team, the Director of College Program Omaha and local team will develop a strategy to help students prepare for and engage in career opportunities.

Evaluate, Track and Report on Progress: Track, evaluate and report on programmatic progress as well as develop program improvements. Use key metrics and indicators, evaluate and analyze programmatic data to identify trends and progress. Use appropriate benchmarks and internal and external comparatives to measure program success. Recommend and lead implementation of corrective action as needed to achieve desired program outcomes. Lead on all site level college success program evaluation and while serving as Omaha site lead liaison with Serve Nebraska, work closely with Omaha's senior team to ensure compliance with AmeriCorps policies and regulations.

Data and Results Management: Ensure successful data entry and compliance at the site based on national and local data priorities. Provide guidance and support to Program staff on how to read/interpret results and manage coaches accordingly. Oversees the tracking and reporting of outcomes, especially in the college success and career space, as they relate to programming goals/benchmarks. Leverage data for program management and training development and, alongside the Senior Program, Director develop and implement performance improvement strategies where necessary. Acquire and summarize data needed for AmeriCorps, donor and/or board reporting. Maintain member files and accurately report member hours ensuring that program consistently follows AmeriCorps guidelines.

Supervise, Train and Support Program Staff: Work closely with Program Staff to manage the day-to-day activities of the (Program Coordinators and AmeriCorps Coaches). Responsibilities include overseeing and developing program staff and working with the Omaha senior team in college service member hiring, onboarding, training, development and support. Ensure staff and service member alignment with organizational goals and objectives. Oversee annual college program training and works closely with senior leadership on site-wide orientation efforts.

Strategic Partnerships and Community Relations: Cultivate and support team members in building and maintaining strong partnerships with colleges and designated partners/key contacts to assess program quality, results and overall satisfaction. Actively engage proactively with higher education leadership to advocate for and demonstrate value of working with College Possible for our college program offerings. Manage and build relationships with higher education partners that College Possible Omaha partner with to enhance the relationship and service delivery. Represent College Possible in the community and foster effective collaboration that create valuable resources and opportunities for students and staff or advances a community-wide college-going culture. Attend campus-based events where appropriate and foster successful communication as a representative of College Possible Omaha program team dedicated to college success initiatives. Manage a portfolio of external partnerships with organizations who provide college and career readiness resources to students. Actively engage proactively with businesses in the College Possible Omaha region to help college students and graduates benefit from student internship/engagement opportunities and employment options that activate their professional careers.

National Program Design and Engagement: Lead in advancing (or supporting program staff/AmeriCorps member involvement) in key activities that demonstrate promise to fulfilling our overall program outcomes. Contribute to the Design Cycle process by working collaboratively with National Program Team to formalize recommendations on program design (i.e., inputs, implementation plan and evaluation plan) especially in the college success and career space.

Other Duties as Assigned.

What You Bring

Education/Certifications/Licenses:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Related Work Experience:

• Minimum 5+ years of full-time work experience demonstrating progressively increasing levels of responsibility.
• 5+ years of experience in a college services leadership role within higher education or similar role in higher education.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Demonstrated competencies in presenting to senior leadership in higher education.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in building relationships and being a thought-partner in the higher education space.
• Experience in curriculum design, and familiarity with college admission, access and successful retention strategies
• Proven ability to work with diverse populations
• Proven record of facilitating collaboration and cooperation with community organizations
• Salesforce experience preferred.

Computer/Software Skills:

• Well-developed computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office and experience in database management.

Other Skills, Abilities and Requirements:

• Significant commitment to the mission of helping low-income students earn admission to college and persist toward degree completion.
• Must have a desire to engage in diversity, inclusion and/or equity work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Attention to detail, including proofreading and project follow-through.
• Comfort with data collection, analysis, and a strong focus on results.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds when needed
• Office environment with limited travel
• Ability to stand and/or sit for a minimum of 7 hours a day

What We Offer

In addition to joining a committed, diverse, values-based organization, we offer:

• An opportunity for you to have a tremendous impact both internally and in the broader country
• a competitive salary commensurate with experience
• excellent benefits including complete health, dental, life, short-term and long-term insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Encouraged sustainability through a generous paid time off program
• Personalized professional development and growth opportunities

To Join Our Growing College Possible Team

Please apply at: www.CollegePossible.org/careers Include a resume and cover letter.