About KIPP North Carolina

**This role is located in Northampton County**

KIPP NC is a network of eight high-performing, college-preparatory public charter schools providing an academically rigorous and joyous school experience to more than 3,500 students in grades K-12 in Charlotte, Durham, Gaston, and Halifax. KIPP NC supports several thousand alumni on their journey to and through high school, college, and career.   

KIPP NC is building on a rich tradition of academic excellence and relentless fight for social justice present from the founding of both KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte. KIPP ENC is the second oldest KIPP region in the nation. In its 20 years of operation, KIPP ENC has been a cornerstone for students and families in rural Gaston and Halifax, operating two primary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Over the past five years, it grew to serve even more students by opening up a middle school in Durham, an urban center in the center part of the state. KIPP Charlotte, which grew out of the strong traditions and academics of KIPP ENC, has supported students and families for the past 13 years, operating one primary school and one middle school in the largest city in North Carolina.

KIPP North Carolina is building upon the successes and experiences of KIPP ENC and KIPP Charlotte to provide inclusive school environments and an educational program that will enable our students to lead full lives and equip graduates to be future leaders and agents of change in North Carolina and beyond. KIPP NC is engaging in direct, anti-racist work, and contributes meaningfully to the dismantling of structures of inequality within our organization, schools, and classrooms. We’re committed to expanding our efforts to embed anti-racism in all of our activities and engagements within our classrooms and schools, across our organization, and throughout the State of North Carolina. All of this will be in a tireless effort to create classrooms that are homeplaces for our students, places where they feel safe, loved, validated, seen, and heard, places where all their beautiful identities will be affirmed and celebrated, and places where they will learn the academic knowledge and skills needed for college, career, and beyond.

The Opportunity

The Director of College & Career Counseling  is responsible for developing and managing a college and career counseling program and team that will ensure that every student deepens their knowledge about themselves and their top careers of highest aspiration, and builds and executes a strong plan that will allow them to make the best postsecondary choice. The Director of College & Career Counseling is responsible for building relationships with the school leadership team, national organizations and college/universities that will lead to resources for students. It is the ultimate goal of the college & career counseling department, through guidance and education, to ensure that all graduates have the ability to maintain success in their academic, professional and personal lives. Finally, the Director of College Counseling is charged with keeping the college & career counseling program woven into all aspects of KIPP high school campus to ensure that the program does not work in isolation from the school’s mission.

This role is an ideal opportunity for a highly motivated, collaborative, results-driven and service minded leader with a passion for supporting students in building and succeeding in their postsecondary plan for their career of highest aspiration.  We are looking for a leader who can see the bigger picture, coach and develop our counselors  and manage the day to day operations.

Duties and Essential Job Functions:

• Manage, Develop and Lead the College & Career Department at KIPP Pride High School
  • Coach and support the College & Career Counselors through curriculum assessment, classroom observation, as well as  goal setting and progress monitoring
  • Support and facilitate college and career personal development for teachers and staff
  • Track student college and career data, monitor progress, and execute on strategic upgrades
  • Lead college and career programming and exposure: this includes planning college field lessons, teaching or co-teaching seminar courses for Juniors and Seniors, planning and executing events and opportunities like college and career fairs to increase student knowledge of opportunities
  • Develop effective processes to support College & Career Instructors in regards to  students  finalizing and executing on strong post-secondary plans, including but not limited to, postsecondary and financial aid applications, and registering for standardized tests in a classroom setting
  • Develop an inclusive, solution-focused and growth-mindset team culture 
  • Lead hiring and performance management for College Counseling team
  • Serve as a member of the school leadership team, supporting the school’s academic and culture efforts
• Collaborate with the KIPP Forward team and other stakeholders to track and report data for support Postsecondary Access
  • Maintain consistent “Progress of Students” communication with key stakeholders including: KIPP Foundation, KIPP Forward team, School and regional leadership, along with students and families
  • Manage the implementation of the CKCS Curriculum
  • Regularly update data trackers, Overgrad, and ADB for Match and Postsecondary Pathways
  • Attend ongoing professional development and meetings regarding the DCC role as provided by KIPP Foundation and KIPP Forward
  • Establish relationships and collaborate with external stakeholders (postsecondary institutions, career partners, scholarship organizations, etc.) to support students’ success
  • Progress monitor all KIPP Forward postsecondary prep, application and matriculation goals
  • Manage and maintain consistent communication flow to key stakeholders, teammates and families (including recurring meetings with SPED team, Registrar/Dean of Academic Progress, Testing Coordinator etc.) to support students progress towards HS graduation and transition to their postsecondary plan
  • Responsibilities associated with this position may shift, expand and grow based on the regional needs of the organization

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Experience in leading high-performance and diverse teams 
• Resilience, strong work ethic and outcomes oriented—demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities under stress and follow through, despite sometimes tight or back to back deadlines
• Previous experience in using data to drive decision making strongly 
• Comfort with working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment 
• Strong interpersonal skills; Ability to work with a wide-range of people including teachers, parents, students, alumni, corporate partners, vendors  and admissions personnel
• Ability to project plan, organize, and prioritize, with a collaborative spirit 
• Fast learner with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback
• Proven written and verbal communication skills
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required

Required Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
• Experience as a teacher/counselor and/or leader at the middle or high school level

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience coaching and managing adults
• Experience working with high school students (especially first-generation) and their families in the college counseling field, strongly preferred
• Experience in the charter school environment.

Total Rewards

Compensation is commensurate with years of relevant experience and educational attainment.  We identify where Directors and Deans fall on the teacher pay scale and then add 15%.  For example, if you have 10 years of relevant experience and a Masters, your pay would be $57,973 + 15% or $66,669.00.

But our commitment to compensation is not just salary-based. KIPP NC offers best-in-class benefits, including:

• All the supplies you need to do your job well, including a laptop and a high-speed internet connection at each of our schools
• Medical, vision, and dental plans that cover a lot with little out of your paycheck
• A platinum-rated 403b retirement program with an employer match that rivals those in the private sector
• Extensive professional development and support for your chosen role
• Generous time off that includes 27 holidays a year (including a week off at Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Juneteenth), 17 PTO days for your first three years of service that rollover, and 6 sick days with the option to apply for extended sick leave, if needed.

Learn more about our commitment to offering the highest salaries and the best benefits in the state at https://kippnc.org/join-our-team!

KIPP North Carolina does not and shall not discriminate on the race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, disability, source of income, or status as a veteran in any of its activities or operations.