Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 55 schools serving more than 21,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, Rochester, and Troy. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Uncommon Schools in Brooklyn currently manages twenty four schools serving students in grades K through 12. We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. Our students in Brooklyn have an impressive 99% college acceptance rate.

Summary of Role

Uncommon Schools is committed to ensuring that its graduates both enter in to and graduate from a four-year college or university. This fulfills our mission of seeing students to and through college, thus closing the achievement gap between low-income students and their wealthier peers. Under the supervision of the Senior Associate Director of College Completion, you will support our high school graduates in achieving their post-secondary goals. As a Alumni Success Coach, you will focus on providing counseling and programming, identifying the changing needs of alumni and the potential risk factors to their success, connecting alumni to campus or local resources, and increasing student independence in managing their post-secondary plans.

Core Duties & Responsibilities

(1) Building & Maintaining Relationships

·       Develop a personal, professional relationship with each student

·       Use all possible forms of communication to stay in close contact with each student including in-person meetings, e-mail, phone, text messaging, social media, etc. to increase student accountability and success

·       Be available to students during the evening and weekends to discuss any issues that may arise

·     Serves as the primary liaison between Uncommon, its alumni, and college administrators

·       Research and meet key individuals (e.g. deans, admissions counselors, financial aid officers, special program directors, EOP officials, R.A.’s, professors, etc.) on assigned campuses who will advocate for and support students

·       Help connect students to resources on campus including study abroad opportunities, academic help centers, writing centers, advisement offices, mental health offices, etc.

·       Contact the parents/families of alumni, when necessary (e.g., after loss of contact, concerned for students’ well-being, etc.)

(2) Counseling & Programming

·       Advise students on academic issues including choosing a major, building relationships with professors, study habits, time management, etc.

·       Make individualized academic plans with each student reflecting on strengths and weaknesses and setting appropriate goals to push student’s growth

·       Help students take full advantage of their post-collegiate experience; meet each student where they are and then push each to work towards next steps in his/her personal progress.

·       Assist with re-enrollment and transfer processes

·       Plan winter and spring alumni events to foster continued community; send care packages during exam season

(3) Administrative & Maintenance

·       Maintain an up-to-date record of each interaction, obstacles, and academic progress in the alumni database

·       Manage and report accurate post-secondary data of caseload to direct manager and assigned school team

·       Continually assess the potential that alumni will complete college based on their academic, financial, socio-emotional and personal well-being; prioritize support for students at the greatest risk of stopping out

·       Ensure accurate contact information is maintained in database

·       Send routine emails/text messages to all alumni with study tips, words of encouragement, opportunities and other relevant messages

·       Contribute to network-wide alumni communication (e.g., alumni website and newsletter)

·       Make travel arrangements and submit all receipts for eligible travel reimbursements

Requirements

●     Bachelor’s degree required 

●     2+ years of professional work experience required

●     Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools

●     Demonstrated college knowledge (e.g., college application process, financial aid process, general college knowledge and policies, etc.)

●     Effective public relations and networking abilities

●     Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

●     Self-starter with strong prioritization skills

●     Excellent organization, time management, and tenacious follow-up skills; ability to prioritize and demonstrate an appropriate sense of urgency

●        Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

●        Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time

●        Must be able to climb up to 4 flights of stairs while carrying items such as boxes, chart paper or computer

●        Must be willing to travel. Once travel restrictions are lifted, up to 8 weeks of travel, each semester, in assigned region to visit alumni on their college campuses.

●        Experience in academic/student support services (higher ed) preferred

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. All staff members receive extensive professional development, and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions.