Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing charter public schools that are closing the academic achievement gap and preparing students from historically underserved communities for success in college and beyond. Uncommon currently manages 55schools serving more than 20,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, Rochester, and Troy. Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at rates far higher than their peers. We believe that every child deserves an outstanding education, and we are committed to working beyond the walls of our schools to achieve that goal through our professional development workshops, books, and district partnerships.

Job Description

Summary of Role

Uncommon Schools is committed to ensuring that its graduates both enter into 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 and Alumni Success, you will direct the operation and development of a career services program for Uncommon alumni! You will focus on providing counseling and assistance concerning internship, career, and graduate education decisions; provide resources and opportunities to encourage career exploration and self-assessment, lead all aspects of the development of professional partnerships with the goal of helping 50 alumni earn paid internships/jobs in year 1; and identify the changing needs of the alumni community and job market, and potential risk factors to success!

Core Duties & Responsibilities

Counseling/Programming:

• Counsels alumni on graduate school choices, admission, and general financial aid.
• Counsels alumni about career development and planning, including clarifying their career objectives, acquiring information on companies, current opportunities for employment and hiring practices, and making the transition from school to career.
• Distributes information on internships, summer jobs, and local part-time jobs.
• Develops and implements a curriculum with alumni covering topics including the job-search process, interviewing, resume, and letter writing, and all other facets of career planning.
• Provides career planning assistance through appointments with individuals, online assistance, and regularly scheduled workshops with groups.
• Represents Uncommon in leading the execution of the UKA Next Up Alumni Career Summit.

(2) Administrative:

• Runs the career services operation to ensure efficient, timely, and effective programs and services to alumni.
• Regularly supervises, analyzes, and evaluates current scope of services offered through career service support, implements, and advises new programs in coordination with other alumni support initiatives.
• Maintains an up-to-date career resources library.
• Conducts an annual alumni employment/graduate school survey.
• Establishes career services procedures, prepares regular reports, and collects and analyzes research data relevant to the career planning and placement of alumni
• Participates in professional development activities to ensure professional growth and knowledge needed to provide effective leadership and program development.
• Crafts the infrastructure in Salesforce to maintain up-to-date records of each alumnus' career trajectory.
• Maintains membership and active involvement in professional organizations, like the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which provide broad opportunities for job development activities.

(3) Representing

• Serves as the primary liaison between Uncommon, its alumni, and potential employers on a state, regional, national, and international scale.
• Addresses alumni, parents, faculty, and other administrators on career-related issues. Makes concerted effort to develop new partnerships with parents and faculty.
• Establishes and maintains effective and collaborative working relationships with alumni, faculty, employers. Initiates contact with and develops strong, ongoing relationships with regional employers that hire alumni.
• Develops new contacts with external organizations for the purpose of growing employment opportunities for alumni.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Abilities

• Dedication to the mission of Uncommon Schools
• Proven experience on a college/university student services staff
• Meaningful knowledge and capabilities include career counseling techniques, knowledge of job trends and career development skills
• Effective public relations and networking abilities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong prioritization skills
• Strategic problem solver and project manager with proven track record of developing systems that achieve efficiency and scalability.
• Excellent organization, time management, and tenacious follow-up skills; ability to prioritize

Preferred Skills & Abilities

• Experience in career development and/or employment counseling or the equivalent preferred

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required

Experience Requirements

• 2-4 years professional work experience required

Travel Requirements

• Able to travel-primarily in the NYC/NJ region-to build and maintain partnerships, attend professional development, and attend regional and national conferences.

Additional Information

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a very generous benefits and vacation 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 a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through 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.