KIPP Foundation

Multiple Locations
Type: Leadership & Support Staff
Full Time/Part Time: Full-Time
Start Date: Immediate
Subject:
Grade:

Organization: KIPP Foundation
Preferred Locations: New York, NY

Contact: Nikeya Elliott
Email: nelliott@kipp.org


Senior Manager, College and Career Success Collaborative
KIPP Through College, KIPP Foundation
 
About KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon
KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon Schools are three of the highest-performing public charter school networks in the country. We share a belief that every child deserves access to a high-quality school that will prepare them for college and the competitive world beyond. We aim to close the achievement gap for the students in our schools the vast majority of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and students of color, and many of whom would be the first in their family to earn a college degree. With 130,000+ students enrolled in our PK-12 grades collectively across our organizations, we are among the top 20 largest school systems in the US, and we're growing. In addition, we collectively have nearly 30,000 college-age and older alumni (those who have graduated from our middle or high schools), growing at 15% per year.
 
For all of our students, we hold one common aspiration: that they have fulfilling, economically self-sufficient, choice-filled lives. Today, earning a college degree is more critical than ever before. The national data illustrates that on virtually every measure of economic well-being and career attainment college graduates come out far ahead of their peers with less education. In the last decade, the vast majority of job growth has accrued to college degree holders, and those with BA degrees earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma. Furthermore, those without a BA who hold a credential in a skilled, high-demand, "middle-skill" role are able to access a growing job market and higher wages as compared to those with just a high school diploma. The number of cases in which a high school diploma alone will lead to the economically self-sufficient, choice-filled lives that is our students' aspiration is very small and shrinking.
 
At KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon Schools, our alumni collectively earn BA degrees at a rate that is three to four times higher than that of their peers (40%+ vs. 10%). And while we celebrate this early success, we know we can do much more. We aim to see our students earn BA degrees at higher and higher rates-over 50% in the near term and 75% in the longer term-and support those who don't earn a BA to secure a valued credential in a high-demand industry, giving all a strong career start.
About the College and Career Success Collaborative (KIPP, Achievement First, Uncommon)

As we consider students progressing through a simple continuum for post-secondary success- 1) getting ready for college, 2) getting into college, 3) thriving in college through to graduation, 4) launching their careers with a strong first job-our organizations have, to date, made significant progress supporting students on the earlier end of this continuum. We have opened and sustained college-preparatory K-12 public schools, and our unique approach to college counseling has dramatically improved college access for our high school seniors.  The next frontier for all of us is to better and more efficiently support students through to college graduation and to support all students-those who earn a BA and those who do not-into a strong first job. Across our organizations, our alumni base is growing rapidly, and we know we can help our students and alumni forge a path to a fulfilling, economically self-sufficient, choice-filled life. But to make that happen, we must work together to develop scalable, sustainable strategies that will help increase college completion rates and improve career preparedness and opportunity across our students and alumni.
 
We will leverage our collective knowledge, experience, scale, and networks to develop breakthrough college and career strategies that dramatically improve post-secondary outcomes for our students and communities. We will focus first on our schools and students in the NYC area and then expand to reach students across the country. Specifically, together we seek to:
•Help more students from low-income families persist in and graduate from college
•Help those who don't earn a BA secure a valued credential in an in-demand industry
•Help all-those with a BA or a credential-transition to a strong first job
And, we will work to do this all in a model that scales nationally and shares tools and resources broadly.
 
Because the significant challenges our students face mirror those of students in schools and higher education institutions across the country, we can serve as a test bed and proof point for innovative post-secondary strategies. Then over time, we will grow our impact by sharing what works with more organizations, extending our reach to more students. Our vision is that by eventually expanding our partnership to other CMOs and districts, sharing content and tools externally, leveraging common services, and collectively influencing other ecosystem actors, we can play a transformative role in shaping college and career outcomes for other low-income, first-generation students.
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Position Overview
The College and Career Success Collaborative is in its earliest stages and is ready for a passionate leader to launch and drive the work. The Senior Manager of the Collaborative will work with content experts and post-secondary support leads from KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon to design and launch pilots, establish partnerships to support the work, set annual goals, and provide regular updates to steering committee members and donors.
 
The Senior Manager, College and Career Success Collaborative will report to the Senior Director, Strategic Projects for the KIPP Foundation with a formal dotted line to the KIPP Through College & Career New York Managing Director. The Senior Manager will be the project manager of the new College and Career Success Collaborative, working across a diverse set of stakeholders to build the vision and then execute both short-term and long-term collaborative goals. The Senior Manager will frequently work in deep collaboration with members of the KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon teams. If you love an entrepreneurial environment and thrive in an environment of complex projects and significant stakeholder management - this is the role for you!
 
This is a full time, exempt position which will be based out of KIPP's New York City Foundation office and will be required to travel frequently to meetings in New York and New Jersey. 
 
Key Responsibilities and Duties
1. Project Management: Ensure there is goal clarity and role clarity via robust project plans with clear milestones, working regularly with key stakeholders from KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon, along with college/career partners. Develop and own project work plan (i.e., work streams, milestones, deadlines for interim and final deliverables, key meetings) and manage distributed team to achieve milestones.
2. Stakeholder Communication and Management: Ensure stakeholders are communicated with regularly and the process is tight and connected. Orchestrate working group meetings, develop agendas and facilitate conversations among working group members and other key stakeholders, including members from KIPP, Achievement First, Uncommon, college partners, career partners, strand owners, and donors; present recommendations to and facilitate steering committee sessions with team.
3. Drive Results: Execute and track progress towards milestones and goals and communicate these regularly with stakeholders.
4. Assist/Lead as needed on individual initiatives: Our collaborative team is in the process of going through a strategic planning process with Bain which will determine our long-term vision and corresponding goals. For the next year, the Senior Manager would assist/lead as needed (where relevant, with project leads) on the following collaborative initiatives: 1) college partnership collaborations with CBOs and institutions of higher ed (eg.CUNY/SUNY) and 2) career collaborations with career readiness and job placement organizations. In addition, this role would partner with KIPP's development team, helping to create proposals and reports for funders.
 
Experience and Qualifications
Strong emphasis will be placed on this individual's demonstrated track record in leading and managing major, complex efforts requiring strong process and project management as well as significant stakeholder engagement and management in fast-paced, dynamic, results-oriented team environments. The KIPP Foundation is seeking an individual with:
•Strong project and process management skills: the ability to drive projects from inception to completion while managing multiple high-priority projects simultaneously.
•Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the interpersonal, diplomatic, and communication skills necessary to develop and maintain successful working relationships.
•Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
•Excellent verbal/written communication and listening skills.
•Self-directed and results-oriented, demonstrating initiative and follow-through.
•Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills: comfort with ambiguity and an ability to break down complex problems.
•Expertise in college access or success, and/or non-profit strategy.
•Deep-seated belief that the opportunity to earn a college degree is a necessity for all, rather than a luxury for the privileged few.
•Bachelor's degree required.
•Minimum of 6-8 years of relevant experience
•Ability to model KIPP, Achievement First, and Uncommon values at all times.
 
Compensation and Benefits
KIPP offers competitive salary commensurate with experience. A comprehensive benefits package, generous vacation and PTO, 401k retirement plan with both pre- and post-tax options, as well as gym reimbursement, flexible spending account (FSA), and cell phone reimbursement are also offered by KIPP.

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter online. Resumes submitted via email will not be accepted.
 
KIPP Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.