Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Democracy Prep Public Schools; New York (NY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

403B matching

Parental leave

Job summary

Democracy Prep Public Schools seeks an Associate Director of Alumni Support to cultivate a connected alumni community of 3,000+. You will drive college persistence, support graduates pursuing diverse paths, and lead innovative programs with coordination to the Chief Program Officer and counseling team.

The role requires expertise in college admissions and financial aid, strong writing skills, and extensive relationships with higher education admissions personnel, especially in New York.

Qualifications

• Experience as a high school counselor or college admissions representative.
• Extensive knowledge of college admissions and financial aid processes.
• Strong writing and feedback skills with ability to craft recommendations.
• Established relationships with higher education admissions personnel, especially in New York.
• Data-driven, organized professional who can lead strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a college persistence strategy for approximately 1800 DPPS alumni annually.
• Manage the Alumni Microgrant Program to support students facing college costs.
• Lead the Alumni Captain Program and foster peer-to-peer outreach among alumni.
• Coordinate and execute annual Alumni Reunion Events.
• Develop and maintain a network of class captains across graduating classes.

Skills

Counseling

Communications

Networking

Data-driven

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

About Democracy Prep Public Schools

Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS) is a network of college preparatory schools committed to ensuring all students have the option to go to college. We also acknowledge and celebrate multiple post- secondary pathways. We prioritize civic engagement, experiential learning, and global citizenship alongside excellent academics. Our Motto is: Work Hard. Go to College. Change the World. Central to achieving this vision is helping our scholars succeed beyond high school.

About Democracy Prep Public Schools

Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS) is a network of college preparatory schools committed to ensuring all students have the option to go to college. We also acknowledge and celebrate multiple post- secondary pathways. We prioritize civic engagement, experiential learning, and global citizenship alongside excellent academics. Our Motto is: Work Hard. Go to College. Change the World. Central to achieving this vision is helping our scholars succeed beyond high school.

About This Opportunity

The Associate Director of Alumni Support is a motivated counselor who will cultivate a vibrant and connected community of over 3000 Democracy Prep Public Schools alumni. This role will play a pivotal role in increasing college persistence and graduation rates while also providing meaningful support to graduates pursuing diverse postsecondary pathways, whether that means attending college, enrolling in vocational training, or exploring alternative career development routes. This role will also create and implement innovative programs that keep our graduates engaged, informed, and connected to the Democracy Prep community. This position reports to the Chief Program Officer and works closely with members of the school counseling team.

Who You Are

• An educator with an unwavering commitment to the Democracy Prep mission of college success and authentic civic engagement for our scholars.
• A dedicated high school counselor and/or college admissions representative who has worked either in selective college admissions, college counseling for low-income, first-generation students, or both.
• A committed professional who possesses extensive knowledge of the college admissions and financial aid processes with a track record of high-quality college advising.
• A clear communicator and skilled writer with the ability to provide strong feedback on student work and craft exceptional student recommendations and other written communications.
• An enthusiastic networker with established, long-term associations with a variety of key admissions personnel at various higher ed organizations across the country, especially in New York, and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and connect students to unique programs on college campuses.
• An organized professional who can build data-driven recommendations around the college process, and alumni support, with the goal of college persistence for all scholars.
• A graduate of a Bachelor’s degree program (required).

What You Will Do

Program Management

• Design, execute, and refine a college persistence strategy that will impact approximately 1800 DPPS alumni annually
• Manage the Alumni Microgrant Program, which provides cash assistance to students who encounter unexpected financial burdens associated with college enrollment
• Manage the Alumni Captain Program, a peer-to-peer support initiative where class captain conduct routine outreach to fellow alumni throughout their college journey
• Curate and facilitate annual Alumni Reunion Events
• Cultivate a corps of class captains from each graduating class

Data-driven Outreach & Outcomes Management

• Use alumni data to identify and provide targeted support to alumni at risk of stopping out
• Monitor, manage, and report accurate postsecondary outcomes
• Create execution plans for alumni engagement based on regular outreach notes and weekly check-ins with the VP, College Access and Success

Data & Analysis

• Collect, analyze, and interpret alumni data (surveys, coaching notes, Dashboard)
• Produce regular reports for stakeholders highlighting outreach efforts, graduate trends, and program insights
• Maintain accurate records of interactions, academic data, and barriers in the alumni database and report postsecondary outcomes
• Track progress toward re-enrollment goals and refine interventions based on evidence and outcomes

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of college admissions and financial aid processes
• Clear writer who can provide meaningful feedback and craft professional recommendations
• Strong relationships with higher education admissions officers, particularly in New York
• Data-driven problem solver focused on student persistence and success
• Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives and innovate systems
• Bachelor's degree or higher (required)

Compensation

Salary range is $115,000 - $135,000 commensurate with your experience. Democracy Prep employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, 403B matching, and parental leave.