Career Prep Coordinator

University Prep Schools; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

University Prep Schools in Detroit seeks a visionary Career Prep Coordinator to lead career exploration and career-connected learning across three UPrep high schools. You will architect district-wide pathways, coordinate the Aspire Internship Program, and build partnerships with local employers to expand opportunities for every student.

Reporting to the Director of College and Career Readiness, you will design programs, track outcomes, and collaborate with counselors, teachers, and campus

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years in career development or youth programming.
• Proven ability to build and manage community and employer partnerships.
• Strong relationship-building with students, families, and staff.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Commitment to educational equity and urban schools preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a district-wide Career Exploration Pathway for grades 9–12.
• Develop career readiness curriculum, workshops, and planning tools.
• Provide one-on-one career advising and tracking of student outcomes.
• Coordinate Aspire Internship Program including wraparound supports.
• Engage employer partners and manage internship opportunities.
• Collaborate with counselors, teachers, and campus leadership.
• Support scale to campus-level coordinators and onboarding.

Skills

Relationship-building

Project management

Partnership development

Education equity

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, social work, business, or related field

Job description

Job Details

Level: Experienced

Job Location: U Prep Academy District - DETROIT, MI 48202

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Position Overview

UPrep is seeking a visionary, relationship-driven Career Prep Coordinator to serve as the district-level architect of our career exploration and career-connected learning infrastructure across all three UPrep high school campuses. Reporting to and co-creating career programming directly alongside the Director of College and Career Readiness, this individual will build the systems, partnerships, and programmatic frameworks that ensure every UPrep high school student has access to intentional, equitable, and high-quality career education — from 9th grade exploration through 12th grade immersive experience. This is a builder's role. The right candidate is energized by the opportunity to create something from the ground up, is deeply committed to the young people of Detroit, and understands that access to professional opportunity is an equity issue as much as an educational one.

Key Responsibilities

Career Exploration Infrastructure

• In partnership with the Director of College and Career Readiness, design and implement a district-wide Career Exploration Pathway that scaffolds student career development across grades 9–12 at all three UPrep high school campuses
• Develop and deliver career readiness curriculum, workshops, and programming including career interest assessments, educational development plans, career portfolio development, and postsecondary planning
• Facilitate one-on-one career advising and navigation sessions with students to support goal setting, career exploration, and professional skill development
• Build and maintain systems for tracking student participation, growth, and outcomes across career readiness programming

Aspire Internship Program Coordination

• Lead the coordination and implementation of the Aspire Internship Program —UPrep's paid, 160-hour immersive internship experience for select 10th–12th grade students
• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with trusted employer and business partners committed to providing meaningful, student-centered internship experiences
• Support students through the full internship cycle — including interview preparation, professional development, worksite coordination, and ongoing check-ins throughout the experience
• Coordinate wraparound supports including transportation, professional attire, and meals to ensure all students can fully and equitably participate
• Plan and execute the Aspire Capstone Presentation, where interns publicly share their internship journey, growth, and professional aspirations

Employer & Community Partnership Development

• Proactively identify, engage, and steward a portfolio of community and employer partners aligned with student career interests and UPrep's career pathway priorities
• Represent UPrep professionally in external partnership meetings, community convenings, and career-connected learning networks
• Maintain and grow a pipeline of high-quality internship and career exposure opportunities for UPrep students

Collaboration & Network Leadership

• Serve as a support to the Director of College and Career Readiness, ensuring alignment and consistency of programming across all three high school campuses
• Collaborate closely with school counselors, college advisers, teachers, and campus leadership to integrate career readiness into the broader student experience
• As the Aspire model scales, support the transition to campus-embedded Career Prep Coordinators at each of the three high schools and contribute to the onboarding and alignment of those positions

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, social work, business, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in career development, workforce development, school counseling, youth programming, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage community and employer partnerships
• Strong relationship-building skills with students, families, school staff, and external partners
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Deep commitment to educational equity and belief in the potential of every UPrep student
• Experience working in urban school settings preferred

Preferred

• Experience designing or coordinating internship or work-based learning programs
• Familiarity with career readiness frameworks and best practices
• Experience with data tracking and program evaluation