College Advisor

ISHE; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid medical, dental, vision, and

Basic Term Life insurance

401k retirement plan with 4% employer

20 accrued PTO days per year

13 paid holidays annually

Winter break with reduced workload

Summer Fridays (half days)

Retention bonus

One-month sabbatical after 5 years

Pre-tax commuter benefits and FSA

Phone and internet stipend

Staff and dependent EAP

Job summary

ScholarMatch is seeking a full-time, non-exempt College Advisor to join our growing team of virtual advisors based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles. College Advisors manage a caseload of students, support events, and may lead group advising sessions, reporting to the Advising Manager.

This role is ideal for a candidate with a passion for our mission, strong relationship-building and counseling skills, and an interest in using data to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in a counseling/social work-related field.
• Experience with first‑generation, low‑income students; strong student communication.
• Advanced proficiency in GSuite and database management.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to work across diverse teams in an anti-racist environment.
• Comfort with virtual advising and occasional in-person events.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of students with regular contact via phone, text, and video.
• Build relationships to support transition into college and career.
• Advise on academics, financial aid, campus engagement, and career planning.
• Provide guidance around challenges facing first‑generation, low‑income students.
• Hold office hours for additional student support.
• Collaborate with program manager on persistence issues.
• Record student information and prepare case notes for coaching.
• Review submitted documentation for caseload students.
• Support updates with scholarship partners and program modifications.
• Assist in events and programming participation.
• Support team projects as needed.
• Vet and verify student payment requests.
• Participate in Scholars Program selection processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

First-gen student support

GSuite proficiency

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Data handling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in counseling/social work or related field

Tools

Basecamp

Airtable

Job description

About ScholarMatch

Founded in 2010 by author Dave Eggers, ScholarMatch began as a scholarship crowdfunding platform and has since evolved into a full-service college access and persistence organization.

At ScholarMatch, we are committed to supporting first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds earn a bachelor’s degree within five years. We’re working towards realizing our vision where all students have access to higher education, support to persist to graduation, and opportunities to succeed in fulfilling careers.

Education opens doors to opportunity and social mobility by allowing students a chance to build fulfilling careers. However, the road to higher education is paved with challenges that can be particularly daunting for first-generation college students. We strive to change this scenario for young people from low-income backgrounds by offering them comprehensive support services focusing on individualized college and career advising, targeted scholarships, and ongoing mentorship from high school to college graduation and the launch of their careers.

Our ultimate goal is to nurture a community of young people who can successfully navigate the higher education landscape, confronting its challenges, breaking barriers, and redefining success on their paths to graduation and beyond. Learn more at ScholarMatch.org.

Position Description

ScholarMatch is seeking a full-time, non-exempt College Advisor to play an important role in our growing non-profit. The College Advisor will join a dynamic team of virtual advisors based in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. College Advisors work virtually to manage a caseload of college students, support the implementation of student events, and may lead group advising sessions. This position reports to the Advising Manager.

This position is ideal for a candidate who has a passion for our mission, strong relationship-building skills, excellent counseling skills, and an interest in using data to improve effectiveness and advance our mission. Candidates must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area or greater Los Angeles. Occasional travel and in-person event attendance is required.

This is a union position and is contracted until June 2028 with a possible extension based on program needs and funding opportunities.

Your primary responsibilities are to successfully manage and support a caseload of ScholarMatch students —providing expertise and mentorship, helping them navigate the often confusing and unfamiliar terrain of college life, and providing documentation, follow-up, and administrative support necessary to the success of our students and the organization.

• Manage a caseload of college students (attending various colleges in California and across the U.S.) to maintain regular contact via phone, text message, and video meetings to deliver personalized and motivational support.
• Establish and build relationships with the assigned caseload of college students to help them navigate the transition into college, during college, and from college to career.
• Advise students on academic strategies, financial aid and money management, engagement on campus and in the community, and career exploration.
• Provide ongoing support around situations commonly faced by first-generation, low-income college students by helping students navigate challenges, focusing on problem-solving techniques, and encouraging them to locate campus resources.
• Hold office hours to allow students to seek additional support.
• In collaboration with the program manager, responsibly navigate significant persistence issues facing our students.
• Record student information and detailed case notes from interactions to provide personalized coaching conversations. Prepare for each meeting by reviewing student pre-meeting forms and casenotes.
• Support the collection of student documentation for the assigned caseload and review submitted documentation as needed.
• As needed, support the relationship with specified scholarship partners by providing updates on specific students on your caseload, and supporting any program modifications for the partner’s students.
• Support implementation and attend student events and programming.
• Support team projects as needed.
• Vet, approve and verify student payment requests.
• Support in the selection of students for the Scholars Program by reading applications and participating in the student interview process.
• Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned, “all hands‑on deck” mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in a counseling/social work-related field
• Professional experience or expertise and knowledge around issues facing first-generation, low-income college students, and comfort in engaging in direct communications with students
• Advanced proficiency in GSuite and database management
• Must have excellent written communication skills
• Must be able to hold sensitive information confidentially, and navigate urgent and/or sensitive student issues with care, maturity, and responsibility
• Must be able to perform all functions of this position within what would be deemed to be reasonable accommodations
• Must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of personalities throughout the organization
• Must be comfortable working in an anti‑racist organization with a diverse group of external callers and visitors and internal staff at all levels

Preferred but not Required

• Bilingual (e.g. Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog)
• Knowledge of Basecamp and Airtable
• Professional experience in either college counseling, career counseling, or student coaching

Compensation and Benefits

Starting pay is commensurate with experience and regional location, and is based on a competitive public interest payscale. This position will be paid hourly.

ScholarMatch practices a transparent, negotiation‑free compensation process. While starting pay is commensurate with experience and regional location and based on a competitive public interest pay scale, ScholarMatch aims to provide a living wage to all staff by setting a starting rate at $24.04/hour, or $50,000/year.

The hourly pay range for this position is:

• San Francisco Bay Area: $24.04/hr - $29.83/hr
• Greater Los Angeles Area: $24.04/hr - $25/hr

As a growing organization, ScholarMatch prides itself in offering a competitive benefits package:

• 100% paid medical, dental, vision, and Basic Term Life for full‑time employees
• 401k retirement plan with 4% employer automatic contribution, 100% vested on day 1
• 20 accrued PTO days per year
• 13 paid holidays every year, Birthday off, plus a staff‑wide 'winter break' with reduced workload
  “Summer Fridays” (half days)
• Annual retention bonus that increases with every year
• Eligibility for a one‑month paid sabbatical after your 5th anniversary
• Pre‑tax commuter benefits and FSA
• Phone and internet stipend
• Staff and dependent EAP access

ScholarMatch does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non‑merit factors.

ScholarMatch is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Please join us!