College Counselor & Advisor

College-Track-53c9c6ef; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

College Track in Baltimore seeks a College Counselor & Advisor to guide scholars through postsecondary planning with clarity and purpose. The role blends leadership development and college counseling, working with the Academic Advisor to co‑lead CEP planning and ensure milestones are met.

You will facilitate LEAD workshops, provide 1:1 counseling, and collaborate with school partners to build a supportive network for each scholar from high school into the College Thrive phase.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4-year college degree required; advanced degree or college counseling certification preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in college access, youth development, school counseling, or a related field; direct experience with first‑generation students preferred.
• Proven success delivering college readiness advising, including FAFSA completion, financial aid literacy, personal statement coaching, and enrollment decision‑making.
• Strong facilitation and curriculum delivery skills with experience leading group-based workshops.

Responsibilities

• Deliver LEAD curriculum facilitation and 1:1 college counseling across scholars.
• Collaborate with Academic Advisors, College Thrive team, and partners to ensure seamless transitions.
• Co-own and maintain the Consolidated Education Plan (CEP) with Academic Advisor.
• Engage scholars and families, building trust and providing structured guidance.
• Attend to program milestones and communicate progress with data-driven reporting.

Skills

Facilitation

Curriculum delivery

Group workshops

Data analysis

Counseling

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree or counseling certification preferred

Job description

Priority Deadline: October 14th, applications will still be accepted after this!

Our Impact

Our scholars are leaders on more than 300 college campuses nationwide, including at partner institutions like Middlebury College, Tulane University, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. They graduate at rates that are three times the national average for first-generation students, proving what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. One year after college, 80 percent of our alumni are employed, and by age 30, they earn an average of $89,823—outpacing the national median and demonstrating the long-term economic mobility a bachelor’s degree unlocks.

These outcomes are the result of a deliberate approach that supports scholars to minimize student debt, secure paid internships, and reduce the need to work excessive hours while in school—ensuring they can focus on learning, leadership, and personal growth. By preparing our scholars to capture the full value of their degree, we position them to thrive in the 21st‑century economy and lead lives of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power.

Our Values

At College Track, our values drive the way we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our passion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged.

• COMMITMENT: With every choice and every decision, we center the 10-year promise.
• PASSION: It is the fire that drives us, and we’re in it for the long haul.
• JOY: Energized by the hopes, ambitions, and growth of our scholars, we celebrate the impact of our community.
• AUTHENTICITY: What each brings to the table contributes to deep and trusting relationships.
• EXCELLENCE: Every day is better than the last, we’re always learning, always progressing, always evolving.

College Counselor & Advisor Position Overview

The College Counselor & Advisor plays a central role in delivering on College Track’s 10-Year Promise by supporting scholars to navigate their postsecondary journeys with clarity, confidence, and purpose. This cross-functional role merges leadership development and college counseling into one position, responsible for both group facilitation and personalized advising. Reporting to the College Counseling Director, the College Counselor & Advisor works in close partnership with the Academic Advisor to co‑lead the development and implementation of each scholar’s Consolidated Education Plan (CEP); a dynamic, multi‑year roadmap that integrates academic progress, social‑emotional growth, and postsecondary goals.

Primary Responsibilities

LEAD Curriculum Facilitation and Individual Scholar Counseling

• Deliver dynamic workshops and experiences across the five LEAD pillars: College Preparation, Career & Purpose, Social-Emotional Wellness, Academic Skills, and Financial Literacy.
• Facilitate age‑appropriate college access and leadership development content in group settings, integrating culturally responsive and trauma‑informed practices.
• Engage in ongoing intellectual preparation to adapt LEAD and college‑readiness content to meet diverse scholar needs and contexts.
• Leverage feedback and data to iterate and improve session delivery.
• Provide 1:1 college counseling and case management for a caseload of scholars, supporting them through all aspects of the college access process, including application planning, financial aid, college fit and match, and enrollment decision‑making.
• Ensure scholars complete all required college milestones, including college visits, SAT/ACT, FAFSA/alternative site‑based financial aid, personal statements, scholarship applications, and final college decisions.
• Track and report on college readiness indicators to inform supports and interventions.
• Maintain accurate records in College Track’s data systems to ensure timely, data‑driven advising.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Academic Advisors, College Thrive team members, and other staff to ensure seamless phase transitions and holistic support.
• Collaborate with school counselors, teachers, and community‑based partners to build a coordinated network of support around each scholar.
• Implement College Track’s national college and university partnerships strategy with fidelity under the direction of the College Counseling and Partnerships Strategy team.
• Partner with the College Access, Success, and Partnerships team to analyze matriculation and post‑secondary scholar data in support of continuous improvement of our college counseling strategies.
• Collaborate with colleagues and instructional leaders to continuously improve curriculum implementation through reflective practice, peer feedback, and shared planning.

Consolidated Education Plan (CEP) Co‑Ownership

• Co‑develop and maintain the CEP alongside the Academic Advisor, ensuring it reflects each scholar’s evolving academic, social‑emotional, and postsecondary goals.
• Support scholars in identifying their purpose, strengths, and support needs, both in school and in life, and integrate these into their CEP planning.
• Coordinate regularly with Academic Advisors to align on scholar supports, college readiness benchmarks, and transition planning from high school into the College Thrive phase.
• Facilitate structured scholar reflection and check‑ins using the CEP as a tool for ongoing development.

Scholar Engagement and Development

• Build strong, trusting relationships with scholars and families that foster identity, agency, and high expectations.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

First and foremost, the College Counselor & Advisor will be a fierce advocate for College Track’s mission to equip scholars confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Additionally, candidates bring with them the following skills, experience, and knowledge:

• Minimum 4-year college degree required; advanced degree or college counseling certification preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in college access, youth development, school counseling, or a related field; direct experience working with first‑generation college‑bound students preferred.
• Proven success delivering college readiness advising, includingFAFSA completion, financial aid literacy, personal statement coaching, and enrollment decision‑making.
• Strong facilitation and curriculum delivery skills with experience leading group‑based workshops, particularly with high school youth.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze scholar data (e.g., GPA, college access milestones, workshop attendance) to guide individualized and group advising.
• Deep understanding of social‑emotional development.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends aligned to key program milestones (e.g., FAFSA nights, college decision events).
• Physical Requirements: alternating between sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, standing, typing on a keyboard, manipulating a mouse to use a computer's operating system/internet, and more active work such as moving around an office environment, communicating with scholars/stakeholders, (conveying and receiving information), classroom management, far visual acuity, near visual acuity lifting/carrying/moving objects (20 pounds).

This role requires a bachelor’s degree.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is full‑time, hourly, with a full compensation range of $62,000.00 - $75,500.00 with the exact compensation depending on experience. All offers are dependent upon experience. However, as someone new to the role, you can expect an offer between $65,375.00 - $68,749.00 to ensure internal equity while leaving room for salary growth during your time in the position.

College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work‑life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 23 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 23 paid office closures and holidays in your first year of employment. Learn more about benefits here (bit.ly/JpBs22).

What Else You Should Know

• While we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, we especially encourage applicants who identify as first‑generation college graduates to apply for open opportunities on staff.
• College Track is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived age, marital or familial status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability including Acquired‑Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS‑Related Complex (ARC), or military status. College Track abides by Fair Chance hiring practices. Any offer of employment is contingent upon successfully completing a background check, in compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Pursuant to applicable local ordinances and state regulations—including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, and the California Fair Chance Act—we do not inquire into criminal history on initial applications and will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.