College Preparatory Counselor

Harlem Children's Zone Inc; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No-cost health insurance

Career advancement

Paid time off

Employee referral bonus

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Wellness discounts

Job summary

Harlem Children’s Zone Inc. is seeking a College Preparatory Program Counselor to provide individualized college counseling to HCZ scholars in grades 9–12 and develop college readiness plans.

You will plan workshops, guide applications, and assist with financial aid, while coordinating exposure opportunities and partnering with HCZ departments. The role emphasizes building strong relationships with students, families, and college partners, maintaining records and using data to improve outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in counseling, education, or related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in college counseling, advising, or related field, preferably in a high school setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized college counseling to scholars in grades 9-12 and develop readiness plans.
• Plan and facilitate college readiness workshops, presentations, and curriculum.
• Guide scholars through the college application process including matching, essays, and interviews.
• Educate families on FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial aid planning.
• Coordinate college exposure opportunities such as fairs and campus visits.
• Partner with HCZ departments to support readiness programming and testing efforts.
• Build relationships with college admissions and scholarship providers.
• Maintain accurate student records and monitor progress with data-driven improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

College access

Student success

Strong communicator

Relationship building

Detail oriented

Collaborative

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) — a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization based in New York — seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned College Preparatory Program Counselor at our College Success Office.

The College Success Office provides year-round academic, administrative, and emotional support as well as financial and career preparation to participants of HCZ’s Promise Academy high schools and afterschool programs. Our mission is to ensure that our participants are provided with the resources and guidance needed to be successful in college and beyond. The main components of the College Success Office include student outreach, academic support and guidance, financial aid advisement, college transfer assistance, summer and winter internship opportunities, and community-building efforts within our program.

The College Preparatory Program Counselor will bring a passion for the mission of Harlem Children’s Zone: break the cycle of intergenerational poverty with comprehensive, on-the-ground programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work, and life.

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in counseling, education, or a related field preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in college counseling, advising, or a related field, preferably in a high school setting, is required.

Who you are

• Passionate about college access and student success, with a strong commitment to helping high school scholars identify and pursue postsecondary opportunities that align with their goals.
• A skilled counselor and trusted advisor who can build meaningful relationships with scholars and families while providing individualized guidance throughout the college preparation and application process.
• A clear and engaging communicator who is comfortable facilitating workshops, presentations, and one‑on‑one conversations on college admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and academic planning.
• Highly organized and detail‑oriented, with the ability to manage multiple scholars, deadlines, applications, events, and priorities while maintaining accurate records.
• You are a collaborative relationship‑builder who can partner effectively with school teams, internal departments, college admissions representatives, scholarship organizations, and other external partners to expand opportunities for scholars.
• Someone who is proactive and data‑informed, using student progress and outcomes to identify needs, strengthen support, and continuously improve the college readiness experience.
• You are deeply committed to HCZ’s values and mission and passionate about expanding educational opportunities for students from historically underserved urban communities, particularly first‑generation college students and families navigating the college process.

What you'll do

• Provide individualized college counseling to scholars in grades 9-12, helping them develop college readiness plans and navigate postsecondary opportunities.
• Plan and facilitate college readiness workshops, presentations, and curriculum for scholars and families on topics including admissions, academic planning, standardized testing, financial aid, and scholarships.
• Guide scholars through all aspects of the college application process, including college matching, application completion, essay review, interview preparation, and postsecondary decision‑making.
• Educate and support scholars and families throughout the financial aid process, including FAFSA and CSS Profile completion, scholarship applications, financial aid package review, and college affordability planning.
• Coordinate college exposure opportunities, including college fairs, campus visits, pre‑college programs, post‑acceptance visits, and other activities that promote informed college selection.
• Partner with school leadership and other HCZ departments (such as Wealth Builds) to support college readiness programming, standardized testing efforts, and successful college transitions.
• Build and maintain relationships with college admissions representatives, scholarship providers, and other postsecondary partners to expand opportunities for scholars.
• Maintain accurate student records and utilize data to monitor scholar progress, track admissions and enrollment outcomes, and inform program improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Schedule

• Monday - Friday, schedule may vary (e.g., 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, or 11:00 am to 7:00 pm) based on scholar, site location, and program needs.

• Some weekends and evenings, depending on site needsand events; occasional travels

As a member of the Harlem Children's Zone team, you will join a supportive and inclusive community dedicated to helping children, families — and our staff — thrive. We offer highly competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for growth.

Our exceptional full-time benefits include:

• Highly competitive base salaries
• Paid time off
• Employee referral bonus
• Career advancement
• No-cost health insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Wellness discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Financial wellness perks
• Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

We offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range is $60,000 to $70,000. HCZ is an EOE.