College Success Counselor

DREAM; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental and vision

Parental leave

401(k) retirement plan

Commuter benefits

Employee assistance program

Paid time off

Job summary

DREAM is seeking a College Success Counselor to support DREAM's alumni community and guide Legends pursuing college paths as they work toward degrees and future careers.

Reporting to the Director of Post-Secondary Success on the Legends team, the role emphasizes mentoring, academic and career development, and close collaboration with high schools and universities. Start date July 1, 2026, with varied hours including some evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• At least two years of experience in post-secondary success or case management.
• Experience within the CUNY/SUNY system and knowledge of ASAP, CD, etc, preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to form relationships with young adults.
• Strong case management skills.
• Knowledge of post-secondary success including academic, financial, and social/emotional considerations.
• Familiarity with college applications and financial aid process, preferred.
• Experience coordinating, facilitating and program planning both in remote and in-person settings.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues and across departments.
• Experience with Salesforce, Google Suite, Zoom.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Bilingual (Spanish speaker) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling to a caseload of Legends pursuing college pathways with mentoring, academic support, career development, and social-emotional development support.
• Provide re-enrollment support and follow-up with Legends seeking to re-enroll in college.
• Ensure milestones and one-on-one check-ins are tracked in Salesforce.
• Collaborate with team members on Legends events including promotions, partnerships, reunions, workshops, mentoring and leadership events.
• Collaborate with Dream Charter HS staff to build relationships with high school seniors at events and college access activities.
• Co-facilitate 12th Grade studio class to support post-secondary decision counseling and readiness.
• Maintain close relationships with university stakeholders by attending networking groups and information sessions.
• Provide additional support to DREAM afterschool and summer programs.

Skills

Counseling

Case management

Relationship building

Team collaboration

Multitasking

Spanish preferred

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Google Suite

Zoom

Job description

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools- growing our organization's impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.

DREAM (formerly known as Harlem RBI), an innovative educational and youth development organization, is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as a College Success Counselor to support DREAM's alumni community. Reporting to the Director of Post-Secondary Success on the Legends team, the primary responsibility of the College Success Counselor will be to support college students as they pursue their college degree and launch into their careers. Additionally, the ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience forming deep relationships with young adults and be a collaborative individual with strong initiative and follow-up.

Responsibilities

• Provide counseling to a caseload of 100 Legends (former participants of DREAM's programs) who are pursuing college pathways by providing mentoring, academic support, career development, and social-emotional development support, including work with 3rd and 4th year students at CUNY;
• Provide re-enrollment support and engage in consistent follow-up with Legends that are seeking to re-enroll in college;
• Ensure milestones and regular one-on-one check-ins are accurately and efficiently tracked in Salesforce;
• Collaborate with team members to support Legends events (promotion to ensure high attendance, coordinating partnerships) including reunion events, workshops and mentoring/leadership events;
• Collaborate with Dream Charter High School staff to leverage opportunities to build relationships with high school seniors, such as senior events, college access events, etc.
• Co-facilitate 12th Grade studio class in second semester, to support post-secondary decision counseling and readiness;
• Maintain close relationships with key university stakeholders by attending networking groups, college information sessions, and success workshops;
• Provide additional support as needed to all DREAM afterschool and summer programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required;
• At least two years of experience working in post-secondary success or case management;
• Experience within the CUNY/SUNY system and knowledge of associated support programs (ASAP, CD, etc), preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to form relationships with young adults;
• Strong case management skills;
• Knowledge and understanding of post-secondary success including academic, financial, and social/emotional considerations;
• Familiarity with college application and financial aid process, preferred;
• Experience in coordination, facilitation and program planning both in remote and in-person settings;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues and across departments;
• Experience with digital platforms including but not limited to Salesforce (or other CRM), Google Suite (Drive, Slides, Forms, Voice, etc) and Zoom (or similar video conferencing system);
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities;
• Bilingual (Spanish speaker) preferred.

Working Expectations

• Start Date: July 1, 2026
• Hours vary seasonally depending on afterschool and summer programming, with occasional evenings and weekends, as needed.

Benefits and Paid Time Off

• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• A 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching up to 4% after one year of employment
• Referral bonuses;
• All full-time Network Support Team employees are eligible for approximately 48 days off throughout the year including holidays, sick days, personal days and summer Fridays.
• Benefits are subject to change.

Compensation

• DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience with the potential for an annual performance-based increase. The incoming salary range for this position is $65,000 to $75,000 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All staff are eligible for annual performance-based increases. Because we value staff tenure in each role, we do not currently cap salary ranges.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.

From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters- it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream- along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.

All Kids Can. This Kid Can.

DREAM is Family.

Fun is a Serious Value.

Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.

Fail. Persist. Exceed.

DREAM Big.