Manager, Postsecondary Pathways & Access

Philadelphia Academies, Inc.; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

Philadelphia Academies, Inc. in Philadelphia, PA, is seeking a Manager of Postsecondary Pathways to lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our postsecondary access and success model.

You will oversee systems for counseling, financial aid navigation, apprenticeships, alumni engagement, and student success tracking. Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs, you will build partnerships with schools, colleges, unions, employers, and community organizations to broaden

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, higher education, workforce development, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in postsecondary access, college counseling, workforce development, youth development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing programs, leading cross-functional initiatives, and achieving measurable outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of postsecondary education, college access, financial aid, workforce training, and career pathways.
• Experience supporting high school students and young adults through postsecondary planning, enrollment, and transition processes.
• Proven ability to develop systems, manage projects, cultivate partnerships, and use data to inform program improvement.
• Strong communication, facilitation, organizational, and relationship management skills.
• Commitment to educational equity, culturally responsive practices, and expanding economic opportunities for historically underserved students.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and management of PAI's postsecondary pathways model, establishing annual goals, implementation plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop and oversee consistent systems for postsecondary advising, student transition planning, case management, and alumni follow-up.
• Lead PAI's Postsecondary Pathways Committee and provide guidance, technical assistance, and accountability to staff supporting postsecondary initiatives across programs.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Programs to monitor program performance, manage assigned resources, and strengthen program quality and effectiveness.
• Oversee postsecondary counseling and advising initiatives that help students explore and pursue educational and career opportunities aligned with their interests and goals.
• Develop and coordinate financial aid navigation supports, including FAFSA completion, state and federal financial aid resources, scholarship opportunities, and financial literacy.
• Manage scholarship-related initiatives, including application processes, selection coordination, award tracking, and recipient support.
• Establish partnerships with school counselors, colleges, financial aid offices, and community organizations to address barriers to postsecondary access and enrollment.
• Develop relationships and work directly with participants’ job sites, supervisors, and HR/Talent Acquisition Departments to provide site visits, troubleshooting, employment supports, etc. to support participant job retention.
• Collaborate with PAI's workforce development team to strengthen transitions from registered pre-apprenticeship programs into registered apprenticeships, technical training, and employment.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with colleges, apprenticeship sponsors, trade unions, employers, workforce agencies, and industry organizations.
• Provide guidance on construction trades pathways, including electrical, carpentry, plumbing, welding, and related skilled trades, ensuring students understand eligibility requirements, application processes, and career opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to expand postsecondary access through industry credentials, dual enrollment, scholarships, and other education-to-career partnerships.
• Lead the development of systems and strategies that support PAI alumni as they transition into and persist through postsecondary education, training, and employment.
• Establish intentional alumni engagement, mentorship, resource connections, and prioritize networking opportunities.
• Establish processes to identify barriers to postsecondary persistence and coordinate appropriate interventions and support services.
• Use alumni experiences and feedback to inform program improvements and strengthen PAI's long-term student success model.
• Collaborate with PAI's data and impact team to track postsecondary readiness, enrollment, financial aid completion, scholarship outcomes, apprenticeship transitions, and alumni success.
• Monitor program performance, analyze student outcomes, and prepare regular updates and reports to inform organizational decision-making.
• Work across PAI's programs and External Affairs team to support strategic initiatives, grant reporting, partnership development, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and document effective practices, procedures, and resources that promote consistent implementation and sustainable program growth.

Skills

Strong communication

Facilitation

Organizational skills

Relationship management

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Data-informed decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in education/counseling/ Higher Ed/workforce development

5+ years postsecondary access/college counseling experience

Master's degree (preferred) in education/higher ed/workforce dev

Job description

Philadelphia Academies, Inc. in Philadelphia, PA, is seeking a Manager of Postsecondary Pathways to lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our postsecondary access and success model.

You will oversee systems for counseling, financial aid navigation, apprenticeships, alumni engagement, and student success tracking. Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs, you will build partnerships with schools, colleges, unions, employers, and community organizations to broaden