TRIO Upward Bound College Access Coordinator (Southwest High School)

Opportunity Resource Services, Inc.; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Opportunity Resource Services, Inc. is seeking College Access Coordinators for Upward Bound programs to support first-generation, low-income high school students in Fort Worth, TX.

You will lead daily after-school activities, coordinate field trips, and implement summer experiences to boost college readiness. Under supervision, you will mentor students, monitor progress, help with FAFSA and scholarship applications, and build partnerships with schools and families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, social work, or related field.
• Two years of professional work experience.
• One year of experience with disadvantaged youth in educational settings.
• Knowledge of FAFSA, scholarship essays, and degree planning.
• Strong coordination and customer service skills.
• Proficient with Google Gsuite, spreadsheets, social media, and LMS.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate after-school program delivery and student support.
• Monitor student behavior and mentor students.
• Coordinate field trips, workshops, and summer six-week program.
• Collect and analyze student progress data (GPA, STAAR, readiness).
• Assist with college applications, FAFSA, and scholarships.
• Develop resources and partnerships with schools and communities.

Skills

Customer service

Public speaking

Data analysis

Program planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, social work, or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Spreadsheets

Social media

Virtual meeting platforms

Learning Management Systems

Job description

College Access Coordinators for Upward Bound Programs work with first-generation, low-income high school students. College Access Coordinators work closely with other team members to recruit students from the target area of high school(s). College Access Coordinators provide college readiness services, access to tutorials, and other enriching activities. They plan and facilitate a daily afterschool program during the academic school year, plan field trips, and prepare workshops. During the summer, they facilitate an intensive six-week summer experience that includes educational field trips. College Access Coordinators strive daily to ensure program participants complete high school and enroll in a program of postsecondary education.

Core Expectations for Team Members:

• Have a positive can-do attitude.
• Have a personal commitment to professional growth.
• Be able to accept feedback and have the desire to produce an excellent work product.
• Communicate effectively with peers, stakeholders, parents, and students using verbal, nonverbal, and written forms of communication.
• Ensure all programming, publications, external communications, and part-time team members reflect positively on the organization.
• Able to adapt to change by being flexible and responsive to evolving priorities, feedback, and organizational needs.
• Be resourceful and utilize available tools, technology, and resources effectively to maximize impact and efficiency.
• Deliver on commitments, ensuring accountability by meeting deadlines, maintaining quality, and following through on responsibilities
• Demonstrate initiative by taking ownership of tasks and proactively identifying opportunities to improve processes or solve challenges.
• Contribute to ORS’s growth & long-term success by Building Epic Partnerships, Telling ORS's Story, Breaking New Ground, and Providing High-Quality Services.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Student Development - 50%

• Facilitate the daily after-school program at the designated target school, ensuring proper delivery of program services, tutorials, and workshops.
• Responsible for monitoring and addressing student behavior during program activities.
• Provide strong mentorship and academic advising geared towards unique student needs and challenges, offering tailored resources and strategies to help them succeed in their academic, career, and post-secondary educational goals.
• Collect, capture, and analyze student progress data such as GPA and course level requirements, STAAR test scores, and college readiness measures (e.g., college entry exams, FAFSA, etc).
• Ensure all senior students are on track to graduate and enter a program of postsecondary education immediately following high school graduation. This includes aiding in the completion of college applications, the FAFSA, and scholarship applications.
• Develop and maintain a strong list of resources that benefit participants, first-generation and low-income students, including scholarship programs, financial aid, and college readiness information, to effectively support their success.

Programming - 30%

• Under the guidance of the Assistant Director, executes the planning of educational field trips and workshops that meet grant service requirements, support student learning, and lead to meeting program objectives.
• Under the guidance of the Assistant Director and Program Director, aids in leading projects that work towards facilitating the 6-week summer experience.
• Facilitate the recruitment and screening process of students to meet the required enrollment numbers as outlined by the grant, ensuring timely and effective outreach efforts. This includes planning and facilitating recruitment events at the target school(s).
• Create publications, text messages, emails, and other forms of communication for students and parents to ensure they are informed about program updates and event information.

Operational Support & Recordkeeping - 20%

• Accurately enter and update participant information in the student database, ensuring clean and organized records.
• Submit accurate expense requests as needed.
• Develop epic partnerships with community stakeholders, such as target school administration, program participants, and their families.
• Respond to email and Slack communications in a timely manner.
• Produce reports to support program functions such as attendance reports, stipend reports, and objective tracking reports.
• Support cross-functional collaboration by working with teams from various organizational units to execute projects to achieve organizational goals.
• Attend organization-wide events and meetings.
• Support the submission of the Annual Performance Report by gathering necessary documents and inputting data into the client database.
• Track time and effort for the Federally-funded grant program.

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in education, social work, or another related field; two years of professional work experience; and one year of experience working with disadvantaged youth in educational environments. Candidates must have proficient knowledge of college entry (FAFSA, scholarship essay writing, and degree planning), the ability to manage details and effectively assist with planning program events, a passion for educational outreach and working with youth, and exceptional customer service skills. Candidates should be adept in using technology, including Google Gsuite, spreadsheets, social media, virtual meeting platforms, and learning management systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred candidates will also possess excellent written and oral presentation skills, the ability to work independently in a results-oriented environment, knowledge of Upward Bound regulations, and personal experience overcoming barriers similar to those confronting the project's target population. Graduate degrees are preferred but not required.

Travel Requirements:

Candidates must travel to target schools daily and be willing to travel with students on events, including overnight. In a typical year, Upward Bound staff will facilitate six field trips during the academic school year and six field trips during the six-week summer program. One of the trips during the summer is a multiday event often requiring travel out of state. The overall percentage of work that includes travel is estimated at 30%.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to lift and carry 40 lbs., stand and walk for long periods, endure strong heat and cold, climb stairs, and fly on an airplane. Must be able to project voice and speak publicly. Must be able to drive a vehicle, read road signs, judge distance, and spend extensive hours in front of a computer screen. Must be able to listen carefully to others on the telephone.

Reports to:

Assistant Director

TRIO Upward Bound/Upward Bound Math and Science Programs are Federally-funded by the Department of Education for a period of five years, and are renewable.

Opportunity Resource Services is committed to a policy of providing employment opportunities to all qualified people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate based on race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.