Director of College and Alumni Success - Prospect Schools

The Organization

Prospect Schools is a high-performing, intentionally diverse (“diverse by design”) K-12 college preparatory charter network serving more than 2,700 students in seven schools in Brooklyn. Prospect Schools models its curriculum on the renowned International Baccalaureate Program, a rigorous program that raises the level of academic responsibility for students while preparing them to be global citizens. Our experienced team is dedicated to our mission to prepare a diverse student body to have a positive impact on society and develop a lifelong passion for learning, and guided by our Core Values:

• Curiosity: Develop sound judgment and intellect by asking questions confidently and thinking critically

• Care: Support others by grounding every action in empathy while championing equity and inclusion

• Persistence: Grow and learn by solving problems with determination, creativity, and tenacity

• Passion: Succeed by approaching challenges with excitement, enthusiasm, and self-assurance

We have a vision to become the leading network of intentionally diverse schools where all students and educators can learn, work, and thrive. Find out more about who we are and what we believe by spending a few minutes reading our Prospector Principles, viewing this peek inside our schools, or reading some stories about our students and educators.

The Role:

Prospect Schools is seeking a mission and outcomes-driven Director of College & Alumni Success committed to unlocking doors of opportunity for our high school students and alumni and leading our growing college and alumni success program. The ideal candidate is fully dedicated to the mission of Prospect Schools and to supporting the success of our students and families in preparing for and navigating the college admissions process and beyond. This person will be responsible for managing the college application process and ensuring the academic success of students through robust college-going programming. This role will eventually oversee Prospect Schools' alumni programming, ensuring our students' success through college and beyond, while building a comprehensive K-12 pathway that equips them to thrive throughout their lives.

Key Responsibilities:

College Process Oversight

• Oversee the entire process of college preparation, application, and admission for students.

• Forge and maintain partnerships with Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to provide students with pathways to postsecondary opportunities, dual enrollment, and other academic partnerships.

• Track and analyze college acceptance data, persistence rates, and application trends to make strategic decisions, set targets, and continually improve the college admissions and postsecondary success process.

• Set annual strategic goals that ensure all high school students are fully prepared for the college admissions process and equipped to thrive through program completion.

• Strategize through alternative pathways to meet diverse student goals and ensure all graduates have a plan for success beyond high school.

• Facilitate parent and family recruitment and engagement efforts around the college admissions process, including organizing information sessions and admissions events.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the college team by setting clear goals, conducting regular performance evaluations, and providing professional development opportunities.

Team Leadership and School-Wide Culture and Systems Support

• Lead the College Team, managing and coaching college counselors to align academic and college-bound goals.

• Collaborate with the Post-Secondary Support Team (college, career, and academic counselors) to drive a proactive academic culture, ensuring students are supported in securing admission to top-tier schools.

• Act as a senior leader and part of the school management team.

• Act as a liaison and partner with Network leadership in driving and attracting support for our college and alumni programming.

• Support the development of a positive school culture that celebrates academic and post-secondary achievements.

• Uphold a culture of high expectations, perseverance, and student success through proactive leadership in daily school operations (arrival, dismissal, transitions).

• Ensure alignment with school systems and culture as part of the Leadership Team, attending school events, supporting after-school programming, and being present in the school community.

College-Bound Programming and Academic Culture

• Lead the development and implementation of college-bound programming in advisory, with a particular focus on early high school grades (9-10) and collaborating with teachers to integrate content across grades 9-12.

• Ensure high-quality college-bound programming for grades 9-12 that supports a gradual build-up of readiness from freshman year through graduation.

• Collaborate with Prospect's 3 middle schools to develop a cohesive, college-going culture that starts in the earlier grades; partner with middle school teachers and administrators to design and implement programs that build interest in postsecondary education, ensuring continuity and alignment between middle school and high school programming.

• Support a seamless transition for students into high school by reinforcing college-bound goals and creating early exposure to college-readiness content.

• Be the external-facing leader for college-bound initiatives, building and maintaining relationships with outside stakeholders, including organizations such as SEO Scholars and scholarship programs, to expand resources and opportunities for students across grades 9-12.

• Provide individualized support for college-bound team members through 1:1 meetings, budgeting for Generation Rise programs, and organizing professional development opportunities and college visits for counselors.

• Maintain and grow partnerships with CACNY, Charter School Growth Fund, and other key networks to leverage additional resources for student success.

• Plan and manage college and alumni-related events, including college trips, admissions celebrations, and alumni programming, to reinforce a college-going culture.

• Develop and promote an academic culture focused on college readiness, ensuring school-wide messaging, programming, and student support systems reflect college-bound goals and are adaptable to the expanding scale of the school community.

College Access and Alumni Success Strategic Planning 

• Develop and lead the network's postsecondary success strategy, ensuring alignment across all K-12 schools to prepare students for college and career readiness.

• Create feedback loops and mechanisms between the K-12 program and postsecondary institutions, leveraging data to inform instructional practices and support college preparation initiatives.

• Embed a college-going culture across all schools by integrating postsecondary readiness initiatives into the curriculum and extracurricular programs from early grades through high school.

• Lead alumni engagement efforts, creating structures for alumni support that provide guidance, resources, and mentorship through college and beyond.

• Collaborate with school leaders and the college team to ensure consistent messaging and implementation of college and career readiness goals throughout the network.

• Monitor and track student and alumni outcomes, using data to improve college access, persistence, and graduation rates continuously.

Candidate Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year institution; Master’s Degree preferred.

• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience, with at least two years managing a team.

• Demonstrated experience working with diverse families across various income levels and with a range of socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.

• Strong understanding of the college admissions process, financial aid systems, and post-secondary support (e.g., alumni support).

• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with Institutions of Higher Education.

• Strong knowledge of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and diploma program, with the ability to align post-secondary programming to this framework.

• Experience with progress monitoring toward goals by tracking and analyzing data over time.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with other teams and departments, especially in building partnerships with Directors of College and Academic Counseling to ensure cohesive support for students.

• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail.

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

• Fluency in all Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Presentations).

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline, and goal-driven environment.

• Demonstrated ability to work well with others and build relationships within and across internal and external teams.

• Record of achievement orientation, with exceptional time management skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities.

• Extreme flexibility, strong work ethic, and an entrepreneurial spirit to contribute to a constantly improving team.

Hours and Expectations:

• On-site Presence: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm in the building, with adjustments for after-school needs.

• Attend school events (minimum 2 per quarter) and provide after-school programming support.

• Serve as the last leader out as divided among the leadership team

Salary: Employees at Prospect Schools are provided with a competitive salary. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity and are based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role. The salary range for this role is from $108,000 - $119,212, with the lower end of the scale, $108,000, representing the starting salary for someone with 1 year of direct experience in the role. This range increases annually for each additional year of direct experience.

The critical features of this job are described above; they may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.