Advisor, High School, PACE Programs (Temporary for 3 Years - Kearns) at Salt Lake Community College (UT) – Salt Lake City, Utah

This is an in-person position primarily located at Kearns High School. This position is funded for three (3) academic years, with the possibility of continuation.
Under general supervision, the PACE Programs High School Advisor will coordinate asset-based, student-centered programming to support a cohort of 120 to 150 first-generation and low-income students at Kearns High School to graduate from high school and transition into college. Critical responsibilities for this position include (1) developing and implementing outreach and recruitment strategies for prospective students (ninth graders), (2) case management of the students, including individualized mentoring and support, (3) designing and delivering programming to ensure students gain access to critical high school, college, and career success knowledge and skills, and (4) leveraging data and reporting tools (i.e., StudentAccess software technology) to identify, track and document challenges students are facing in their academic journey and collaborate with others to mitigate these challenges.

As a member of the PACE Programs team, the High School Advisor will benefit from being part of a caring team environment of more than 15 people, including professional staff and student leaders. PACE anticipates hiring a dedicated and energetic professional to help expand our team and continue to provide high-touch support for PACE Program students.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Outreach & Recruitment:

• Develop and sustain partnerships with feeder junior high and middle schools and key community stakeholders to promote and invite prospective students to apply to PACE Program.
• Table at key recruitment events, including junior high and middle school and high school registrations, career days, parent-teacher conferences, local libraries, and community events.
• Develop and sustain relationships with assigned high school administrators, counselors, teachers, and community partners to recruit new students and support them once they join PACE.
• Attend key events for 12thgrade students, including SLCC Days, UCAW, FAFSA nights, and graduation celebrations.
• Meet mandatory recruitment deadlines and cohort quotas.

Case Management:

• Manage a caseload of 120 to 150 high school students.
• Work with students one-on-one to establish college, career, and personal goals and drive connections with relevant resources.
• Implement a tiered advising structure to increase individualized support to students who may be experiencing difficulty adjusting to the culture and norms of high school or those facing barriers impacting their success, progress, and completion.
• Employ listening and advising practices to assist students from various backgrounds in accessing high school, college, and community resources and support their goals.
• Support students with college and scholarship applications, FAFSA, mentoring, involvement opportunities, stress management, internships, time management, research opportunities, scholarships, participation in high-impact practices, and other educational processes.
• Advocate on behalf of students experiencing hardship and find ways to connect them to opportunities and resources designed to enhance their academic experience.

Programming:

• Develop and implement student success programs for PACE students, including workshops (e.g., study and life skills, school-life balance, first-generation college student navigation and success, major and career exploration, among others) and campus tours.
• Connect students with SLCC divisions and schools, student-led organizations, and community partners to foster their right to belong at SLCC.
• Develop and implement monthly enrichment activities for PACE students.
• Develop and lead a PACE Student Leadership Team to increase a sense of belonging among students.
• Learn about student interests to provide adequate incentives for program participation.

Donor-Supported Initiatives:

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement additional student programming in response to donor interests and funding priorities (i.e., Mathspace, My Purpose, TopGolf).
• Align program content with donor objectives while maintaining student-centered outcomes.
• Document and report participation data and program results as needed.

Data & Reporting:

• Document student interactions in StudentAccess (PACE Programs student information system) (e.g., one-on-one meetings, program participation, email and text message communication).
• Utilize student data (e.g., grades, school attendance, case management notes) to track students’ progress and prioritize at-risk students.
• Create and track student success plans and monitor students’ progress.
• Track students’ grades, school attendance and program requirements and work with high school and college personnel to ensure students are being supported to succeed in high school and beyond.
• Manage student permission slips and records.
• Assist in reporting as necessary (e.g., run school-level reports to document progress, demographic data, etc.).
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

• Motivate, encourage, mentor, and teach students how to navigate and graduate high school, pursue higher education, and access the six-semester PACE Program scholarship to Salt Lake Community College to successfully transfer or gain meaningful employment.
• Create and advocate for a welcoming environment for students and their families.
• Demonstrate initiative, creativity, teamwork, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
• Employ excellent community skills, including active listening and responding skills.
• Feel comfortable using technology.
• Be dependable, have excellent organizational skills, and pay close attention to details.
• Participate in ongoing professional development sessions.
• Communicate effectively (in writing and verbally) with a wide range of individuals.
• Provide excellent customer service and one-on-one consultations with students.
• Case manages 120 to 150 students providing care and support toward academic, social, and life skills development.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop programming for student success, college access, and career exploration.
• Maintain and update student files, including recording all interactions with students in the StudentAccess case management database.
• Work collaboratively with other PACE staff and our campus partners.
• Assess the needs of students and create interventions or services to meet these needs.
• Organize, process, and disseminate significant amounts of information accurately and when relevant to students.
• Learn the requirements for high school graduation and college access (e.g., admissions, orientation, registration, financial aid, placement, and academic advising).
• Work well under pressure and function independently with integrity under general supervision.
• Utilize basic computer operating systems (e.g., Microsoft Office Word, Publisher, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and PACE Program student information system (i.e., StudentAccess).
• Prioritize assignments, plan, and carry projects to completion.
• Learn quickly, work well under pressure, and work ethically with confidential information.
• Advocate for all students, prioritizing students who may be at risk of leaving high school.
• Assist in planning and facilitating academic recovery, programming and coaching for students.
• Evaluate student success interventions and create reports and establish recommendations.
• Work a flexible schedule which may include mornings, evenings, and weekends.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people with a variety of abilities and backgrounds, to maintain good working relationships across the College.
• Ability to work with all groups from a variety of academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities.

• Bachelor’s degree, with emphasis in education, psychology, counseling, or related field and one (1) year of full time direct, paid, advising experience.

OR

• Associate’s degree, with emphasis in education, psychology, counseling or related field and three (3) years of full time direct, paid, advising experience.

Trade off 1:1 in experience/education requirement.
Part-time experience can be considered on prorated basis.

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience working in a K-12 or higher education environment, particularly in public schools or two-year colleges, respectively.
• Experience teaching and/or counseling in a junior or high school setting with historically disadvantaged student populations is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience working with a highly varied student body and staff, as evidenced by advanced cultural competency, critical thinking, and exemplary inclusive practices.
• Direct experience in PowerSchool and Focus.
• Bilingual or multilingual ability and related cultural competency.