Job Details
Description
About Breakthrough Atlanta:
Breakthrough Atlanta pursues a dual mission to place highly motivated, underserved students on a path to post secondary enrollment and success, and to inspire the next generation of teachers and education leaders. Founded in 1996 and hosted by The Lovett School, Breakthrough Atlanta has supported more than 2000 students in their college pursuits, many of whom are the first in their families to earn bachelor’s degrees. In addition, we’ve inspired more than 500 college students to become educators. Breakthrough Atlanta is one of 24 Breakthrough Collaborative affiliates across the United States.
The candidate will be an employee of The Lovett School. The Lovett School is a community of belonging that develops students of honor, faith, and wisdom with the character and intellect to thrive in learning and life. Lovett’s core values of Intellect, Purpose, Belonging, Faith and Love are the foundation of what we believe and do as an institution, a community, and a school. Please read about Lovett's commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging to learn more.
Position Overview:
The Director of College Prep Programs is responsible for preparing Breakthrough’s high school students for college admissions and enrollment. With the support of a program manager, AmeriCorps members, community partners and volunteers, the director ensures the delivery of high-quality services and programming such as: summer institutes, individualized academic and college counseling, college tours and informational events, financial aid workshops, SAT/ACT test prep, and academic tutoring. This is a permanent, full-time, exempt position that reports to Breakthrough’s Chief Executive Officer.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Design, partner and execute programming leveraging best practices in the college prep/readiness field (e.g. college fit counseling, financial aid education and planning, Breakthrough summer offerings, pre-college experiences, internships, career exposure, etc.)
- Lead a team, including a program manager, AmeriCorps members, community partners and volunteers to implement college prep programming
- Oversee the day to day operations of all college prep programming
- Build strong, trusting relationships with students and their families through open and frequent communication to encourage students’ active participation and retention in Breakthrough for all four years of high school
- Collaborate with colleges and universities, scholarship programs and community organizations to provide essential services and valuable opportunities to Breakthrough students
- Counsel ninth through twelfth grade students on college preparation, selection and financial aid
- Stay knowledgeable of and assist students and parents in understanding post secondary pathways
- Engage with other Breakthrough programs and SACAC for ideation and discovery of best practices
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise and evaluate college prep program staff and AmeriCorps members. Implement progressive disciplinary measures and counsel out team members as necessary and in accordance with the law
- Collect and report student data to evaluate program effectiveness
Candidate Characteristics:
- Eight to ten years of experience within the college access and success area and leading educational programs with significant experience in supervising staff and working directly with high school students, ideally students who will be first generation to graduate college
- Experience with college admissions and/or counseling
- Understanding of adolescent development and within the college access and success field
- Experience managing and fostering partnerships with college admissions offices and scholarship programs
- Ability to hold others to high standards while also offering support and maintaining positive relationships
- An unwavering commitment to equity, in deepening your personal understanding and in advancing our collective work
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with students, families and educators
- Superior organization and project management skills
- Ability to work on multiple projects, adjust quickly to shifting priorities, meet deadlines, exercise good judgment and handle high-pressure situations
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with a variety of audiences
- Team player who demonstrates a positive attitude, sense of humor, energy, entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to collaboration
- Prior experience with Breakthrough model highly desirable; familiarity with Georgia colleges and universities is a plus
- Flexibility that allows for periodic work on Saturdays and evenings
- Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
How to Apply:
Interested applicants must provide a cover letter and resume, as well as complete The Lovett School’s employment application. No calls please.
Physical Demands:
NOTE: The Lovett School employment process includes a post-offer drug (hair) test and background check. See the employment application for more information.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands from wrist to finger, and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; and reach with hands. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.