Postsecondary Success Coach

Postsecondary Success Coach

Report to: Postsecondary Success Manager

Salary: $55,000 to $77,440

Location: In-person, with time spent primarily at a RISE partner school in Eastern Connecticut and monthly travel to the RISE office in New Haven, Connecticut.

Benefits: Comprehensive employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with employer matching; generous paid time off; flexible scheduling; and additional benefits designed to support employee well-being and work-life balance.

Position Summary and Essential Job Functions:

The Postsecondary Success Coach is a new and exciting role embedded in a RISE partner high school five days per week, supporting students' successful transitions beyond high school. Working closely with students, families, counselors, school leaders, and community partners, the Coach will promote postsecondary learning opportunities and help students develop and pursue plans for college and career success. The Coach will partner with the counseling team to ensure students successfully identify postsecondary plans and complete key access milestones, including applications, financial aid, resumes, interviews, enrollment activities, and workforce readiness experiences. The Coach will play a critical role supporting a strong postsecondary culture through targeted programming, data-driven collaboration, and individualized student support. The Coach will also support students during the post-graduation transition through programs including RISE's summer melt texting campaign and alumni outreach.

The Coach position is a professional-level role at RISE. Professional-level staff independently own defined projects, workstreams, or partnerships with moderate guidance, scaffolding, and feedback. Individuals at this level contribute significantly to specific key performance indicators, collaborate effectively across roles, and deliver consistent results across contexts. They steward RISE resources responsibly.

This is a three-year, grant-funded position employed and supervised by the RISE Network and embedded within a partner high school five days per week during the school year, with additional time dedicated to summer programming and postsecondary transition support.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Postsecondary Planning Support for Students

• In collaboration with the counseling department, provide direct, individualized postsecondary planning support to students as they identify and pursue postsecondary goals.
• Assist students with completing key milestones, including applications, FAFSA, scholarship applications, resumes, interviews, enrollment steps, and workforce readiness activities.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with students and families throughout the postsecondary planning process.
• Collaborate with counselors to identify and support students who are off track in completing postsecondary milestones.

1. School and Community Partnership

• Co-facilitate workshops and events focused on postsecondary awareness, exploration, planning, and financial access.
• Support school-wide campaigns related to postsecondary applications, FAFSA completion, career readiness, and enrollment.
• Collaborate with counselors, school staff, colleges, apprenticeship programs, workforce organizations, military recruiters, and community partners to expand opportunities for students.
• Support occasional evening and weekend events for students and families.

1. Data, Surveys, and Continuous Improvement

• Lead efforts to monitor student progress toward postsecondary goals using the RISE Data Hub.
• Support the administration and analysis of student surveys designed to understand postsecondary plans, confidence, milestone completion, and support needs.
• Utilize survey results and available data systems to identify trends, monitor milestone completion, and inform student supports.
• Support post-graduation alumni surveys and outreach efforts to better understand student outcomes and strengthen transition supports.

1. Summer Melt and Alumni Support

• Coordinate participation in the RISE Summer Melt Texting Campaign, providing students with timely reminders, resources, and encouragement during the transition after high school.
• Monitor and respond to student questions received through the texting platform and connect students with resources and support.
• Conduct outreach to recent graduates to support postsecondary matriculation and persistence.
• Support alumni communication and engagement efforts to better understand postsecondary experiences and outcomes.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in counseling, technical education, college admissions, teaching, and/or working with youth and families.
• Experience working with high school-age youth and their families.
• Strong sense of accountability and responsibility for results.
• Ability to interact professionally and earn credibility with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and teamwork.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire students, families, and school staff.
• Strong critical thinking including synthesizing different types of data.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent computer skills; ability to use PowerPoint, Excel, Google apps, and the Internet.
• Must be able to travel regularly between the partner school and RISE offices. Reliable transportation is required.

Preferred:

• 068 Connecticut Counseling Certification.

Additional Information:

• This is a temporary 3-year grant funded position starting in the school year 2026-2027.
• The position is anticipated to start in August 2026.
• The interview process will begin with a brief screening interview followed by a performance task and 60-minute interview.