Director of Advising and Impact

Organizational Overview:

We’re thrilled you’re considering Onward We Learn as an employer.

Since 1989, Onward We Learn has worked to inspire and prepare young people in Rhode Island to be the first in their families to attend and complete college. Nearly four decades later, that mission remains at the heart of everything we do.

As we look toward the future, Onward We Learn is entering an exciting new chapter. In late 2025, our Board of Directors approved a two-year strategic plan focused on strengthening our impact, deepening collaboration, and building a more responsive and sustainable organization.

As part of this organizational realignment, we’re hiring for several new and reimagined roles at once. These openings reflect intentional growth and investment in our future. We’re building a strong, people-centered, mission-driven team equipped to support students and families for years to come.

This is an exciting moment to join Onward We Learn. We are proud of the strong culture we’ve built - one rooted in mission, collaboration, care, and continuous learning, and we’re looking for passionate people who want to help shape what comes next.

Position Purpose:

The Director of Advising & Impact leads the design, quality, and continuous improvement of Onward We Learn’s advising systems, ensuring students and families receive consistent, high-quality, and equity-centered advising support across all programs and sites. This role sets advising expectations, tiering structures, case management practices, and quality standards, and oversees the effective use of data and CRM systems to monitor outcomes and drive improvement. As a key member of Onward’s management team, the Director partners closely with program and operations leaders to ensure advising models are implemented effectively and aligned with Onward We Learn’s mission.

Role Responsibilities:

Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, support, develop, and evaluate Coaches, providing strategic and operational direction to enhance program impact for young people in middle school, high school, and postsecondary.
• Establish clear expectations for caseload management, student engagement, and productivity metrics to all team members, ensuring they are positioned to deliver high-quality services.
• Conduct regular one-on-one and team meetings, offering coaching, mentorship, and professional development focused on case management and data analysis.
• Determine, implement, and oversee staffing plans that support achievement of organizational goals and objectives, and refine as necessary.
• Support in the recruitment and onboarding process of new coaches, ensuring alignment with Onward We Learn’s standards and mission.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with school districts, guidance counselors, and external partners.

College Success Program Strategy

• Support the strategic vision and goals for student coaching and college access programs, collaborating with the Chief Program Officer (CPO) and other colleagues to ensure programs are effective, engaging, and aligned with educational standards and organizational objectives.
• Regularly evaluate coaching outcomes against established goals, utilizing feedback and data to continuously improve coaching models, tiering structures, and engagement strategies across grade bands.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality coaching practices across the team and monitor caseload distribution and student tiering to ensure equitable support.
• Develop escalation protocols for students needing intensive intervention.
• Oversee key milestone moments (e.g., FAFSA campaigns, college application season, summer melt prevention).
• Oversee the allocation of resources for student success coaching, including budgeting, staffing, and logistics, to maximize impact and efficiency.
• Support family engagement strategies within coaching, ensuring parents and guardians are informed, involved, and supportive of their student's educational journey.

Advising System Alignment Across Cohorts

• Serve as the organizational lead for advising strategy, quality, and consistency, ensuring advising models, tiering structures, and case management expectations are clear and scalable across all cohorts and grade bands.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Cohort Pathways to adapt advising systems based on district, school, and cohort-level realities while maintaining high standards for quality and equity.
• Provide advising guidance and frameworks that support effective implementation within district- and school-based cohort models.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Oversee the utilization of Onward’s CRM by Coaches, ensuring accurate and timely data entry, reporting, and compliance with data privacy and security policies.
• Analyze CRM reports on student engagement, academic milestones, and referrals to identify trends and inform program improvements.
• Partner with the Chief Information Officer and Director of CRM to assess usage data and drive ongoing CRM updates and enhancements.
• Evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) for Coaches, including student persistence, milestone completion, and outreach goals.

Organizational Stewardship

• Contribute to the strategic direction and ongoing organizational stewardship of Onward We Learn, engaging actively in leadership discussions and cross-functional collaboration.
• Promote a collaborative and high-performing culture that supports staff well-being while ensuring productivity goals are met.
• Support grant development and collaborative initiatives that strengthen mission impact and sustainability.
• Serve as a key ambassador for Onward’s work, with a particular focus on engaging and supporting families.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with partners and funders in support of organizational objectives.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in education, public administration, or related field, or a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three years of relevant experience.
• A minimum of three years of management or leadership work experience.
• Knowledge of the college preparatory process, youth development theories, and the needs of under-represented and first-generation students.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting, with the ability to use technology to drive decision-making and program improvements.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, and Excel) and able to learn and effectively use the latest software and technology systems employed by Onward.
• Commitment to Onward We Learn's mission, values, and strategic objectives.
• Ability to act as an advocate and ambassador for the organization, with a strong sense of ownership and pride in performance.
• Flexibility to work weekend and evening hours as needed for program support and special initiatives.