[2025-2027] College Success Fellow, KIPP Forward

About KIPP NYC

KIPP NYC Public Schools is a non-profit network of 18 free, public charter schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. We partner with families and communities to create joyful and rigorous schools in pursuit of a more just world. In 1995 we started our first middle school, KIPP Academy, in the Bronx, with a vision that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. Today, our network consists of eight elementary schools, nine middle schools, one high school, and KIPP Forward, a comprehensive program to support our students and alumni in choosing and preparing for the educational and career paths that fit their goals and sense of purpose. KIPP NYC currently serves more than 12,000 students and alumni, has a staff of more than 1,000 (8% of whom are alumni), and continues to grow!

About KIPP Forward Postsecondary Success Collaborative

KIPP Forward works with graduates of KIPP, Achievement First, and a growing number of other select high school-serving organizations, to empower them for success in college and their careers. Our program model was formulated utilizing a design thinking approach with our alumni, as well as research of the most effective Comprehensive Approach to Student Success (CASS) and career readiness programs.  Utilizing breakthrough college and career strategies, we aim to:​

• Help more students from low-income families persist in and graduate from college​ or secure a credential in an in-demand industry
• Help all – those with a BA or a credential – transition to a strong first job and improve pathways to economic mobility

Position Overview 

The first quarter of each year, KIPP Forward accepts applications from exceptional recent or soon-to-be college graduates to join our two-year, near-peer College Success Fellows program. The College Success Fellows program is led by the Director of College Success and Fellows report directly to a College Success Manager based on regional placement.

As full-time employees, Fellows work passionately and diligently to ensure that recent graduates of our partner high schools receive outstanding support through their first two years of college, with the ultimate goal that they persist and accumulate 60 credits to stay on track for on-time degree completion. Throughout their two-year commitment, Fellows engage in regular training led by skilled college and career success practitioners and engage in yearlong professional development cycles ensuring that they become exceptional advisors and are prepared to transition professionally after two years.

Fellows provide transformational coaching, mentorship and direct support to alumni in college through 1:1 advising sessions in person on college campuses and virtually via zoom, call, texts  in between campus visits. Fellows assess the progress of our alumni towards college completion through frequent benchmarking and prioritization of their caseloads based on key persistence indicators that includes financial health, academic habits and planning, socio-emotional health, and career planning. Through these consistent touchpoints and assessments, Fellows perform transformational coaching interventions to ensure our alumni make positive progress in all areas.

Given college and career success work involves meeting with our alumni at their respective colleges, this position is a field position and requires frequent travel. Fellows will be assigned to a placement region for the length of the two year fellowship and will visit a set of schools within 3 hours driving distance of that region (all work-related transportation costs will be paid for by KIPP Forward). When applying, 2025 College Success Fellows will have the opportunity to indicate their regional placement preferences and our program will seek to meet preferences when possible:

• NY: Albany, New York City, Western NY (Syracuse/Rochester/Buffalo)
• NJ: Newark or Camden/Philadelphia
• PA: Philadelphia/Camden
• CT: Hartford or New Haven (with travel to Rhode Island expected)

The 2025 College Success Fellowship is a two-year commitment from July 14, 2025 through June 30, 2027. At the end of the Fellowship, employment with KIPP NYC terminates.

Duties and Responsibilities 

College Advising: 

• Manage a caseload of approximately 125-150 college students, meeting at least once, but in some cases two to four times per semester based on student priority level, to provide advising services focused on college persistence and credit attainment
• Become an expert on your assigned campuses through research and exploration, with the goal to be able to direct alumni to their campus offices, resources and supports early and often
• Connect, collaborate and maintain relationships with key campus staff and support offices in order to best support our alumni and address challenges that arise efficiently and effectively
• Conduct routine follow-ups to ensure successful registration and completion of coursework and drive registration for summer term for students who are under-credited
• Assist students in writing and submitting financial aid and enrollment letters of appeal when needed to maintain enrollment status and/or financial aid
• Assist students with FAFSA/TAP renewals from December through June and with loan counseling completion when necessary, as well as provide FAFSA/TAP renewal support via designated workshop times for our older alumni as part of our broader programmatic support for all alumni
• In Year 2, recruit for and progress monitor students’ participation in KIPP Forward’s Wayfinders Career Programs, which includes completing a career assessment, resume and mock interview workshops, engaging in networking practices, and applying for a sophomore year internship or career exposure opportunity.

Data Management: 

• Track Persistence Benchmarks with every student contact on four key indicators of Persistence: Financial, Socio-Emotional, Academic, and Passion/Purpose/Plan (Career Readiness)
• Utilize KIPP Forward’s Caseload Engagement & Advising Management System (CEAMS) to analyze student academic data and progress towards goals,  prioritize campus visits and outreach, and focus your 1:1 meetings on transformational coaching
• Drive submission of transcripts in January and May
• Drive completion of our annual satisfaction survey from your caseload
• Track and maintain key student data points in our centralized data systems, including detailed notes of every student communication, enrollment changes, campus visits and updated contact information

Collaborative Learning and Planning: 

• Attend mandatory New Fellows Training held full-time from July 14 – August 8, 2025 (week 1 in NYC, week 2-4 virtual). Ongoing professional development will be required quarterly, and may require travel to NYC for those placed in other regions (paid for by KIPP Forward).
• Engage actively in our continuous and intensive training program, which is intended to quickly build Fellows’ skills in coaching and content knowledge. Training includes workshops, team meetings, 1:1 weekly meetings with managers, observations and debrief cycles, webinars, and team step-backs. 
• In Year 2, participate in KIPP Forward’s Wayfinders Career Program and other career training programming to support Fellow’s professional development.
• In Year 2, support the training of first year Fellows through active participation, coaching, and mentoring during shared campus visits 
• Plan and participate in weekly one-on-one meetings with College Success Manager
• Regularly and openly communicate with College Success Manager to seek guidance and support to navigate complex challenges alumni may be facing
• Collaborate with our Marketing and Communications associate to leverage social media to promote our programming and deliver critical information to students

General Administration: 

• Submit all receipts for travel expenses on a weekly basis via our finance platform
• Maintain travel schedule on team calendar
• Collect FERPA waivers and other documentation required for successful coaching and interventions
• Respond to emails, calls and texts from staff and students within 24 hours

Skills and Qualifications 

• Ability to demonstrate commitment to KIPP NYC's mission and values by acting with integrity
• Bachelor’s degree earned by May 2025 (to maintain near-peer model we seek those who have graduated within the last 2 years)
• Cumulative college grade point average of 2.7 or higher
• Commitment to working with underserved and underrepresented students and families
• Friendly and approachable to quickly engage your advisees and colleagues
• High energy, positivity and enthusiasm to encourage and inspire your advisees to persevere and take positive action steps as they face challenges
• Ability to manage stressful or complex situations with calm, composure and resourcefulness
• Ability to self-manage to address challenges and meet ambitious goals and strict deadlines
• Flexibility and willingness to contribute when necessary on projects outside of own caseload (eg. seniors transitioning to college, older alumni needing FAFSA/TAP support)
• Demonstrated ability to work well with others and build relationships within and across teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizationally and high attention to detail
• Strong achievement orientation with exceptional time management skills and demonstrated ability to handle multiple priorities
• For those placed outside of NYC: Valid driver’s license. 
• Priority Consideration:  We are actively seeking KIPP, Achievement First, and Prospect Schools alumni for this position; if openings remain, we seek first generation college graduates, preferably from one of the communities where our schools are based, to retain our near-peer model of service.
• This role is based in one of our designated fellowship locations which is mutually agreed upon at point of hire. If you relocate outside of a commutable distance to the location you were hired to work, or if you move out of the state in which you were hired to work, your employment will be subject to review, which may include separation from KIPP NYC. It is important that you notify HR and KIPP Forward’s Senior Managing Director if you move or have plans to relocate.

Salary & Benefits 

KIPP NYC offers a competitive salary ranging from $60,406 - $64,350. Salary ranges at KIPP NYC are standardized based on role level and role function. Individual salaries are determined through a lens of equity, accounting for years of experience relevant to the role and scope of responsibilities, and are benchmarked against others within the same salary band. 

KIPP NYC provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with generous time off, such as specified school vacation weeks, sick and personal days, and an extended summer break. Additional benefits include a retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and various supplemental offerings.

This description is intended to describe the type of work being performed by a person assigned to this position.  It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required by the employee.

KIPP NYC LLC is an anti-racist organization that believes in the importance of being diverse, equitable, and inclusive. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment that includes employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We believe that enables us to better meet our mission and values while serving students and families throughout New York City. BIPOC, women, gender expansive, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

KIPP NYC LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP NYC LLC is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment.