Senior Associate, Middle School Career Counseling

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 NYC Career Education

KIPP NYC Middle School Career Counseling (MSCC) empowers middle school students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to make informed decisions about their future academic and career pathways. Our program is rooted in research and designed to provide students with early exposure to career, enrichment and summer opportunities, hands-on learning experiences, and individualized support, ensuring that they are well-prepared for high school and beyond. Through interactive career-connected lessons, exposure to diverse industries, and enrichment opportunities, we aim to:

• Ensure that all students develop a strong foundation of career awareness and exploration before entering high school.

• Increase access to high-quality enrichment programs and work-based learning experiences.

• Empower students to connect their academic interests with future career pathways, fostering long-term motivation and goal-setting.

By partnering with families, educators, and industry professionals, we provide middle school students with the tools and resources to explore, engage with, and elevate their understanding of career pathways. Our goal is to ensure that students leave middle school with a clear sense of direction and the confidence to pursue their aspirations.

Position Overview

KIPP NYC is seeking a Senior Associate of Middle School Career Counseling to help expand career education, enrichment opportunities, and program participation rates for middle school students across multiple schools in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. This full-time role is designed for a dynamic, student-centered professional who will both provide direct support to the Associate Director of MSCC, as well as serve as a key partner to school-based Career Coordinators in executing career exploration programming. This position requires frequent travel to middle school campuses throughout the work week. This role reports directly to the Associate Director of Middle School Career Counseling.

The Senior Associate will work across several middle schools, in collaboration with each school’s stipend Career Coordinator, to support students through one-on-one advising, classroom lessons, and guidance around enrichment, exposure learning, and work-based learning opportunities. The Senior Associate will plan and model best practices, and help build consistency and quality across site, while data tracking and progress monitoring towards summer enrichment program placement.

This role requires flexibility, service-orientation, and approachability, as the Senior Associate will travel between schools to meet with students, staff, and families. Throughout the year, they will receive targeted professional development to deepen their expertise in career readiness, student advising, and program implementation. By building strong relationships and offering strategic support, the Senior Associate will play a vital role in ensuring all middle school students are empowered to explore their interests and make informed decisions about their futures.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summer & Enrichment Program Placement (50%)

• Guide students in researching and applying for summer and after-school enrichment opportunities, including academic, pre-college, arts, athletic, leadership, and work-based learning programs.
• Monitor student application progress throughout the year, identifying barriers and developing strategies to support students who are still seeking placements.
• Collaborate with families and students to confirm participation and follow up on program completion during key summer milestones
• Support school-based Career Coordinators in tracking progress toward student placement goals by maintaining clear communication and accurate documentation across multiple schools.
• Collaborate with families to ensure they are informed and engaged in their child’s career development process, including enrichment program selection, application support, and summer placement opportunities.
• Support the AD of MSCC in tasks required to ensure successful acceptance and matriculation into enrichment experiences, such as clarifying application processes and addressing student and family questions and challenges
• Collect student feedback and program completion data to support progress monitoring and reporting efforts led by the Associate Director.

Program Coordination & Career Exposure (30%)

• Collaborate with the AD of MSCC on regional programming and attend all major events, including field trips, career workshops, and leadership conferences that expand students’ access to professional experiences.
• Partner with school-based Career Coordinators and staff to support and strengthen campus-specific initiatives such as career days, guest speaker series, exposure-based field trips, and workshops.
• Promote student and family engagement in exposure-related programming by sharing opportunities through school communications, newsletters, and digital platforms.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of student participation in career assessments, exposure activities, career plans, and enrichment programs using internal tracking systems.

Student Advising & Career Exploration (10%)

• Provide one-on-one advising and small group sessions to guide students in exploring interests, career clusters, and enrichment opportunities, as needed to support Career Coordinators and program goals
• Facilitate the administration of career assessments for 6th-8th grade students, integrating reflection sessions to help students interpret insights and connect them to future pathways.

Collaboration & Professional Development (10%)

• Contribute to the growth of the Middle School Career Education (MSCC) learning community by actively participating in professional development sessions, team meetings, and collaborative planning discussions.
• Attend all KIPP NYC professional development days, MSCC learning community calls, and weekly one-on-one meetings with the Associate Director of Middle School Career Counseling.
• Meet bi-weekly with school-based Career Coordinators during school visits to ensure strong communication, thought-partnership and continued progress towards goals.
• Engage in ongoing learning to strengthen career counseling practices and stay informed of emerging trends in career readiness and student engagement.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year institution.
• Demonstrated commitment to KIPP NYC’s mission and values, acting with integrity and a student-centered approach.
• Experience working with middle school students, families, or in educational programs focused on career exploration, counseling, or advising.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with students, families, school staff, and external partners.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and track student progress across sites.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze and use data to monitor student progress and program effectiveness.
• Proficiency in Google Suite and willingness to learn digital platforms such as SchooLinks or other student tracking systems.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and adapt to a flexible schedule that includes remote work and travel between school sites.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting low-income, first-generation, or historically underserved students in educational or youth development settings.
• Background in college and career counseling, youth mentorship, or program coordination.
• Familiarity with career exploration tools, enrichment programs, or work-based learning initiatives.
• Experience planning and executing student-facing events, workshops, or engagement initiatives.
• Growth mindset, adaptability, and a strong work ethic to support the evolution of a developing program.
• Willingness to provide support during summer months to ensure successful program placement, participation, and follow-up.

Compensation & Benefits:

For the Workforce Advisor position, KIPP NYC offers a competitive salary ranging from $71,000 - $81,000. 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 offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverages. Other benefits include retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and supplemental benefits offerings.

KIPP NYC offers a generous benefits package including, but not limited to, the following:

• Generous Time Off, such as specified school vacation weeks, sick and personal days, and an extended summer break
• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave
• Bright Horizon Back-up Child and Elder care
• Employer paid Life Insurance and Short term/Long term disability

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.

This role require travel to our sites. If you relocate outside of a commutable distance from your assigned sites, your employment will be subject to review, which may include separation from KIPP NYC. It is important that you notify HR if you move or have plans to relocate.

KIPP NYC LLC does not offer visa sponsorship or work authorization.

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.