Student Success Coach

Who We Are

Our mission is simple but critical: to build pathways for adult learners to earn high-quality, workforce-aligned degrees and credentials from North Carolina’s public universities. 

At Project Kitty Hawk, our work reflects our company values:  

Collaboration – We prioritize our partners’ success and reputation, aligning every initiative with their goals, reflecting their values, and enhancing their impact. 

Innovation – We innovate, not replicate. As creative problem solvers, we use data-driven insights to push boundaries, continuously improve our services, develop solutions, and redefine what it means to serve nontraditional learners. 

Empathy – We understand the unique challenges of nontraditional learners, and are committed to supporting them with empathy, respect, and solutions that fit their needs. 

Integrity – We operate with transparency and accountability in everything we do. We uphold honesty, take ownership of our work, and maintain the highest standards. 

Teamwork – We embody the collaboration we seek. We always strive to be dependable, supportive, and solutions-oriented teammates. 

Together, we partner with universities in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System to produce innovative, flexible degree and credential programs in high-demand fields. Each PKH team member plays a vital role in advancing this mission and shaping the future of education for adult learners. 

These values will enable us to realize PKH’s vision: to make North Carolina’s public universities the top choice for adult learners and to amplify the UNC System’s role as a national leader in higher education innovation, access, and student success. By joining our team, you have an opportunity to contribute to our achievement of that vision, in the process helping to create opportunities for thousands of learners to earn their success and move up the economic ladder. 

At Project Kitty Hawk we hire talented people who are not only dedicated to our mission but share our belief that working together makes us stronger and more effective. In this organization you’ll find individuals with a range of interesting backgrounds and life stories; the true magic happens when those individuals come together to solve problems in service of a common goal. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective, talents, and ideas to the table as we strive to make a meaningful impact.  

The Role

The Student Success Coach is a dedicated professional who understands the needs of adult learners and how to best support them in pursuing their higher education goals. This Student Success Coach aims to provide guidance and to empower adult students to succeed academically by assisting them in developing strategies, setting goals, and navigating unique challenges they may face. This role will work closely with adult students to promote their academic and personal growth, fostering a supportive and motivating environment throughout the student lifecycle. 

• Provide personalized academic support to adult students.  This may include assistance in selecting appropriate courses, registering, creating educational plans, and understanding degree requirements.
• Address the unique challenges faced by adult students, including work-life balance, time constraints, tech issues, and financial concerns by offering tailored solutions and referrals to relevant support services.
• Offer guidance and resources to improve study skills, time management, and organization to enhance academic performance.
• Utilize relevant coaching principles and strategies to promote student self-awareness, confidence, and inspire action.
• Collaborate with students to identify their educational and career goals, create a clear roadmap for success, and monitor their progress.
• Assist students in navigating resources, including libraries, tutoring, and personal wellness resources.
• Encourage students to explore career pathways and resources and foster a holistic approach to education and future employment.
• Identify at-risk students, develop intervention plans, and actively engage in outreach efforts to re-engage and retain adult learners.
• Analyze and interpret data to effectively support students and improve student success.
• Ensure the confidentiality of all student information
• Adhere to and enforce the appropriate security policies based on the sensitivity of company data
• Report any security related issues to the appropriate individuals, and
• Ensure the appropriateness, accuracy, and timeliness of institutional data used for the conduct of business. 
• Collaborate with the Student Success Team, partners at the assigned Institution of Higher Education (IHE), and other teams across the organization to help inform policy and practices that will best support students. This may include attending regular meetings with your program area of support and reporting on the student experience.
• Participate in professional development activities, attend relevant conferences, and engage with industry associations to expand knowledge and network with peers.  

• A bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, psychology, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience working in academic advising or student support services with adult students in an online higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience coaching individuals, particularly in an educational or support context, to enhance their academic and personal development.
• Knowledge of the challenges and needs specific to adult learners in higher education.
• Knowledge of and experience with CRM, LMS, and SIS platforms and other technologies used in online higher education and student management.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with adult students.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of relevant academic policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
• Ability to exercise discretion, professionalism, and good judgement and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment. 

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Certification in Academic Coaching or a related coaching discipline.

What We Offer

Project Kitty Hawk offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes full medical/dental/vision coverage, a 401K with match, and a generous time-off policy with paid volunteer time. In addition, we are committed to providing competitive salaries with the potential for performance bonus and remote working flexibility.

Project Kitty Hawk is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.    

Project Kitty Hawk is dedicated to this policy concerning recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact Kelly Snow at klsnow@projectkittyhawk.com.