College Transition Specialist

About the role

Integral member of the Kamehameha Schools (KS) ʻohana, working with counselors, external partners, students, and their 'ohana to pursue post-secondary opportunities. They will serve as the primary resource for financial aid and transitional programs to empower alumni to continue their education. This role will maintain communication with alumni enrolled in regional colleges to ensure they are supported on their journey to continue their education. Work both independently and as part of a team that utilizes evidenced based best practice to equip and empower current high school students and alumni with the skills and knowledge, through matriculation workshops, summer and bridge programs, scholarships, life skills, career, and networking opportunities, enrichment opportunities, and other resources, to overcome educational barriers to persist and graduate from college in a timely fashion with minimal debt.

Responsibilities

• Program Development: Build an understanding of campus level educational support services (academic, financial, personal, and career-related assistance) for students, allowing them to work in collaboration with staff, faculty, student and/or academic affairs and other key university offices and community agencies, to make necessary referrals, ensuring services are well-coordinated.
• Develop and deliver informational programs and workshops targeted towards increasing awareness around post-secondary education enrollment, financial resources, academic, social, and supplemental support services, and career development.
• Plans, designs, and delivers new student, parent, and alumni engagement programs, based on shared outcomes to support and align to KS programs, services, projects, and initiatives.
• Craft communication for multiple platforms, targeting students, alumni, and 'ohana.
• Stakeholder Guidance: Manages alumni enrolled in two and four-year colleges, providing advising services focused on college persistence and completion, career readiness, academic and social integration, and transfer options.
• Serves as a resource for scholarship/financial aid opportunities as well as assisting students and families through the application process.
• Maintains meaningful relationships with alumni to further their education and/or career plans through individualized post-secondary plan.
• Continued student engagement may include college visits to meet with students.
• Motivates students to continuously evaluate and explore postsecondary educational and career opportunities which align to their personal passions and interests.
• Supports persistence which may include transfers between institutions by providing guidance to students.
• Organizes networking opportunities with KS alumni across the country, helping current students, alumni, and KS administration to remain connected to identify ways for all groups to positively use these relationships to grow as people and community leaders.
• Provides interventions, equity initiatives and advocacy efforts where appropriate and necessary to provide equity and access for all students.
• Provides support in documenting students in non-college pathways.
• Organizes, plans, and coordinates co-curricular initiatives including but not limited to: matriculation life skills, and career-readiness workshops; summer bridge program; mentor program; job shadowing and internship program.
• Market Research and Data Analysis: Researches and stays current on higher education programs, trends, and issues with student impact and make recommendations based on best practices and research.
• Collects and assesses student data (contact information, grades, financial aid packages, scholarships, etc.) and uses this information to support persistence, retention, and program improvement.
• Partner Relationship Management: Develops and nurtures positive relations with college and community representatives to build a strong network of support for students and ʻohana.
• Partners with key university offices such as the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs, and Admissions, and other community agencies to ensure that the services provided to alumni are well-coordinated.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in business, education, student personnel administration, counseling, higher education, social work or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of Program Management experience or experience providing direct advising support and career coaching to high school and college aged students.
• Ability to communicate and connect with people from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic and professional backgrounds evidenced by strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to serve the communication needs for a variety of stakeholders.
• Capacity to plan, create and deliver dynamic and motivational presentations.
• Willingness to learn and exhibit a commitment to an improved, high-quality education system for Native Hawaiian learners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in business, education, student personnel administration, counseling, higher education, social work or a related field.
• Demonstrated event planning skills.

Skills & Attributes

• Uses data strategically to inform decision-making, evaluate program effectiveness, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement to drive student success initiatives and campus-wide outcomes.
• Demonstrates flexibility, creativity, and adaptability when responding to changing student, campus, and community needs.
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships with students, families, alumni, colleagues, and external partners.
• Communicates effectively and respectfully with diverse audiences while working both independently and as part of a team.
• Takes initiative, thinks proactively, and seeks opportunities to strengthen alumni engagement and expand professional networks.
• Possesses strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and programs simultaneously.

Pay

$90,200.00 - $128,400.00 annually. Salaries are commensurate with job-related experience, skills and competencies, education, internal equity, length of work year, and other organizational needs.

Schedule

Work is typically conducted Monday through Friday at normal business hours, but evening and weekend hours are often required to meet goals and objectives. This position may involve traveling to various locations to conduct business. Work is conducted in an office/school environment and may require work to be conducted in non-standard workplaces.