College Access Program Manager (Brooklyn, NY)

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) exists to break the cycle of poverty and inequity through education, job training, and employment. Our vision to strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic opportunity for individuals in underserved communities is critical for economic recovery. Through our skills-based training, education, and direct job placement, we build upward economic mobility for out-of-school and unemployed youth and adults and provide the skills necessary to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Through our principles of accountability, confidence, and professionalism, we emphasize Values of Integrity-Respecting our commitments, personally and professionally, Excellence-Pushing one another to be our very best and Empowerment-Positive change begins with us. Our commitment to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into our organizational DNA.

Diversity & Racial Equity Mission Statement: We recognize that structural racism, discrimination, systems of power, and other forms of oppression, give privilege and access to resources, lead to inequities, and have contributed to persistent disparities.  OBT is on an intentional journey to champion and operationalize the values of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion into our organization and the communities we serve. We strive to sustain a culture where all individuals can thrive and feel a sense of belonging, especially those whose voices and experiences have been historically marginalized. We commit our work to breaking oppressive barriers and serving as a bridge to sustainable economic opportunities that will build and strengthen an equitable workforce.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility & Belonging (DEIA&B) Statement: We value individual differences and the benefits diversity and inclusion bring to our organization. It enables us to effectively grow by developing respected representation in the communities OBT serves while giving back through our personal experiences and efforts thereby adding immediate value. We understand that diversity is not simply about people who represent the full spectrum or ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientation, gender identity, beliefs, religions and faith, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and levels of physical ability; it also involves our ability to being open-minded and creating balance within OBT as an organization. Within our diversified workforce, we see our differences as assets, not liabilities and intentionally prioritize methods to enhance our DEIA&B journey. OBT realizes that diversity is an important issue for our organization, but we also realize that it is not enough to hire people with the differences mentioned above. Everyone needs to feel like they are truly welcome, safe and free to be themselves in the workplace. We are establishing a sense of belonging and inclusion, so we can ensure that all employees, regardless of their background and experiences, are connected with equal opportunities and create a healthier, more successful future together.

Position Summary:
The College Access Program (CAP) Program inspires participants to envision the role that post-secondary education plays on their path to sustainable, well-paid careers. CAP supports participants through their post-secondary journey by providing individualized college and career exploration workshops, college admission preparation, financial aid support, career readiness skills, and access to credential training opportunities. The CAP Manager will work closely with the Chief Program Officer to implement programs focused on preparing participants for college and beyond. The Manager will work to increase access to post-secondary opportunities for OBT participants. They will implement workshops and college awareness activities for participants, provide support and feedback to college counselors, and manage relationships with schools and universities. They will lead a team of counselors and interns and foster a college access and success culture for the organization.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Plan, oversee, and support all aspects of the postsecondary planning and admissions process for OBT participants.
• Develop and implement strategies to support college persistence. This includes mentoring, career and college training, alumni support.
• Plan and implement CAP activities and special events.
• Collaborate with OBT directors and programs to create a robust college and careers pipeline for participants.
• Develop and maintain relationships with college administration, faculty, support services and extracurricular staff to facilitate college enrollment and retention.
• Represent OBT in partner conversations regarding college, advanced training, and credit for prior learning opportunities.
• Oversee day-to-day activities of the CAP department, including supervision of staff and managing alumni correspondence and walk-ins.
• Track progress towards meeting all outcomes and funder obligations and develop and execute action plans to address gaps.
• Manage a caseload of students who are interested in post-secondary education.
• Guide and advise students around best practices to help ensure their academic success and fulfillment.
• Collaborate with the Salesforce Manager and Development team around data collection and reporting processes, including managing data entry for college outcomes data collected from external partners.
• Work closely with OBT’s retention services team to ensure all required documentation to support outcomes is secured and documented.
• Work with Chief Program Officer, and outside consultants in the grant writing process.
• Perform all other appropriate duties assigned by Chief Program Officer.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• A passionate commitment to OBT’s mission and vision, and an understanding of the inextricable relationships between workforce development, post-secondary planning, and equity.
• A track record in program leadership in youth development, preferably in college, employment, or career-oriented programs.
• The ability to establish strong working relationships with colleagues, participants, and external stakeholders.
• The ability to work creatively, resourcefully, and collaboratively while exhibiting flexibility in achieving results.
• Experience working on multiple projects and balancing competing priorities.
• Strong skill set in data management and data tracking; demonstrated experience managing data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Education and Experience/Training:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least two (2) years of experience in education, youth-development, and college access.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Working knowledge of the NYC DOE, SUNY, and CUNY systems and the up-to-date changes in the college admissions landscape.
• Experience with facilitating/teaching workshops or classes, as well as with curriculum and program development
• Ability to produce clear, professional, and accessible slides and other presentational media.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive communications with employees.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Other Qualifications:

These are the skills & attributes that all OBT employees need in order to meet the expectations of each other, our participants, and our partners.

Communicate with Clarity – Be clear, concise, and actionable. Be relentlessly constructive. Seek and provide meaningful feedback.

Work with Purpose – Exhibit a “We Can” mindset. Results outweigh effort. Everyone understands how their role contributes. Set aside personal objectives for team results.

Drive to Decision – Cut the swirl with defined deadlines and decision points. Be clear on individual accountability and decision authority. Guided by a commitment to and accountability for mission outcomes.

Own the Outcome – Defined milestones, commitments and intended results. Assess your work in context, if you’re unsure, ask. Demonstrate unwavering support for decisions.