College Affordability Advisor

POSITION SUMMARY: 

uAspire College Affordability Advisors work directly with youth to help them navigate the process of finding and financing an affordable path to college. Advisors receive in-depth training on college affordability to successfully support students. Our College Affordability Advisors are either assigned to multiple schools to work with high school seniors in person and/or virtually or serve a cohort of postsecondary students using our innovative text messaging platform. Whether the advisor is serving high school or postsecondary students they support key college affordability-related tasks such as financial aid form completion, scholarship research, and analysis of financial aid award letters. 

This position requires a highly motivated individual with a passion for supporting youth, a commitment to continuous learning about navigating the college access and success process, someone who is comfortable working independently, and who enjoys leveraging data and technology to support student success will be a strong fit in this role. The successful applicant will be someone who is excited about making a real impact on the lives of young people, strives to put learning into action, and thrives on new challenges. This is an entry-level position at uAspire with the first year focused on training. 

We are seeking applicants who would be willing to make a one-year commitment to this role and uAspire given the significant amount of specialized training and time commitment, and so that we can also make the same commitment to our students and parents during a time where consistency is critically important. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

College Affordability Advising: 

● Provide in-person, text-message and Zoom-based advising based on uAspire’s college affordability curriculum to high school students attending Greater Boston area high schools and/or postsecondary students who graduated from Greater Boston area high schools.

● Assist students in on-time completion of state, federal, and institutional financial aid forms. 

● Maximize texting platform capabilities to foster strong advising relationships and rapport with students. 

● Work collaboratively with staff from partner schools and community-based organizations to share pertinent information and strategize about student progress. 

● Advocate for and coach students to engage with relevant individuals, offices, and resources to support their individual needs. 

● Develop and implement creative approaches to drive student engagement with program text messages. 

● Identify and maximize opportunities to engage students via other tech and communication means.

● Organize financial aid events with students and families in collaboration with school and community partners. Advisors should expect to participate in several evening events per month (both in-person and virtual). 

Administrative Responsibilities: 

● Maintain detailed records in uAspire’s Salesforce database and texting platform to track student data and progress to program goals. 

● Regularly review advisor performance data to monitor own progress to goals. Pull and utilize pertinent Salesforce student data reports to inform outreach to students. 

● Complete survey collection & other administrative responsibilities. 

Program Support :

● Contribute to regionally specific research and resource gathering to improve training and knowledge for staff and promote efficiencies in our direct service to students.

● Facilitate college affordability presentations and student events in collaboration with regional and program partners. Advisors should expect to participate in several evening events per month (both in-person and virtual). 

● Maintain positive and collaborative working relationships. 

● Support Program leadership by assisting with special projects as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE: 

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply. 

Experience, Education & Skills: 

● Able to quickly process dense amounts of information and turn it into clear action steps for students. Takes the initiative to translate student experience to best influence program design. 

● Positive engagement with students, teammates, and partners both internal and external to uAspire. 

● Comfortable learning and/or using platforms such as Salesforce, in addition to daily platforms such as google sheets, in order to efficiently and accurately complete work.

● Excitement to become an expert on college affordability and contribute to a learning environment in both formal and informal ways with proactive enthusiasm.

● Knowledge of barriers faced by low-income, first generation college bound students, particularly students of color. Successful track record of diverse high school and/or college populations from underrepresented communities.

● Experience demonstrating building or supporting systems, policies, and practices that prioritize a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment. 

● Some college-going experience is required; degree attainment is optional.

● Knowledge of local community desired (Greater Boston area high schools and  MA higher education system).

● Possess strong oral and written communication skills. 

● Organizational skills and ability to plan in a fast-paced environment. 

● Energetic, enthusiastic, and interested in learning within a growing, entrepreneurial organization. 

● Ability to work flexible hours that will include some evenings and occasional weekends due to school-based events. 

● Proficiency with fundamental professional software: Google Mail/Docs, and Microsoft Office Suite – Word, Excel, PowerPoint – required. 

● Bilingual abilities are a plus. 

● Ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as part of a team.

COMPETENCIES: 

Core Competencies:

• Excellence - Steps up and follows through to consistently deliver high-quality work. 
• Equity & Inclusion - Champion the values of diversity and the creation of inclusive spaces. 
• Growth Mindset - Embrace challenges and setbacks as the fuel for learning and development. 
• Teamwork - Contribute actively and collaboratively with colleagues to active shared goals

• Equity Mindset - Identify and examine personal biases, stereotypes, prejudices and cultural norms in ways that consider their impact on persons with marginalized identities. 
• Awareness of Inequity - Recognize the social effects of race, ethnicity, class, gender and other identities and the systems of oppression that perpetuate these inequities. 
• Advance Diversity and Inclusion - Proactively seeks out diverse perspectives and relationships within the workplace and the broader community served. 

ANTICIPATED START DATE: August 19, 2024 
COMPENSATION: The salary for this position is $52,500. Salary commensurate with experience and education. 
GRADE: I 
STATUS: Non-exempt, full time 
LOCATION: Greater Boston Area
REPORTS TO: Regional Advising Manager, MA

ABOUT UASPIRE 

Organization Vision: uAspire envisions a society where structural obstacles are removed from postsecondary pathways for systematically oppressed students so they can experience an improved quality of life for themselves and future generation 

Organization Summary: Our mission is to improve the economic mobility of underrepresented communities by creating financial solutions to diverse educational pathways. 

● Student Advising: We guide students, families, and communities to navigate complex financial aid systems in pursuit of equitable access to affordable postsecondary pathways through in-person and virtual advising. 

● Scholarship & Emergency Aid: We commit to placing money into the hands of students allowing them to use these funds to cover tuition bills and other unexpected expenses. 

● Training & Technical Assistance: We equip partners with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the financial aid process with their students by curating engaging trainings and student-centered resources. 

● Policy: We advocate for institutional, state, and federal policy change to transform financial aid and higher education systems, based on our students' lived experiences. 

● Consulting: We collaborate with partners to assess their needs and offer uniquely designed solutions in the areas of content development, program improvement and systems change, by leveraging our financial aid expertise, student-advising experience, and student-centered research. 

uAspire is an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces and encourages applicants of every background. The company’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity means that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, benefits, wage and salary administration, scheduling, disciplinary action and termination will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to hr@uaspire.org.

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