Program Coordinator, College Affordability

About Mission Scholars

A program of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation, Mission Scholars was founded in December 2018. Our mission is to use comprehensive college admissions guidance, mentorship, and career development training to help outstanding low-income students reach their full potential and become a force for change in our community. We are proud to report that 93% of our Scholars are enrolled in a four-year university, and that over 80% of their four-year cost of attendance is covered by grants and scholarships.

Our Scholars are high-achieving, hard-working, and determined to achieve their goal of graduating from a four-year university. Ninety percent qualify for SBUSD’s Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program, and 90% will be first-generation college graduates. For our Class of 2020 and 2021 Scholars: 43% attend private universities throughout the United States, 32% are enrolled at UC schools, 18% are enrolled at Cal State universities, and 7% are enrolled at SBCC.

Position

We are currently seeking a Program Coordinator to join our team and focus on ensuring our Mission Scholars’ students are able to afford their four-year college experiences and graduate as debt-free as possible. This position reports to the Executive Director (ED) and Director of Operations (DOO), and provides the support Mission Scholars needs to build and maintain a successful College Affordability Program.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as primary Mission Scholars’ staff liaison for Scholars;
• Help organize and conduct College Affordability workshops and individual meetings;
• Build strong working relationships with high school counselors and other community-based organization program leaders;
• Maintain weekly individual contact with Scholars to assure program responsibilities are met;
• Provide parent education and community workshops on four-year college affordability;
• Maintain regular contact with Mission Scholars’ families to provide updates on programming;
• Document Scholars’ compliance with program responsibilities and develop financial aid, scholarship, and budgeting plans;
• Meet periodically with Scholars, mentors, and parent/guardians to discuss Scholars’ progress in the College Affordability program;
• Build and monitor College Scholarship Database and create individual scholarship plans for Mission Scholars’ students; 
• Support program planning and implement activities to reach program goals;
• Maintain student demographics and statistics for reporting and evaluation, including organizing Scholars’ financial aid and scholarship data;
• Assist DOO in accurately recording data and effectively use Scholar folders to track program activities and student outcomes;
• Analyze and use data to help determine next steps for individual Scholars and for the program; and
• Deliver regular programmatic reports on Scholar progress and concerns 

Qualifications

• Have a Bachelor’s degree;
• Fluency in Spanish,
• Are passionate about college access and graduation for low-income students, first-generation students, and students from ethnically underrepresented groups in higher education;
• Are able to form strong relationships with a wide range of constituents, including, but not limited to: Scholars, families, staff, leadership, donors, high school counselors and administrators, local program leaders, and college admissions officers;
• Seek to work at a fast-paced, highly collaborative, compassionate, start-up organization, where entrepreneurialism, innovation, and honest feedback are appreciated;
• Self-motivated creative thinker who can work both independently and as part of a team.

Other Requirements

• Passionate about equal access to higher education
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and workshops
• Willing to provide administrative support as needed
• Willing to advocate relentlessly on behalf of our Scholars
• Access to reliable transportation 
• Possess impeccable written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets

Salary Range: $48,000-$58,000

Benefits: Health Insurance (Medical, Vision, Dental)

Start Date: April/May 2023

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume that outlines your candidacy to kkinsella@missionscholars.org. Your cover letter should explain in detail your qualifications for the position as they relate to the job description as well as any anecdotes you feel differentiate your candidacy.