College Success and Advocacy Coordinator

Position Overview   

The College Success and Advocacy Coordinator, reporting to the Director of Youth Workforce Services or as directed, will oversee initiatives related to college and post-high school transitions. This role will prioritize activities such as leading the college transition support, fostering persistence, aiding in degree completion, and enhancing leadership capacities. Additionally, the Coordinator will offer guidance to students enrolled in or transitioning to colleges, universities, and other post-high school programs. Furthermore, they will streamline collaboration and communication between the College Access and youth advocacy teams to provide comprehensive support. 

Duties  

College Success

Event Coordination and Programming:

• Plan and execute in-person and virtual events for high school students and alumni, including panels, mixers, and career-related activities.
• Lead the PLN College Access team to establish peer-to-peer support networks for alumni and incoming college students.
• Design and implement programming to support participants' transitions from high school to college, ensuring their success and readiness for future careers.

Participant Engagement and Communication:

• Develop and implement strategies to engage participants through email, LinkedIn, social media, and other platforms.
• Create and maintain communication strategies to keep students and alumni informed about program activities.
• Manage email distribution lists, track participant interests, and tailor communication to maintain high levels of engagement.
• Maintain effective communication systems for the College Access and College Success teams.

Relationship Building:

• Foster relationships with youth, families, and school partners to enhance program reach and impact.

Data Management and Reporting:

• Collect and submit required data and reports in a timely and accurate manner.
• Stay informed about the latest trends and practices in post-high school education to enhance program offerings.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and events, adjusting as necessary to improve outcomes.

Advocacy

Program Management and Execution:

• Support the YWS Director in managing and executing the ACT-CA Policy Initiative focused on the Cannabis Tax Revenue (CTR) grant.
• Lead the design and implementation of programs for PLN’s youth advocacy councils to actively participate in the CTR initiative.

Youth Engagement and Advocacy:

• Collaborate with the PLN External Affairs team to support a cohort of youth from various organizations across Los Angeles.
• Engage community leaders and policymakers at local, state, and federal levels to advocate for CTR-related issues.
• Represent PLN in working groups and coalitions, ensuring the experiences and needs of young people are highlighted and addressed.

Communication and Outreach:

• Work with the communications team to update both external and internal communications, such as newsletters and social media, to reflect PLN’s CTR advocacy efforts.
• Ensure consistent and effective messaging about the initiative’s goals, progress, and impact.

Evaluation and Strategy Refinement:

• Evaluate and maintain progress towards reaching established goals, measuring effectiveness, and refining strategies for future efforts.
• Collect and analyze data to inform ongoing and successive advocacy strategies.

Additional Duties:

• Perform other assigned duties as needed to support the overall mission and goals of the program.

Qualifications, Education, and Experience Requirements  

• Passionate about increasing the college success of and college degree completion rate for first-generation, low-income students.
• Experience working with students from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds and knowledgeable about the first-generation college student experience.
• Knowledgeable about high school and college campus resources and retention initiatives (e.g., career center, EOP, financial aid, counseling services, academic advising).
• Knowledgeable of current college and financial aid application processes.
• Knowledgeable about current research, trends, and evaluation tools related to college access, college success, college student development, and retention in higher education.
• Experience facilitating large group meetings and/or conferences on Zoom (or related platforms) and/or in person.
• Strong written, public speaking, and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Flexible hours/evenings/weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel or attend external events (conferences, campus visits, events, etc.)
• Demonstrated expertise in their subject area. 
• Bilingual English/Spanish desirable. 
• Excellent oral and communication skills. 
• Ability to work with diverse populations. 
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with students, families, administrators, colleagues, community, and other school system staff in a non-traditional, inner-city environment. 
• A strong sense of personal accountability for student and community achievement. 

Education and Certification Requirements  

• Bachelor's degree in in education, counseling, social work, psychology; master’s degree is preferred in higher education administration, counseling, social work, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in youth advocacy, program coordination, event planning, or a related field.
• 3 + years’ experience in advising, tracking, and monitoring academic progress, career interest, and developing academic plans for college students. 

Other Requirements 

• TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.  
• Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles and Influenza).  
• DOJ clearance and all other required background checks.  
• Understanding of and ability to use technology such as data systems, pay roll systems, and other agency required programs. 

Physical Requirements  

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.   

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.    

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.  
• Must be able to speak and hear well.    
• Good vision is imperative.    
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.    
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.  

 Expectations for All Para Los Niños Staff   

Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:  

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.  
• Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.  
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.  
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.  
• Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.  
• Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.  
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.  
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with families and children informed by the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.  
• Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.  
• Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.  
• Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.  

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer    

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.