New Futures Scholar Advisor (Hybrid)

New Futures is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting students in their post-secondary education. The Scholar Advisor will manage a caseload of scholars, providing academic and career advising, while also supporting programming and recruitment efforts.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of scholars, providing them with ongoing academic and career advising to ensure success in their post-secondary programs. Regularly communicate with scholars via virtual and in-person meetings, texts, phone calls, and email
• Monitor progress toward their degree and/or program completion, refer to resources, support with the transfer application process, and more
• Proactively support scholars facing academic and personal challenges, and implement academic and engagement interventions as necessary, guided by the New Futures advising model and program expectations
• Maintain accurate records for all scholars, keeping track of all interactions and advising sessions, and documenting degree progress, updates to contact information, and other critical data in Salesforce
• Manage scholarship payments, and monitor disbursements and scholarship balances for all scholars on caseload. Communicate scholarship requirements and scholar expectations to caseload
• Engage in professional development to stay abreast of updates and trends in financial aid, higher education, and career readiness to inform current and future programming
• Assist with the design, facilitation, logistics, and evaluation of academic and career skill-building workshops and other student-centered programs and opportunities for engagement, with equity, inclusivity, and accessibility at the forefront
• Support the recruitment and selection of new Scholars including reviewing, assessing, and interviewing potential scholars, with a sharp focus on equity in the selection of new scholars
• Support other organizational efforts as needed such as development and communication initiatives for administrative duties

Skills

• An Associate (or equivalent college experience ~60 credits) or higher degree
• 1-2 years of experience in advising, college counseling, or volunteering with students in a postsecondary institution, educational nonprofit, and/or other relevant setting with a focus on college access and/or success
• Candidate must reside in the Washington, DC metropolitan area at the time of hire and maintain residency throughout their tenure
• Unwavering commitment to equity, and a desire to challenge barriers within higher education
• Desire to lead with empathy and advocate for the needs of all students
• Experience with and sensitivity to the needs of a diverse scholar and alumni community
• Ability to develop meaningful relationships with our scholar and alumni community, especially in a virtual and/or hybrid environment
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet due dates, and utilize organizational tools (i.e. calendars, work plans, etc.) to successfully execute goals
• Project management skills: stays on top of multiple projects, plans backward, anticipates obstacles, identifies and involves stakeholders appropriately, uses resources wisely
• Demonstrated leadership ability and interest in program development and/or facilitation
• Eagerness to learn and improve, as well as enthusiasm for spearheading new projects
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong detail orientation
• Enthusiasm for team collaboration, including a willingness to pitch in as needed, while maintaining the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Flexibility and adaptability, including a solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving change
• Ability to lead or attend occasional evening and weekend meetings/events
• 1-2 years advising students in postsecondary programs, particularly those pursuing short-term credentials
• Prior experience advising within a scholarship program and supporting a recruitment process
• Knowledge of and familiarity with Salesforce, Google Suite, and Zoom
• Proficiency in Spanish, French, and/or Amharic

Benefits

• Generous time off
• A professional development budget
• Reimbursement packages
• 90% employer-paid health premiums for employees

Company Overview