Job Type Full-time Description Position Title: Director of Career Success Reports To: Vice President of Scholar Support Services Organization Overview: Steppingstone prepares students from marginalized communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college through two initiatives, the Steppingstone Scholars Program and the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA). The Steppingstone Scholars Program is a direct-service program in Boston that provides academic, social-emotional, and college-readiness services to students, called Scholars, beginning as early as fifth grade and continuing all the way through college graduation. The Steppingstone Scholars Program consists of five components: Admissions, the Academy, Middle School Success, High School Success, and College Success. NPEA connects the people, practices, and innovations for eliminating barriers to educational access, and college and career success for underserved students. Position Overview: Steppingstone believes that a college degree is the first step toward career success and for 30+ years, the Steppingstone Scholars Program has prepared Boston students for schools that lead to college. However, research shows that first-generation college students are less likely to receive job offers and more likely to be unemployed. They earn 72% of what their continuing-gen classmates earn, and by mid-career, their income is 50% of their continuing-gen classmates. Over 40% of first-gen graduates work in jobs that do not require a college degree. The lack of social capital and professional networks is highly correlated with lower social and economic mobility. Given these realities, Steppingstone seeks to increase the number of Scholars graduating from college who are ready to engage successfully in the workforce and achieve their professional goals. The Director of Career Success is a pivotal and new role responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive career readiness programming across the span of a Steppingstone Scholar's experience. The director will start by working closely with the College Success team and eventually work with other program directors to integrate career readiness into various aspects of programs from Admission through college graduation. The director will also collaborate with the Corporate Relations Manager and other Advancement team members to develop corporate programming and opportunities for Scholars and manage ongoing partnerships. The director will work a Monday-Friday schedule. Some evening and Saturday work is required, and work schedules can be adjusted accordingly within that week. The Steppingstone office is hybrid with the expectation that employees will work in the office a minimum of two days per week, with some flexibility around work hours. A $500 home office set-up stipend will be provided upon hire, followed by quarterly stipends of $50. Laptops are provided to each employee to enhance the hybrid experience. The Steppingstone office is accessible by public transit and has very limited parking availability. Program staff support the admission of new students and families to the Steppingstone Scholars Program, including interviewing prospective students and families. Due to the nature of those interviews, PTOs are granted on a very limited basis in February. Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000 Start Date: October, 2024 Responsibilities: Staff Management
- Supervise one direct report to successfully meet department metrics and goals; co-facilitate cross-program teams
- Build and maintain a collaborative and highly supportive team environment centered around the success of Scholars that promotes continuous learning
- Work closely with and support the Director of College Success and team to ensure they have the knowledge and skills needed to support Scholars' career readiness, expanding to supporting other program divisions as the department grows over time
Program & Partnership Management
- Oversee the recruitment, orientation, execution, and evaluation of STRIVE (Scholars Thriving through Relationships, Internships, and Valuable Experiences), our new year-long career mentoring program for college Scholars
- Research and develop a career framework for each program division for successful and thoughtful integration of career readiness activities while ensuring appropriate content for each grade level
- Ensure program quality and continuity by working closely with Advisors and Directors across all teams in implementation and content delivery
- Develop, coordinate, and facilitate career skills development workshops including resume preparation, job and/or internship search strategies, interview skills, networking, and more
- Collaborate with the Corporate Relations Manager to develop corporate programming for Scholars including internships, shadow days, field trips, career panels, networking opportunities, and more
- Collaborate with the Corporate Relations Manager to develop and lead trainings and other convenings for mentors, internship providers, and other partners
- Develop and lead targeted and culturally responsive training to ensure Scholars are well-prepared for internships and other career opportunities offered through partners
- Manage and develop relationships with strategic partners such as The Opportunity Network, The Healing Project, and others.
Knowledge Management
- Implement systems to track and analyze program progress and outcomes in collaboration with internal departments including Data and Evaluation
- Collaborate with the Advancement team to share data, outcomes, and program highlights for grant proposals and reporting to enhance fundraising and marketing efforts
- Support Advisors and Directors' continuous learning in the field of career readiness by staying abreast of national news and trends; develop and lead staff trainings throughout the year
- Ensure optimal use of organizational resources (staff time, budget, technology, etc.) to achieve programmatic results
- Contribute to other cross-team office-wide efforts such as internal task forces and committees
Required Knowledge and Skills:
- Demonstrated commitment to educational and racial equity in college access and success; familiarity with current career readiness trends, research, and best practices
- Vision and desire to lead this new initiative from concept to measurable success
- Strong staff management skills and experience successfully leading an effective team
- Effective program development and project management skills combined with strategic thinking, flexibility, and ability to problem-solve, set and drive priorities, and monitor progress towards goals
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong relationship-building and group facilitation capabilities across differing stakeholders, including various internal departments, external community-based organizations, and partners
- Ability to utilize qualitative/quantitative analysis and creativity to ensure continuous learning and program improvement
- Orientation towards continuous learning for self and others
Education and Work Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Education, Counseling, Human Resources, or a related field
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in career services, education, or a related area
Physical Demands:
- Lifting up to 20 pounds, standing, walking, sitting, reaching, operating computer and office equipment
- Pursuant to the ADA, Steppingstone will provide reasonable services and accommodation(s) to employees with qualified disabilities in order to perform the essential functions of their employment, except when doing so would be unduly disruptive and/or result in undue hardship to the organization.
To Apply: Please input your resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, and how you learned about this position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Employee Benefits:
- Generous paid time off
- 15 days PTO
- 5 wellness days
- 12.5 holidays
- 2 weeks paid office closure
- Health, Dental and Vision coverage
- Life, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
- Retirement Plan
- Tuition & Professional Development reimbursement
- Flexible Spending Accounts - Health and Dependent Care
- Pre-tax Transportation Plan (Transit & Parking)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Membership to the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA)
Steppingstone Core Values Power of One
- We honor every voice and believe we are strongest when we work together.
- We recognize, respect, and nurture the fullness and complexity of each member of our community.
- We believe in the power of belonging and seek to create a welcoming and inclusive culture.
Walk the Walk
- We partner with every Scholar and family, supporting them holistically throughout their own educational journey.
- We work with a clear and measurable purpose, using data to drive collective decision-making and challenge assumptions.
- We create spaces for difficult conversations to transform our thinking and move us forward.
Embrace Growth
- We strive to operate as an anti-racist organization and commit to continuous learning and action in the service of this goal.
- We provide opportunities for everyone in our community to flourish and reach their full potential.
- We make time for reflection, learn from past experiences, and take initiative in response to changing needs and new ideas.
The Steppingstone Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or handicap, as defined by law. The Steppingstone Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or handicap, as defined by law. Salary Description $75,000 - $80,000