College and Career Counselor

ORGANIZATION

KIPP is a non-profit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools with a 20-year track record of preparing our students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. KIPP currently educates 80,000 students in 200 schools across the country, including Indianapolis.  KIPP Indy Public Schools (KIPP Indy) was founded in 2004 with one class of fifth grade students and has grown to educate over 600 students across two schools. In the 2017-18 school year, KIPP Indy College Prep Middle will educate students in grades 6-8. Of the students that attend KIPP Indy, 95% qualify for free and reduced lunch, 94% are African American, and 20% receive special education services. We plan to grow KIPP Indy’s network to a total of five schools by 2021, ultimately reaching 2,500 students from grades kindergarten through twelfth in our community.

VISION

At KIPP Indy Legacy High School, we aspire to be a beacon of academic excellence and character development for students in Indianapolis. Our vision is to empower young leaders to become critical thinkers, effective communicators, and compassionate citizens who make a positive impact in their communities and the world. We believe that every student possesses unique talents and perspectives, and our mission is to nurture these gifts through a rigorous and engaging curriculum. By fostering a culture of high expectations, we inspire our students to pursue their passions, take ownership of their learning, and strive for personal and academic excellence. We prioritize character education, emphasizing the importance of integrity, resilience, and empathy. Through meaningful relationships and mentorship, we guide our students on their journey to success in college and beyond.

At KIPP Indy Legacy, we cultivate a strong sense of community and belonging, recognizing that our collective efforts can overcome challenges. Together, we are building a legacy of achievement, preparing our students to lead fulfilling lives and contribute to a more just society.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Postsecondary Match Counselor plays a critical role in ensuring that every student graduates with a clear, well-matched postsecondary plan and successfully matriculates to that pathway. This role provides individualized and group-based advising to juniors and seniors, guiding them through college and career exploration, application processes, financial aid, and the transition to postsecondary life.

Counselors manage a caseload of approximately 160 juniors and seniors and work closely with families, school staff, and external partners to ensure students access and enroll in postsecondary opportunities aligned with their academic profile, financial needs, and long-term career goals. This position reports to the Director of College and Career Counseling.

KEY OUTCOMES

Success in this role is defined by the following outcomes:

• Students matriculate to best-fit postsecondary programs aligned with their academic profile, interests, and long-term career goals
• Students develop clear, actionable college and career plans grounded in purpose and opportunity
• Students avoid undermatch by enrolling in institutions that maximize their likelihood of persistence and completion
• Students and families complete all financial aid and scholarship requirements
• Students successfully complete all application and matriculation milestones
• Students persist through the summer transition and avoid summer melt

RESPONSIBILITIES

Counseling Responsibilities

• Counsel and guide 11th & 12th grade students on the postsecondary admissions process (wishlist development, applications, personal statements, letters of recommendation, transcript submission, financial aid, and matriculation) through regular one-on-one sessions
• Support students in developing balanced, high-quality college and career wishlists aligned with their academic profile and long-term goals
• Support students in developing individualized “passion and purpose” college and career plans aligned with their interests, strengths, and long-term goals
• Meet with each student and their family at least twice per year to support postsecondary planning and decision-making
• Keep students and families informed of admissions requirements, deadlines, and key milestones
• Support students through postsecondary decision-making and matriculation steps (e.g., deposits, orientation, financial aid verification, loan counseling)
• Create access to college and career resources and opportunities for historically underrepresented populations
• Support SAT/ACT registration, preparation, and score reporting in partnership with the school team
• Build relationships with college admissions representatives and coordinate student participation in visits, info sessions, interviews, and fly-in opportunities
• Provide small-group and classroom-based instruction (push-in or pull-out) focused on college and career readiness, including postsecondary planning and application processes

Family Engagement

• Build strong relationships with families through consistent communication and partnership
• Conduct individual family meetings to support postsecondary planning and decision-making
• Lead workshops on topics including college admissions, financial aid, career pathways, and postsecondary transitions
• Support families in completing FAFSA and other financial aid applications

Data Management & Accountability

• Manage a caseload of approximately 160 juniors and seniors, providing consistent progress monitoring and support
• Track and maintain accurate student data across systems (e.g., Overgrad and other platforms)
• Meet all internal data reporting deadlines and contribute to a data-driven team culture
• Analyze student data to identify trends, monitor progress, and inform targeted interventions
• Monitor student progress toward key milestones and proactively intervene when students are off track
• Participate in monthly Match meetings and ensure all data reporting requirements are met
• Identify gaps in student access or outcomes and contribute to the development of targeted supports, programming or intervention

Additional Responsibilities

• Support implementation of KIPP Forward programming, including college workshops, financial aid nights, career exploration events, and family engagement opportunities
• Implement KIPP Foundation initiatives such as Match Matters, Early Decision, KIPP Scholarship nominations, and Strong Transition
• Participate in Match Matters meetings and other required team meetings.
• Collaborate bi-weekly with 11th/12th grade seminar teacher, DCC, to ensure alignment of curriculum and individual student progress.
• Attend IEP exit meetings for seniors, contributing to students’ transition planning and postsecondary goals
• Participate in grade-level meetings and professional development to align college and career readiness efforts across the school
• Collaborate to design programming and pathways for students pursuing non–four-year options, including CTE and workforce opportunities
• Build and maintain partnerships with colleges, CTE programs, and community-based organizations

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Driving Outcomes: Sets high expectations. Establishes and holds high expectations for what students and adults can achieve, setting rigorous goals that cascade from the network and/or region.
• Driving Outcomes: Follows through on commitments. Follows through on commitments to students and adults and ensures others do the same; rallies around decisions and works towards intended outcomes.
• Driving Outcomes: Creates & monitors enabling systems. Determines relevant data and supports systems for collecting, reviewing, and acting on progress to ensure desired outcomes.
• Strategic Planning & Prioritization: Prioritizes and aligns time. Focuses time on highest-impact goals, refining systems for organization and building team capacity to do the same.
• Problem-solving and Decision-making: Gathers information. Gathers information from multiple relevant sources and diverse stakeholders to inform decisions and solutions.
• Trusting Relationships: Communicates intentionally and directly. Communicates with clarity and consistency, balancing honesty with empathy and initiating courageous conversations.
• Critical Consciousness: Brings an assets-based lens. Continuously learns about and sees the strengths within their communities and leads in partnership with students and families.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree, preferred
• Bachelor Degree required or 5+ years of experience in college access, college counseling, or related fields
• Demonstrated success working with students and families from historically underrepresented backgrounds
• Experience supporting postsecondary advising, admissions, or financial aid processes
• Strong data analysis and systems management skills (experience with platforms such as Overgrad, Salesforce, or similar preferred)
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends (<10%)
• Bilingual Spanish speakers are highly encouraged to apply

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Commitment to high quality education and belief that all students can achieve.
• Willingness to engage in ongoing professional learning and development
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, outcomes-driven environment

COMPENSATION

The salary for this position is 62,000

Salary is commensurate with experience and includes a highly competitive benefits package.

Benefits Include: 

• Up to 12-weeks paid parenting leave 
• Two PPO Health Plan Options 
• Vision 
• Dental 
• Accident Insurance 
• Critical Illness 
• FSA 
• HSA 
• Life Insurance 
• Short & Long-Term Disability 
• Licensure & Tuition Assistance 
• 403B/401K Roth Retirement Options with employer match up to 10% 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Extended Employee Assistance Program 
• Paid Time Off with unlimited rollover 
• End of the year Merit Increase 
• Annual Wellness Screenings  

KIPP Indianapolis is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.