The Role
Serve as the primary contact guiding adult learners through inquiry, application, admissions, and first-term onboarding. Manage student files, conduct discovery sessions, connect students to resources, analyze data to improve conversion, ensure confidentiality and FERPA compliance, collaborate with partner universities, and support students through registration and course launch.
Summary Generated by Built In
Who We Are
Our mission is simple but critical: to build pathways for adult learners to earn high-quality, workforce-aligned degrees and credentials from North Carolina’s public universities.
At Project Kitty Hawk, our work reflects our company values:
Collaboration – We prioritize our partners’ success and reputation, aligning every initiative with their goals, reflecting their values, and enhancing their impact.
Innovation – We innovate, not replicate. As creative problem solvers, we use data-driven insights to push boundaries, continuously improve our services, develop solutions, and redefine what it means to serve nontraditional learners.
Empathy – We understand the unique challenges of nontraditional learners, and are committed to supporting them with empathy, respect, and solutions that fit their needs.
Integrity – We operate with transparency and accountability in everything we do. We uphold honesty, take ownership of our work, and maintain the highest standards.
Teamwork – We embody the collaboration we seek. We always strive to be dependable, supportive, and solutions-oriented teammates.
Together, we partner with universities in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System to produce innovative, flexible degree and credential programs in high-demand fields. Each PKH team member plays a vital role in advancing this mission and shaping the future of education for adult learners.
These values will enable us to realize PKH’s vision: to make North Carolina’s public universities the top choice for adult learners and to amplify the UNC System’s role as a national leader in higher education innovation, access, and student success. By joining our team, you have an opportunity to contribute to our achievement of that vision, in the process helping to create opportunities for thousands of learners to earn their success and move up the economic ladder.
At Project Kitty Hawk we hire talented people who are not only dedicated to our mission but share our belief that working together makes us stronger and more effective. In this organization you’ll find individuals with a range of interesting backgrounds and life stories; the true magic happens when those individuals come together to solve problems in service of a common goal. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective, talents, and ideas to the table as we strive to make a meaningful impact.
The Role
The Application Specialist – Mountain & Pacific is a dedicated professional who understands the needs, challenges, and benefits of degree completion for adult learners.
This role is responsible for guiding prospective students from initial inquiry through the admissions process and continuing support through enrollment and the successful start of their first term (through the add/drop period) at Project Kitty Hawk partner universities.
The Application Specialist – Mountain & Pacific serves students by striving to understand their unique situations, aspirations, and educational backgrounds, and by connecting them to the appropriate programs and resources that align with their goals. They serve as the primary point of contact through the enrollment cycle and helps to guide students through the discovery phase, maintains their student file as updates occur, tracks the student’s progress through the Admissions funnel, and ensures students are not only admitted but fully prepared, registered, and successfully launched into their first week of coursework.
What you'll do:
- Prospect for and guide students through application processes of Project Kitty Hawk’s partner universities.
- Manage student files as they navigate through the applications processes by ensuring the potential student is informed, completing their action items, and clear on the admissions expectations.
- Help students assess their readiness for classes and connect them to relevant resources to assist in their successful enrollment.
- Complete discovery sessions with students to identify their educational and career goals, create a clear roadmap for success, and monitor their progress.
- Analyze and interpret data to effectively support students and improve conversion rates.
- Ensure confidentiality and proper documentation of all student information.
- Adhere to and enforce the appropriate security policies based on the sensitivity of company data
- Report any security related issues to the appropriate individuals
- Ensure the appropriateness, accuracy, and timeliness of institutional data used for the conduct of business.
- Collaborate with external partners and universities to ensure that the best practices, excellent student service, and high standards are met and upheld.
- Participate in professional development activities, attend relevant conferences, and engage with industry associations to expand knowledge and network with peers.
- The primary hours for this role are 8am-5pm Pacific & Mountain time zones, with one weekend day preferred.
What you bring:
- A bachelor’s degree.
- At least 1 year of experience working in higher education with adult students in an online setting.
- Demonstrated success in individual and organizational goal-focused performance.
- Knowledge of the challenges and needs specific to adult learners in higher education.
- Knowledge of and experience with CRM, LMS, and SIS platforms and other technologies used in online higher education and student management.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with adult students.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Knowledge of relevant academic policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
- Ability to exercise discretion, professionalism, and good judgement and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
What We Offer
Project Kitty Hawk offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes full medical/dental/vision coverage, a 401K with match, and a generous time-off policy with paid volunteer time. In addition, we are committed to providing competitive salaries with the potential for performance bonus and remote working flexibility.
Project Kitty Hawk is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Project Kitty Hawk is dedicated to this policy concerning recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact Kelly Snow at [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- At least 1 year of experience working in higher education with adult students in an online setting
- Demonstrated success in individual and organizational goal-focused performance
- Knowledge of the challenges and needs specific to adult learners in higher education
- Knowledge of and experience with CRM, LMS, and SIS platforms and other technologies used in online higher education and student management
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with adult students
- Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills
- Knowledge of relevant academic policies and procedures
- Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Ability to exercise discretion, professionalism, and maintain confidentiality
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment
- Primary hours 8am-5pm Pacific & Mountain time zones
- Willingness to work one weekend day (preferred)
- Participate in professional development activities and industry events
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The Company
What We Do
Project Kitty Hawk is an education technology and services nonprofit affiliated with the University of North Carolina System. Its mission is to help UNC System universities launch and scale high-quality, workforce-aligned online degree programs and credentials specifically designed for working adults in North Carolina. The organization provides strategic guidance, innovative technology solutions, and support services to expand educational access and improve student outcomes for adult learners.
