About Democracy Prep Public Schools
Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS) is a network of college preparatory schools committed to ensuring all students have the option to go to college. We also acknowledge and celebrate multiple post-secondary pathways. We prioritize civic engagement, experiential learning, and global citizenship alongside excellent academics. Our Motto is: Work Hard. Go to College. Change the World. Central to achieving this vision is helping our scholars succeed beyond high school.
About This Opportunity
The Associate Director of Alumni Support is a motivated counselor who will cultivate a vibrant and connected community of over 3000 Democracy Prep Public Schools alumni. This role will play a pivotal role in increasing college persistence and graduation rates while also providing meaningful support to graduates pursuing diverse postsecondary pathways, whether that means attending college, enrolling in vocational training, or exploring alternative career development routes. This role will also create and implement innovative programs that keep our graduates engaged, informed, and connected to the Democracy Prep community. This position reports to the Chief Program Officer and works closely with members of the school counseling team.
Who You Are:
- An educator with an unwavering commitment to the Democracy Prep mission of college success and authentic civic engagement for our scholars.
- A dedicated high school counselor and/or college admissions representative who has worked either in selective college admissions, college counseling for low-income, first-generation students, or both.
- A committed professional who possesses extensive knowledge of the college admissions and financial aid processes with a track record of high-quality college advising.
- A clear communicator and skilled writer with the ability to provide strong feedback on student work and craft exceptional student recommendations and other written communications.
- An enthusiastic networker with established, long-term associations with a variety of key admissions personnel at various higher ed organizations across the country, especially in New York, and the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and connect students to unique programs on college campuses.
- An organized professional who can build data-driven recommendations around the college process, and alumni support, with the goal of college persistence for all scholars.
- A graduate of a Bachelor’s degree program (required).
What You will Do
Program Management
- Design, execute, and refine a college persistence strategy that will impact approximately 1800 DPPS alumni annually
- Manage the Alumni Microgrant Program, which provides cash assistance to students who encounter unexpected financial burdens associated with college enrollment
- Manage the Alumni Captain Program, a peer-to-peer support initiative where class captain conduct routine outreach to fellow alumni throughout their college journey
- Curate and facilitate annual Alumni Reunion Events
- Cultivate a corps of class captains from each graduating class
Data-driven Outreach & Outcomes Management
- Use alumni data to identify and provide targeted support to alumni at risk of stopping out
- Monitor, manage, and report accurate postsecondary outcomes
- Create execution plans for alumni engagement based on regular outreach notes and weekly check-ins with the VP, College Access and Success
Data & Analysis
- Collect, analyze, and interpret alumni data (surveys, coaching notes, Dashboard)
- Produce regular reports for stakeholders highlighting outreach efforts, graduate trends, and program insights
- Maintain accurate records of interactions, academic data, and barriers in the alumni database and report postsecondary outcomes
- Track progress toward re-enrollment goals and refine interventions based on evidence and outcomes
Qualifications
- Comprehensive knowledge of college admissions and financial aid processes
- Clear writer who can provide meaningful feedback and craft professional recommendations
- Strong relationships with higher education admissions officers, particularly in New York
- Data-driven problem solver focused on student persistence and success
- Proven ability to lead strategic initiatives and innovate systems
- Bachelor's degree or higher (required)
Compensation
Salary range is $115,000 - $135,000 commensurate with your experience. Democracy Prep employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, 403B matching, and parental leave.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- Comprehensive knowledge of college admissions and financial aid processes
- Experience as a high school counselor and/or college admissions representative
- Experience with selective college admissions or college counseling for low-income, first-generation students
- Track record of high-quality college advising
- Strong written communication and recommendation-writing skills
- Established relationships with higher education admissions personnel, particularly in New York
- Data-driven problem-solving skills focused on student persistence and success
- Ability to lead strategic initiatives and innovate systems
What We Do
Democracy Prep Public Schools is a charter school network dedicated to educating responsible citizen-scholars. Its mission is to prepare students for success in the college of their choice and a life of active citizenship. The organization hires mission-driven educators who maintain high academic and behavioral expectations, supporting scholars through classroom instruction and civic engagement while advancing its vision of what public education can achieve.
