Director of Post Secondary Success

Phoenix Charter Academy Lawrence

Director of Post-Secondary Success

The Opportunity

The Post-Secondary Success leader will play an instrumental role in developing and implementing systems, policies, and programs that advance college and career readiness, access, and persistence for low-income, first-generation, immigrant students, and students of color across our school community.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and results-oriented leader who has demonstrated success in building and sustaining partnerships, designing impactful programs, and establishing structures that support students in achieving their post-secondary goals. The ideal candidate will be committed to creating equitable pathways to college and career success and will lead initiatives that increase scholar readiness, access, enrollment, and persistence beyond high school.

Your Contribution

In addition to demonstrating the qualities of a Phoenix staff member, the Director of Post-Secondary Success will be responsible for the following:

Expand programming for increased scholar success

• Creating and implementing a 1-, 3- and 5-year vision for College and Career Success at Phoenix Academy

• Build and manage multiple partnerships with community colleges and other post-secondary transition programs to expand Phoenix’s support programming for scholar's post-graduation

• Develop career and certification pathways for scholars with non-traditional high school backgrounds

• Expand Phoenix’s career exploration by creating partnerships, systems and structures for scholar internship opportunities

• Stay up to date on Massachusetts career trends and the workforce development programs that support them

• Execute the post-secondary vision outlined in the organization strategic plan

• Support advisory units specific to college and career exploration as needed

• Serve as a member on Phoenix network college and career planning team

Oversee College, Career and Transition Support

• Design systems and structures that help create post-secondary pathways, including helping the collaborative practice team create internal pathways through course structures

• Work with outside agencies to foster partnerships, internships and externships for career and college opportunities

• Maintain regular communication with outside agencies, colleges, and any other stakeholders involved in the lives of graduating scholars and alumni

• Create systems, structures, procedures and protocols for tracking alumni achieving (to and through) post-secondary goals.

• Oversee the postsecondary accountability at your School

Required Qualifications

• Deep commitment to Phoenix’s mission and communities

• 5+ years of experience leading college access and success programs with demonstrated deep understanding of the needs of low-income, American-born Black, first generation, immigrant students and students of color.

• Demonstrated experience within higher education settings including knowledge of higher education best-practices for advancing the persistence and completion of first-generation students

• Knowledge of and experience working in or collaborating with local workforce development organizations

• Proven experience leading collaborations and strategic planning processes involving multiple stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s Degree required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred but not required

• English & Spanish bilingual skills

• Management/ supervisory experience

Who We Are

Phoenix Charter Academy aims to show the world what all young people can do, and to defy the limitations of societal assumptions, classism, and racism. Phoenix Charter Academy was founded on the unwavering belief that all students can succeed at high levels. While this mantra is typical of high-performing schools, particularly those in the charter sector, Phoenix truly endeavors to reach every student, focusing on a growing number on the margins of the traditional public district education system: students who have dropped out of high school, students who are parenting children of their own, students who are or have been involved with the juvenile justice system, students who are older and new to the country and cannot gain access to public schooling, and students who are under-credited relative to the number of years they have spent enrolled in high school. We believe that these students, like all students, are completely capable of developing the skills necessary to set themselves up for lifetimes of economic prosperity and success. We support our students with individually tailored and academically rigorous curricula and push them to succeed at the highest levels by providing them with the resources and mentoring that they need to reach their full potential.

Why Our Work is Important

Students across America are dropping out of high school at an alarming rate. Dropping out of high school has a substantial impact on a young person’s life. Over the course of their lifetime, an individual who drops out of high school is more likely to have reduced earning power, greater social service dependency, increased rates of criminal involvement, and shorter life expectancy. Phoenix Charter Academies addresses this trend by creating environments where students can demonstrate their talent and resilience and prepare themselves for success through high school, college, and beyond.

Commitment to DEI

At Phoenix, we recognize the importance of forming a school community inclusive of all visible and invisible identities. We act to ensure that our students and staff always see reflections of themselves and their communities.

At Phoenix, we aim to break down systemic barriers by providing access to resources, experiences, and differentiated supports for historically marginalized groups.

At Phoenix, we solicit, value, understand, connect, and leverage multiple perspectives and experiences. We invite all perspectives except those that perpetuate oppression or dehumanization.

At Phoenix we do not just accept difference - we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our scholars and the communities we serve. We believe difference makes us stronger. Phoenix Charter Academy is an equal opportunity employer and as such, we do not discriminate against any team member or candidate because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodations necessary to support an individual's employment.

Qualities of Phoenix staff member:

• Unwavering belief in our students - Phoenix staff operate with the deeply held belief that all young people want to and can succeed even in the face of substantial systemic barriers and societal constraints.
• Continuous Improvement - Phoenix staff approach problem solving with curiosity and desire to understand the perspectives of others. They carry an internalized sense of “I can always learn more” and know that adults at Phoenix must model the qualities of being open-minded and willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Phoenix staff members embody “lifelong learner” mindsets and strive for constant improvement.
• Eager to Learn - Phoenix staff must be able to learn as they go in a fast paced, ever evolving, urgent environment. They have the desire to receive direct feedback and the ability to implement the feedback into practice quickly.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Phoenix staff commit to understanding the ways that their self-identity and experiences impact and interact with their daily work, their colleagues, and their students, and work toward furthering initiatives that promote a more equitable society.

What You’ll Bring

• Alignment to Phoenix's mission
• At least 1 year of direct scholar-serving (teaching, tutoring, academic support, etc.) experience preferred
• Bilingual/Spanish-speaking candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
• Communication - Conveys information effectively and efficiently using verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills; has knowledge and flexibility to communicate across lines of difference.
• Scholar Orientation - Works to deepen understanding of scholars and centers the needs of scholars in all aspects of how the work is done.
• Adaptability - Adjusts and strategically aligns work to the school's mission while navigating complex and changing environments internally and externally.
• Strong work ethic with ability to work independently and in a team environment

What You’ll Get

We want you to be the best you can so you’ll receive professional development, coaching, and the resources needed for you to succeed. An open, curious and celebratory culture that embraces diversity as a leading asset and fosters equity and inclusion through affinity groups and continuous capacity building supported by our Racial, Justice and Equity working group. Competitive market comp, medical, dental, vision, mental health and wellness plans, a 403b, and employee perks such as longevity bonus and pet insurance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and as such, we do not discriminate against any team member or candidate because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodation necessary to support an individual's employment.

**The Network retains the right to modify this job description at any time, for any reason, at the Network’s sole discretion** #ZR

**The Network retains the right to modify this job description at any time, for any reason, at the Network’s sole discretion**