Company Description

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, 80 fifth graders walked through the doors of our first middle school in Newark, New Jersey and KIPP New Jersey has since grown to educate 8,135 students in grades K-12 across 17 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. 

By 2025, KIPP New Jersey will provide a world-class education to over 10,300 students across fifteen schools in Newark and five in Camden. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

Job Description

Here's what you need to know:

At KIPP NJ, our mission states that we prepare our students to change the world.  We believe that, for most of our students, a Bachelor’s degree is the stepping stone for students to pursue professional and personal success. We also believe that this is not the only path to professional and personal success, and are committed to supporting 100% of our students, including those who choose a non-college post-secondary pathway. We believe in career exploration and exposure throughout high school so all students leave with a strong sense of their passion, purpose, and plan for a strong start in college or a progressive professional pathway of their choosing. We know that truly preparing students for college and career requires an intense focus on student GPAs and ACT results, experiential learning opportunities such as summer programs and dual enrollment courses, excellent college & career counseling, and strong relationships with and programming for students and their families.  

The Associate Director of Career Exposure’s job is to ensure that all students have meaningful, quality experiential learning opportunities throughout high school. The AD of CE, in collaboration with school and regional leaders, builds and maintains strong partnerships with local organizations and programs, leveraging the cultural capital of the community, and embed partnerships and critical learning experiences in Career Academies within the school. The AD of CE will develop and work toward intentional milestones and experiences by grade level, such as career and college fairs, shadow days and interview prep workshops, as well as ensuring students have individualized experiences at career sites, colleges and programs (i.e. internships, college dual enrollment and career dual enrollment)

Here's what you'll be doing:

• Alongside school and regional leaders, build and provide direct implementation support of the school’s 
• first Career Academ(ies), ensuring strong academic experiences for students, robust and aligned partnerships with community organizations, smooth logistics for exposures and experiential learning, and school-wide training and awareness of the Academy’s role within the school. Career class offerings  in the SY24-25 will focus on Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, Health Care, and potentially Electrical.
• Alongside regional leadership, develop and maintain school-specific partnerships for internships, volunteer opportunities, CTE dual enrollment, career mentors and job shadowing. This will include Hospital Volunteering and trade exploration at a local trade program.
• Support students in learning about and enrolling in these experiential learning opportunities and dual enrollment programs, and support them toward completion through direct student advising, parent engagement and partner management.
• Plan for and execute school-wide career and post-secondary  exposure and prep experiences, such as fairs, workshops, and speaker series. Invest and work with other key stakeholders to invest students, staff and families in critical events.
• Maintain robust data reporting: Consistently enter data into a system to progress monitor and analyze student participation and enrollment in experiential learning opportunities.
• Provide direct advising and application support of seniors (no more than 30 students) pursuing a certificate program or professional pathway following high school graduation.

Critical Outcomes  

• Students attend career exposure events, including fairs, shadow days, and workshops
• Students participate in an internship, pre-college program, in-house CTE program or Co-Op program during the summer or school year
• Students note an increased awareness of postsecondary options that align with their interests and values from beginning of year to end of year
• Students who are enrolled in the Academies pass their classes
• Select students matriculate to and enroll in certificate programs following HS graduation

Abilities

• Student Focus: Belief that all students, regardless of background, have the ability to go to and through college; demonstrated commitment to the school’s unique community
• Commitment to do whatever it takes to ensure our teachers and students have what they need to be successful
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated ability to create inclusive environments that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives  
• Ability to proactively problem solve; anticipate challenges before they occur
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and generate creative solutions
• Ability to develop and manage multiple projects simultaneously and comfortably with ambiguity
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain focus
• Ability to troubleshoot and manage high stress situations with a calm and positive demeanor
• Achievement Orientation: Demonstrated student achievement results in own work and from counselors that he/she manages  

Qualifications

Must Haves:

• Demonstrated experience working with traditionally under-served students and their families from diverse socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds
• Project management experience
• Instructional or advising experience, preferably in a high school setting focused on college & career readiness curriculum, with a track record of strong outcomes for students

Skills

• Comfortable using Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Experience with Salesforce, PowerSchool, Naviance, Overgrad or similar-type student database systems
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong organization skills and meticulous attention to detail
• Superb customer service skills and love and support for families and students 
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills 
• Adept at data analysis and strong content knowledge; ability to extract meaningful insights and actions from data

Nice-to-Haves

• A car for travel to community organizations and partner locations as needed (mileage reimbursement provided for locations that aren’t local)
• Occasional nights and weekends 
• Ability to travel to colleges/CTE programs, and occasional professional development opportunities both in and out-of-state

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP NJ offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop, and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area.