The West End House (WEH) is an independent Boys & Girls Club in the City of Boston that has been transforming the lives of immigrant and urban youth since its founding in 1906. Our mission is to inspire and enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to realize their potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
Boston youth need support to get ready for college, get into college and get through college. Education is a key factor in an individual’s financial stability – college graduates earn, on average, nearly twice the weekly earnings of an individual with only a high school diploma. As they attempt to find their way on college campuses, low-income students face challenges ranging from insufficient financial aid to often debilitating social isolation and alienation.
By providing sufficient supports, both before and during their college enrollment, WEH’s College Persistence Program increases the likelihood that young people will have the right tools to enter and complete college, and so have an increased likelihood of securing meaningful, long-term careers. As a part of the Boston Foundation’s Success Boston Initiative, the coach will be a part of a city-wide effort to improve persistence rates for hundreds of Boston Public School students. Working together with another College Success Coach and the rest of the team, this position will provide individual case management for WEH alumni in college (“getting through”) through the key activities listed below.
Coaching Responsibilities
Build strong and authentic relationships with a caseload of 60 – 75 young people attending various post-secondary institutions to provide them with personalized guidance and coaching on academic and non-academic issues that may prevent them from persisting at college
Develop and implement curricula for workshops and events focused on topics of relevance to first-generation college students, such as academic engagement and personal leadership
Build effective relationships with college administrative, career services, financial aid, and other offices to advocate for students and assist them in reaching their goals
Guide students through admission to selective programs, major and course selection, graduation requirements, transfer to baccalaureate degree programs, and college policies and procedures
Identify realistic career goals and appropriate majors/programs
Foster relationships and connections to the college
Various projects as assigned
Program Reporting, Research and Evaluation
Track, evaluate and report on student and program performance for on-going program improvement and growth, WEH oversight, and funders
As part of the citywide Success Boston initiative, participate in ongoing tracking of outcomes, evaluation of services, and program development, and attend monthly meetings
Qualifications & Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred; minimum of 2-4 years of related experience.
Experience advising, mentoring, and/or counseling with young people of diverse backgrounds
Prior experience in higher education a plus
Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills; bilingual skills a plus.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with a team.
Proven effectiveness in developing and supporting resilience and leadership in young adults.
Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, workshop facilitation and program coordination.
Driver’s license required, access to own vehicle strongly preferred.
Strong time-management and organizational skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, with database experience preferred. Experience with Salesforce a plus.
The West End House Girls & Boys Club is an equal -opportunity employer and encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
How to apply
Qualified candidates should email resume and a brief cover letter, describing why you are interested in working at West End House and how you learned about this position, by April 6th to Michele Mitsumori, Coordinator of Administration and Finance, at jobs@westendhouse.org . Please include “College Success Coach” in the subject line of your email.
The West End House Girls & Boys Club is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.