Director of College and Career Counseling

Company: KIPP Foundation
Location: Kansas City
Posted on: June 26, 2025

Job Description:

KIPP Kansas City Public Schools is part of a nationwide network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter schools dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. Our strength as a region serves as a catalyst for empowerment, change, and hope. Founded in 2, KIPP Kansas City Public Schools began with KIPP Endeavor Academy, serving approximately 31 fifth-grade students. Today, we educate approximately 1,000 students from Pre-K through 12th grade, with our community continuing to expand. Together with families and communities, we strive to create joyful, academically excellent schools that equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue their chosen paths—whether college, career, or beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and contribute to a more just world. Job Description School Leadership Team Responsibilities Participate on the Schools Leadership Team and grade-level leadership team to share crucial college and career knowledge and keep leaders aware of students goals and progress towards their postsecondary plans Lead department meetings and professional development related to KIPP Forward. Includes: 2x a month meeting with Counseling team to review data Facilitate Monthly Match Meetings with high school leadership, KIPP Forward leadership, regional leadership, and the counseling team. Facilitate and encourage strong communication between high school and KIPP Forward staff, teams and departments to continually improve outcomes. College and Career Counseling Leadership Lead execution of Counseling and Match strategy, including support of an Early Decision cohort and development of a strong personal statement for every Senior Establish system to ensure every Junior and Senior meets 1:1 with their counselor 2x per year Effectively plan the organization and time management of the team in planning parent nights, college visits, guest speakers, career exploration trips, and other postsecondary access programming Implement and manage special initiatives and programs that grow college and career readiness skills and exposure for students Establish and maintain relationships/partnerships with colleges and universities, summer programs, and scholarship organizations; maintain current and formalize new partnerships with external organizations to increase available options for career and summer programs. Serve as main point of contact for college admissions representatives, actively managing those relationships, building new relationships that could serve students, and advocating on behalf of students with additional appeals for admission and financial aid when necessary Maintain current knowledge on policies and updates on postsecondary education, financial aid, and special populations (undocumented students, students with special needs, IEPs) and share implications and changes that impact our students Be knowledgeable to advise and coach all students, including all postsecondary pathways and students with unique circumstances through the postsecondary planning and application process Organize family engagement workshops related to postsecondary education options Support Nudge for Match program, including opt-in campaigns and incorporation of content into counseling Team Management Develop an inclusive, positive, and effective team culture by developing ambitious team goals, building the teams competencies. Create a collaborative team with consistent communication with key stakeholders, teammates, and families. Provide professional development to College and Career Counselors and College Readiness Teachers in the form of department meetings, and when beneficial, outside workshops, conferences, visits or trainings, as well as co-planning mid and end of year team step backs. Provide training to high school staff on how to support students in the college application process, including writing letters of recommendation. Directly manage junior and senior college and career counselors, supporting with student postsecondary guidance, coaching, and goal setting to define success for the semester/year and beyond. KIPP:Forward Observe counselors conducting 1:1s with students 2x per year and provide feedback Conduct weekly one-on-one check-ins with direct reports and participate in weekly one-on-one check- ins with the School Leader and the Regional Managing Director of KIPP Forward (or Director of Postsecondary Match) along with mid-year and end-of-year evaluations Progress monitor all postsecondary access goals Oversee KIPP Forward campus team expenditures Goals and Data Management Collaborate with KIPP Forward Director and High School leader to set yearly student-centered bottoms- up goals, aimed at increase in BA/BS enrollment, ECCC, and overall postsecondary enrollment Maintain constant and consistent communication on the data progress of students with key stakeholders including but not limited to: KIPP Foundation, College personnel, CBOS, Career Partners, school and regional leadership, and state leadership, along with students and families Plan and lead cyclical data review at Monthly Match Meetings with leadership to compare progress against milestones, assess areas for improvement and adjust plans to achieve intended outcomes Set up, utilize, train, and support counselors with various student management platforms to track, progress monitor, and submit student data, including, but not limited to Salesforce, Overgrad, Google suite, etc. Ensure pertinent data is collected, entered, and updated not limited to: college matriculation, expected HS graduation year, enrollments, GPAs, wish lists, applications submitted, contact owners, etc. Successfully maintain all required systems and data management (Overgrad, Salesforce) Instructional Leadership Collaborate with high school leader to ensure year-long Junior and Senior seminars are scheduled and staffed Observe seminar at least 1x a week and provide feedback to seminar instruction Serve as lead for KIPPs College Knowledge and Career Success Curriculum; Manage seminar curriculum development and revision Ensure implementation of seminar assessments and regularly review data with seminar instructors Other Responsibilities: Serve as the main liaison to the KIPP Foundation on HS Match and College and Career Counseling initiatives, including: scholarships, personal statements, College Knowledge and Career Success Curriculum, Early Decision, You Science Attend monthly Director of College Counseling meetings with KIPP Foundation Qualifications Required Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution Preferred Education and Experience: Master’s degree preferred. Experience working with high school students and their families in the college counseling field, strongly preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Experience in leading high-performance and diverse teams Resilience, strong work ethic and outcomes oriented—demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities under stress and follow through, despite sometimes tight or back to back deadlines Previous experience in using data to drive decision making strongly Comfort with working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment Strong interpersonal skills; Ability to work with a wide-range of people including teachers, parents, students, alumni, corporate partners, vendors and admissions personnel Ability to project plan, organize, and prioritize, with a collaborative spirit Fast learner with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback Proven written and verbal communication skills Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred, but not required Physical Requirements: Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a cell phone, copy machine and computer printer. Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another. Communicating with others to exchange information. Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move up to 20 pounds occasionally. Work Environment: Able to meet school schedule (i.e. 7:08am-4/5pm - depending on Professional Development days) Able to work evenings, holidays and weekends as necessary Travel Requirements: Able to travel to for KIPP National Professional Development 1 or 2 times per year Additional Information As a full-time KIPP Kansas City employee, you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Kansas City benefit plans. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, as well as life insurance, fertility, and disability plans. KIPP Kansas City provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability Compensation Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. Additionally, KIPP KC offers a comprehensive benefits package including health coverage and retirement.

Keywords: KIPP Foundation, Blue Springs , Director of College and Career Counseling, Education / Teaching , Kansas City, Missouri