Title: College Persistence Advisor  

Department: College Scholars  

Reporting to: Assistant Director, College Persistence & Advising  

Location: San Francisco, CA   

FLSA: Exempt 

Compensation:  $70,000 (Annually)  

LOCATION/HOURS 

This is a full-time, hybrid position based out of our San Francisco office location. It is expected that some duties will be performed on-site at least 2-days a week, and some remotely, with the understanding that government and public health guidelines will help determine the extent to which it is safe to carry out in-person and onsite activities. 

All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at Three Embarcadero Center Promenade Level, Suite P-1 San Francisco, CA 94111 upon hire. 

 

ABOUT SEO 

We Propel Human Potential. SEO is an educational non-profit focused on improving outcomes for students that come from underserved and historically underrepresented backgrounds. For over 50 years, SEO has been an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational programs and opportunities that maximize the full potential of our students. We are on a mission to create an ecosystem of excellence for the students we serve. 

 

About College Scholars   

SEO Scholars is a free eight-year academic program that gets low-income public high school students to and through college. In college, we continue to support students through each of their four years, providing one-on-one academic, personal and career exploration support. Our team supports more than 1,000 College Scholars attending ~200 colleges across 30 states, with a 90% college graduation rate. (Learn more here: SEO Scholars)  

Position Overview & Responsibilities   

SEO College Scholars is seeking a College Persistence Advisor to join our team. Our team supports more than 1,000 College Scholars attending ~200 colleges across 30 states, with a 90% college graduation rate. We achieve this by providing boot-camp style workshops before students begin college, individualized support, and academic advising throughout the year, as well as ongoing large-scale career exploration and networking events. College Persistence Advisors are student-facing and 90% of the role involves talking directly with students.  

  • Provide one-to-one support, case management and psychosocial services to cohort of ~65 students, which includes college preparedness advisement, as well as academic, personal and career advising throughout college  
  • Foster rapport with students through consistent and non-judgmental communication (outreach and advising sessions), as well as through proactive identification of supports that address the unique needs of first-generation and low-income students  
  • Document student case notes promptly and accurately into Salesforce database  
  • Maintain, collect, and report student data on an ongoing basis, such as degree audits, resumes transcripts and financial aid completion for purposes of reporting, institutional research, and institutional effectiveness 
  • Advocate for students with university and other stakeholders especially around course registration and financial aid
  • Advise students in a methodical, intentional, and organized approach to ensure that all students receive equitable advising and support 
  • Engage in internal professional development opportunities around student support through on-going and regular feedback and clinical coaching for continued growth 
  • Facilitate and present workshops designed to increase student success in college and the high school to college transition 
  • Maintain student confidentiality 
  • Contribute to a safe educational and working environment by participating in all training and being prepared to act 
  • Discuss and reinforce linkages and relationships between Scholars’ instructional program and their desired occupation/career 
  • Utilize Salesforce systems, as necessary, to aid in the delivery and reporting of advising services 
  • Actively participate in the College Scholar’s Clinical Coaching training program 
  • Contribute to planning and presenting at annual conferences for college students 
  • Occasional evening and weekend work are required, dependent on program needs 
  • Perform other duties as assigned  

Qualifications  

  • Master’s degree required, preferably in Social Work, Counseling, School Counseling, School Psychology, or related field  
  • 2-3 years graduate school field placement or work experience within either youth-focused or education-focused agency 
  • Direct experience providing academic, mental health, or career readiness counseling and advising to college students required 
  • Prior experience counseling or advising first-generation and/or under-resourced high school students strongly preferred  
  • Highly detail-oriented and organized approach to tasks while able to meet competing deadlines 
  • Exceptional communication skills: verbal, written, interpersonal (phone and in-person) 
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Drive 
  • Experience delegating tasks a plus 
  • Must be data driven, familiarity with Salesforce a plus  

Core Competencies and Skills  

  • Demonstrates an unequivocal passion for closing the achievement and opportunity gap  
  • Self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively in a group, is team-oriented, has a growth mindset and is willing to do what it takes to get the work done (whether it is their specifically assigned task or not) 
  • Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, & Outlook), experience using Database/CMS program preferred (e.g., Salesforce) 
  • Experience and knowledge of the California higher education landscape strongly preferred 

 EEO @ SEO  

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a workforce that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from historically excluded and underrepresented communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply.  

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.  

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.  

If you need an accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent.  

  

THE ORGANIZATION 

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity), is an educational non-profit focused on improving outcomes for students from underserved and historically underrepresented backgrounds. For over 50 years, SEO has been an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational programs and opportunities that maximize the full potential of our students. Each year SEO serves 6,000+ participants nationally and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results. 

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity. SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence: empowering individuals to move from high school through college, from underserved communities to middle class (SEO Scholars), from underrepresented interns to prestigious careers (SEO Career and SEO Law), from successful professionals to positions of economic influence (SEO Alternative Investments). We propel human potential. 

  • SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that gets low-income public high school students to and through college – with a 90% college graduation 100% of SEO Scholars are accepted to four-year colleges, with 85% being first-generation college graduates. More than 75% of current SEO Scholars are attending a top 100 college based on the US News and World Report rankings. 

  • SEO Career is the nation’s premier professional development program, providing Black, Hispanic, and Native American undergrads with everything they need to land an internship: industry exposure, career guidance, interview skills, and intensive Approximately 80% of SEO Career interns receive full-time job offers from SEO Career partners before they graduate college. SEO Interns earn an average of $10,000 per summer. SEO Career partners with 150+ corporations and organizations offering summer internships. 

  • SEO Alternative Investments provides education, exposure, training, and mentoring opportunities for talented professionals traditionally underrepresented in the Alternative Investments SEO Alternative Investments Programming includes a Fellowship Program and an annual conference. The Fellows program has over 200 partner firms and 90% of Fellows secure roles in the Alternative Investments industry. 

  • SEO Law is the only program of its kind, offering talented, incoming, underrepresented law school students the opportunity to secure a paid internship at a top law firm the summer before law The SEO Law Fellowship program has an impressive network of more than 1,600+ SEO Law alumni, who have gone on to work as Chief Legal Officers, U.S. District Attorneys, Deputy/Assistant Attorneys General, U.S. District Court Judges, and U.S. Cabinet/Congress Members. SEO Law partners with more than 41 law firms in 12 cities across the U.S. 

  • SEO Leadership Institute provides ongoing development to alumni, customized for each stage of their career. There are three distinct parts to the Institute: making connections, professional and personal development, and civic engagement. SEO has an alumni network of nearly 20,000 professionals, representing 46 U.S. states and 48 countries, SEO’s Leadership Institute supports their ongoing professional and civic engagement via panel discussions, networking events, virtual resources, and volunteer opportunities. Alumni leadership has led SEO expansion to San Francisco and the creation of SEO’s international affiliates: SEO London, SEO China, SEO Vietnam, and SEO Africa.  

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