Senior Manager of Postsecondary Persistence and Success

About KIPP Kansas City Public Schools:

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 2007, 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.

Position Overview:

The Senior Manager of Postsecondary Persistence and Success will play a critical role in ensuring all students have the skills, knowledge, and support needed to achieve their postsecondary aspirations. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for KIPP Forward’s college and career readiness initiatives, managing counseling staff, fostering relationships with external partners, and overseeing data-driven programming.

Key Responsibilities: 

• School Leadership Team

  • Actively participate in the School Leadership Team and grade-level leadership meetings, contributing to discussions on college and career goals and student progress.
  • Lead departmental meetings and professional development for KIPP Forward, conducting bi-monthly data reviews with the counseling team.
  • Facilitate monthly Match Meetings with high school leadership, KIPP Forward leadership, regional leadership, and counseling staff.
  • Enhance communication between high school and KIPP Forward staff to drive positive student outcomes.

• College and Career Counseling Leadership

  • Direct the Counseling and Match strategies, including supporting Early Decision cohorts and guiding seniors in personal statement development.
  • Establish systems for individualized student-counselor sessions twice a year for juniors and seniors.
  • Coordinate parent nights, college visits, guest speakers, career exploration trips, and postsecondary access programs.
  • Develop partnerships with colleges, summer programs, and scholarship organizations, acting as a main point of contact for college admissions representatives.
  • Stay informed on postsecondary policies and guide students through application processes, addressing unique needs and circumstances.
  • Serve as the liaison to the KIPP Foundation on scholarships, personal statements, College Knowledge and Career Success Curriculum, Early Decision, and other KIPP Foundation initiatives.
  • Attend monthly Director of College Counseling meetings with the KIPP Foundation to stay aligned with regional and national college counseling initiatives.

• Team Management

  • Cultivate an inclusive, goal-oriented team culture and set ambitious team objectives.
  • Provide professional development to counselors and readiness teachers, including organizing external workshops and training sessions.
  • Manage and support junior and senior college counselors through regular check-ins, feedback on student sessions, and evaluations.
  • Monitor postsecondary access goals and manage KIPP Forward campus team expenditures.

• Goals and Data Management

  • Collaborate with KIPP Forward Director and high school leadership to set student-centered goals that support postsecondary enrollment and success.
  • Track data consistently, reporting progress to stakeholders, including KIPP Foundation, college personnel, career partners, and families.
  • Conduct regular data reviews in Monthly Match Meetings to assess milestones and make adjustments.
  • Utilize and train counselors on student management platforms such as Salesforce, Overgrad, and Google Suite.

• Instructional Leadership

  • Partner with high school leadership to ensure the scheduling and staffing of Junior and Senior seminars.
  • Observe and provide feedback on seminar instruction weekly, ensuring alignment with KIPP’s College Knowledge and Career Success Curriculum.
  • Manage curriculum development for seminars, monitor assessment data, and support instructors in refining instructional practices.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Counseling, Education, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years in college counseling or postsecondary readiness programs, with experience managing teams and implementing data-driven programs.
• Experience working with underserved populations and/or first-generation college students.
• Demonstrated success in improving student postsecondary outcomes, particularly for underserved populations.

Skills and Competencies: 

• Commitment to KIPP KC’s mission and values
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse environment
• Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Fosters an inclusive environment for students, staff, and families
• Works effectively with colleagues and stakeholders
• Builds strong relationships within the KIPP KC community
• Deep understanding of college admissions, financial aid processes, and alternative postsecondary pathways.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and inspire a team of counselors and staff to achieve ambitious outcomes.
• Strong skills in building and maintaining relationships with external partners, including colleges, universities, and scholarship organizations.

Physical Requirements: 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 
• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school or office throughout the workday.
• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region.

Work Environment

• Reports to work Monday-Friday and some weekends. 
• A typical school or office environment with frequent interruptions.

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel to work location. 

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary is based on years of experience, educational background, and level of expertise.

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 is committed to the professional growth and development of our staff. We provide numerous opportunities for advancement, ongoing professional development, and leadership training to help you achieve your career goals.

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.