Alumni Success Coach - Enrollment Specialist

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Reporting to the Manager of College Access & Success - Alumni Support, the Alumni Success Coach - Enrollment Specialist plays a critical role in helping our high school graduates achieve their post-secondary goals. In this unique position, the Enrollment Specialist is part of two teams: the cross-regional Alumni Support Team and their assigned high school team. As an Enrollment Specialist, you will work relentlessly to identify, engage, and (re)enroll alumni who have either not yet matriculated or who have stopped out of college. You will provide individualized coaching to guide students through the college exploration, application, and enrollment process, ensuring each alumnus is connected to a post-secondary pathway aligned to their academic strengths, financial circumstances, and career aspirations. You will also collaborate closely with high school and regional staff, college counselors, families, and campus partners to remove barriers to enrollment and persistence. The ideal candidate brings an owner’s mindset, can work autonomously, and approaches challenges with a “whatever it takes” attitude to ensure every alumnus has the opportunity to succeed in a 4-year college environment.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Alumni (Re)Enrollment & Program Development
The Enrollment Specialist plays a critical role in increasing the 4-year college persistence rate for Rochester Prep High School by supporting alumni who have either not yet enrolled in college or who have stopped out. Through targeted coaching and individualized support, the Enrollment Specialist will:

• Innovate and develop a strategy for re-enrolling alumni who have stopped out or have not matriculated to college. Strategy should include appropriate college placement, collaborating with high school, college administration and parents, and systems for ensuring continued persistence once re-enrolled
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with a caseload of alumni to support their (re)enrollment in a 4-year college or university
• Provide individualized advising through the entire college process—including college exploration, application, enrollment, and matriculation—to help alumni identify and pursue a post-secondary institution that aligns with their academic, financial, and career goals
• (Re)enroll a minimum of 10 alumni per enrollment period (e.g., Fall, Spring) in a 4-year college or university
• Collaborate with each alumnus to develop a personalized academic and/or personal success plan, including clear goals, action steps, timelines, and accountability checkpoints
• Support alumni currently enrolled in 2-year colleges with strategic planning and transfer advising to transition into a 4-year institution
• Proactively connect alumni to the administrators, programs, and campus-based resources needed to successfully (re)enroll and thrive in a 4-year college setting

College Persistence Coaching & Program Development
The Enrollment Specialist not only supports alumni in (re)enrolling in college, but also coach those who are already enrolled to ensure they persist, thrive, and graduate from 4-year institutions. This part of the role emphasizes strategic, ongoing support for persisting Uncommon alumni and the continuous improvement of post-secondary programming. In this capacity, the Enrollment Specialist will:

• Provide individualized academic and personal coaching that helps alumni overcome challenges and stay on track toward degree completion
• Identify and respond to early warning signs (academic, financial, socioemotional, or logistical) that may jeopardize a student’s persistence
• Actively connect alumni to campus-based supports such as academic advising, tutoring centers, financial aid officers, mental health services, and mentorship programs
• Facilitate timely and data-informed interventions for students at risk of stopping out
• Maintain consistent communication with persisting alumni to build trust, celebrate milestones, and encourage continued progress
• Partner with high school-based teams by contributing alumni trends and feedback that can shape College Seminar content, family workshops, and college counseling practices.
• Leverage persistence data and alumni insights to inform school-based programming and regional strategy aimed at improving future student outcomes

Alumni Engagement & Caseload Management
The Enrollment Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining meaningful relationships with alumni while using data to drive strategic, high-impact support. This includes both consistent communication and effective management of caseload priorities. Key responsibilities include:

• Leveraging all forms of communication—including in-person meetings, Zoom, email, phone calls, text messages, and social media—to connect with 100% of alumni on their caseload
• Collaborating with families and trusted adults when necessary to help resolve academic, financial, or personal barriers
• Maintaining up-to-date records of each alumni interaction, academic progress, and identified obstacles in the alumni database
• Managing and reporting accurate post-secondary outcomes to their direct manager and assigned school team
• Regularly assessing each alum’s likelihood of persistence or successful re-enrollment, based on academic, financial, socioemotional, and personal well-being indicators
• Using alumni data to prioritize support for students at the highest risk of stopping out or not returning.
• Ensuring all contact and key demographic information is accurate and current
• Providing timely alumni updates to school leaders and other stakeholders, as needed

Administrative & School-Based Responsibilities
In addition to direct alumni support, the Persistence Specialist will contribute to broader school and team operations by:

• Actively participating in internal and external professional development to build content knowledge and coaching skills
• Supporting Rochester Prep High School events and initiatives, and contributing to school-based responsibilities as needed
• Coordinating travel logistics for campus visits and submitting all required receipts and reconciliations for eligible expenses
• Assisting with social media maintenance to strengthen alumni engagement and share key updates
• Engaging in regular check-ins with their manager, as well as school and regional leadership, to ensure strong alignment and collaboration

• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's preferred
• Deep commitment to educational equity and the mission of Uncommon Schools
• Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities
• Proven ability to use data and evidence to inform decisions, prioritize actions, and drive continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to build relationships and influence diverse stakeholders, including school leaders, and external partners
• Highly organized, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, take initiative, and drive results independently and collaboratively
• Familiarity with college admissions trends, financial aid systems, and postsecondary success strategies
• Comfort using data platforms and tools to monitor progress and generate insights

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Master's Degree preferred

Experience Requirements

• 5-6 years of professional work experience required
• 3-4 years of experience in working with students in a college advisement, college counseling or college enrollment capacity 
• Demonstrated knowledge of the college application process, the Free Application for  Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CSS Profile, and other pertinent college application and enrollment tasks
• Demonstrated knowledge of key academic and financial aid policies at the collegiate level
• Preferred: 2+ years of experience working with students who are first generation and/or from an urban school district

Travel Requirements

• Must be willing to travel via car, bus, train, and/or plane for up to 8 weeks a semester to visit alumni on their college campuses in the assigned caseload region.

 Other Requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Personal vehicle for travel (mileage for campus visit travel is reimbursed according to published IRS mileage rates)

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation 

Compensation for this role is between $64,300 to $75,700. 

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant professional experience, education, certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. If you meet all job description requirements you will likely receive an offer of $68,100. 

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].