Alumni Success Adviser

Job Description

The KIPP Forward (KF) program is responsible for implementing robust programming for KIPP St. Louis students and alumni throughout their high school and post-secondary education, training, and career pathways. KIPP Forward seeks to support all KIPP St. Louis students in becoming successful adults in their academic, professional, and personal lives.

The Alumni Success Adviser is responsible for leading and implementing KIPP St. Louis’ post-secondary strategy while providing direct advising and support to KIPP St. Louis High School alumni. The Alumni Success Adviser will provide individualized guidance and ongoing support to alumni as they navigate and persist in college, career and technical education, military service, and workforce pathways, serving as the primary point of contact for alumni success and persistence.

The Alumni Success Adviser will work collaboratively with the Director of KIPP Forward, KIPP Forward team members, students, families, postsecondary institutions, and community partners to ensure alumni are connected to the guidance, resources, and support they need to persist and make meaningful progress toward their postsecondary and career goals.

The Alumni Success Adviser will report directly to the Director of KIPP Forward.

Position type: Full-time, Exempt, 12 Month    

Reporting & Collaboration​

• Direct Manager: KIPP Forward Director 

• Direct Reports:  None 

• Key Collaborators: KIPP Forward team members, students, families, postsecondary institutions, and community partners

Autonomy & Decision Making​

• Independently manage an alumni caseload and determine appropriate outreach, interventions, and follow-up based on student needs and data.

• Prioritize alumni requiring additional support and develop individualized persistence plans.

• Manage alumni programming and the annual persistence calendar in alignment with KIPP Forward priorities.

• Identify when additional support, partnership, or escalation to the Director of KIPP Forward is needed.

• Use professional judgment when connecting alumni to postsecondary, financial, career, and community resources.

Inputs: What will I be doing in my day-to-day work?

• Advise and coach alumni across college, CTE, military, and workforce pathways through consistent outreach and individualized support.

• Monitor academic progress, enrollment, financial aid, and other indicators that may impact persistence.

• Support seniors and recent graduates through matriculation and summer transition requirements.

• Maintain accurate alumni records, outreach notes, interventions, and outcome data.

• Connect alumni to scholarships, campus resources, internships, employment, and other opportunities.

• Build relationships with postsecondary institutions and community partners that expand support available to alumni.

• Collaborate with KIPP Forward staff on programming, events, FAFSA initiatives, and transition activities.

Outcomes: What will I be evaluated on?

• Accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of alumni data and progress monitoring.

• Effectiveness of partnerships and resources in supporting alumni success.

• Contribution of alumni trends and insights to the continuous improvement of KIPP Forward programming.

• Alumni enrollment, persistence, completion, credential attainment, and career progress.

• Successful matriculation of graduating seniors and reduction of summer melt.

• Consistent alumni engagement and timely intervention for students experiencing barriers.

• Successful re-engagement of alumni who are no longer enrolled or connected to a postsecondary pathway.

What skills should I already bring, i.e., what should I already have a track record around?

• Strong relationship-building and advising skills with young adults, families, and external partners.

• Ability to independently manage a caseload, competing priorities, and follow-up.

• Strong organization, project management, and attention to detail.

• Ability to use data to identify needs, prioritize support, and monitor progress.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to coach young adults through challenges while building their independence and self-advocacy.

• Track record of taking initiative, problem-solving, and following work through to completion.

What should I know a lot about already, i.e., what should I have expertise in?

• Postsecondary access, transition, and persistence across college, CTE, credential, military, and workforce pathways.

• Common academic, financial, social, and personal barriers that affect postsecondary persistence.

• FAFSA, financial aid, scholarships, academic standing, and other college persistence processes.

• Best practices for supporting first-generation students and reducing summer melt.

• Postsecondary and community-based resources that can support students academically, financially, socially, and professionally.

• Career readiness, internships, employment pathways, and workforce development opportunities.

KIPP uses Indicators of Excellence (IOE) to codify what great looks like in daily work.  For this role, the IOEs include:

• Monitoring & Quality: Regularly reviews alumni progress, outreach, and interventions to ensure supports are resulting in progress toward enrollment, persistence, completion, and career goals. Identifies gaps early and adjusts support when needed.

• Coherence: Coordinates with the Director of KIPP Forward, College and Career Advisers, families, and postsecondary partners so alumni receive clear, consistent support. Ensures alumni persistence work connects back to senior transition, college and career advising, and broader KIPP Forward priorities.

• Ownership: Takes responsibility for the alumni within their caseload from outreach through follow-up. Proactively identifies barriers, develops solutions, closes the loop, and ensures alumni do not fall through the cracks.

• Data & Equity: Uses alumni data and individual student experiences to identify who is thriving, who needs additional support, and where disparities exist. Uses that information to prioritize outreach, adjust interventions, and ensure alumni have equitable access to resources and opportunities.

Qualifications

What you bring to the table:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree.

• At least three years of successful experience working with students or young adults, preferably in communities historically underserved by postsecondary systems.

• Strong relationship-building, communication, organization, and follow-through skills.

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple priorities, student needs, and deadlines.

• Ability to use data to identify needs, monitor progress, and inform student support.

• Commitment to supporting young adults across college, career and technical education, military, and workforce pathways.

• Willingness to participate in occasional evening, weekend, and off-site programming

Additional Information

What we bring to the table:

KIPP St. Louis is committed to pay equity and to ensuring that we do not unintentionally perpetuate historic wage gaps that persist due to individual negotiations.  As a result, salaries are not negotiated.  We are transparent about salaries in our job postings so that candidates can make an informed decision before beginning the hiring process.  The salary range is $55,000 - $70,000.

We are a fast-paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement, and to cultivate their best working environment, we provide the following:

• $0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision, and dental. 

• Employer Paid Short Term Disability. 

• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee. 

• Retirement plan through PSSRSSL with an employer match up to 14% and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program

• Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual Heart Awards and more!

• Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer. 

• Ongoing professional development.

• Generous time off:

  • Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave

  • Paid parental leave for new families

  • Granted holidays, as well as a one-week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break

  • Wellness days provided throughout the year

Hiring Timeline and Steps

The anticipated start date for the role is as soon as possible.

Compensation: 55000 to 70000 (USD) (YEARLY)