College Access Counselor - AoIT

With community residents leading the way, the mission of Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) is to build a strong, sustainable Cypress Hills/East New York, where youth and adults achieve educational and economic success, secure healthy and affordable housing, and develop leadership skills to transform their lives and community.

CHLDC is seeking one (1) full-time College Access Counselor to serve students at the Academy of Innovative Technology (AoIT), one of the schools on the Franklin K. Lane Campus. The Student Success Center (SSC) is a youth and adult-staffed college access center that works to support college guidance teams, and grow a college-going culture for the campus. The SSC provides additional resources and tools necessary for each student to reach his/her post-secondary education goals. At AOIT—a Career & Technical Education (CTE) school—the College Access Counselor will help students connect their CTE learning (e.g., technology, design, and other pathways) to high-quality postsecondary options, including 2- and 4-year colleges, technical programs, apprenticeships, and industry-aligned opportunities.

Principal Role and Responsibilities:

• Provide individual and group counseling for students on college exploration, application, and financial aid processes—including CUNY/SUNY, FAFSA/TAP, and private institutions
• Facilitate bilingual college access workshops and materials for students and Spanish-speaking families
• Collaborate with school staff and guidance counselors to implement school-wide college readiness initiatives
• Coordinate and support events such as college visits, parent information nights, leadership activities, and program celebrations
• Supervise and mentor SSC Youth Leaders (2) —students trained as peer mentors to support classmates through the college process
• Act as a liaison between students, families, and school personnel to address barriers to postsecondary planning
• Track student progress and document advising touchpoints in internal systems; share aggregate data in regular reports (weekly/monthly) to school and SSC leadership
• Participate in school-wide meetings, staff development, and collaborative planning sessions
• Support fundraising, outreach, and data collection efforts to ensure SSC sustainability
• Conduct community outreach to raise awareness of CHLDC programs and services
• Collaborate with CHLDC and school staff to meet needs of participants and provide crisis intervention and referrals as needed.
• Adhere to secure and ethical data management practices
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:

• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred (not required)
• BA in education, counseling or related field.
• 2–3 years of experience in College Access, Youth Development, or Education
• Strong understanding of CUNY/SUNY admissions, financial aid (FAFSA/TAP), and private college processes
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings/weekends
• Strong interpersonal skills, highly organized and motivated
• Commitment to youth development perspective
• Must pass DOE and DOH background checks and fingerprinting

Work Environment:

• This position works in a school setting during the workday. This role routinely uses standard equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and standard equipment such as staplers, scissors and tape dispensers.

Supervision:

• Reports directly to the Director of the Student Success Center.

Compensation:

• $57,000, dependent upon experience.
• We also offer a very competitive benefits package

To Apply:

• Please submit your cover letter and resume to Lauraly Laurent, Director of the Student Success Center.
• Three (3) written reference letters will be required if chosen for the position.

CYPRESS HILLS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND IS COMMITTED TO WORKPLACE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We promote recognition and respect for individual and cultural differences, and we work to make our employees feel valued and appreciated, whatever their race, gender, background, or sexual orientation.

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a pleasant working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with experience.

EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans