Coordinator, Programs

LINK Unlimited Scholars (LINK) is where hard work meets heart work. The work is demanding and fast-paced, but deeply rewarding. We push ourselves because our Scholars deserve nothing less. If that doesn’t scare you AND you’re
adaptable, driven, and ready to invest in changing the trajectory of our Scholars lives and our city’s future, then we invite you to join our team!

We LINK students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, especially Black students, with the resources and support needed for success as they advance to, through, and beyond college.

Chicago’s educational system amplifies persistent inequities, creating a significant college completion gap for historically underrepresented students, particularly Black students. LINK’s goal is to mitigate the effect of these systemic and structural forces by improving and increasing access to educational opportunities and college completion for students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, especially Black youth in Chicago. By equipping our Scholars with the knowledge, skills, resources, and social equity that further college completion and career placement, LINK is increasing the economic mobility and stability of historically underrepresented students and cultivating a diverse leadership pipeline for our city.

Since 1966, we have successfully supported over 2,500 low- to moderate-income students. In the  academic year, we will serve 350+ Scholars (Jr. LINK, High School & Collegiate Scholars). Our Scholars represent more than 60 Chicagoland neighborhoods, with a focus from ten South and West Side communities:
Auburn Gresham, Austin, Bronzeville, Englewood, Garfield Park, Greater Grand Crossing, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Shore, and Washington Park.

As an integral part of the Programs Team, the Coordinator of Programs works closely with the Director, Programs to support our educational programming and achieve educational goals. The Coordinator, Programs is responsible for: recruiting, interviewing and selecting LINK Scholars; managing the relationship between LINK, Scholars and families, and its partnership with elementary and high schools; tracking the academic progress of Scholars;

and providing Scholars with the support they need, such as tutoring, college counseling, personal support and other programming, to ensure their success.

The Programs Team is responsible for maintaining close contact with LINK’s Scholars and their families. The Coordinator, Programs will be the main contact for approximately one third to a half of the Scholars as they matriculate through the Jr. LINK and High School fellowship.

Responsibilities include:

• Build and maintain relationships with Scholars, families, and Mentors to provide support to the Scholar.
• Collect and review Scholar grade reports each semester to track academic progress.
• Send targeted monthly communications to ensure Scholars are engaged and have a positive experience that supports student retention and successful completion of our high school fellowship.
• Be responsive and maintain ongoing communications to support Scholars’ needs and family circumstances.
• Ensure that Scholars who are in need of additional help receive tutoring assistance and/or other school-based and/or organizational resources that could positively impact the Scholars’ academic performances.
• Provide accurate updates to the Vice President, Programs & Evaluation, and Director, Programs on Scholars’ statuses.
• Maintain data records and ongoing communications with Scholars and their parents/guardians in Salesforce according to organizational data best practices.
• Build and sustain relationships with LINK partnership schools through…