College Access Advisor - Wichita GEAR UP

Department: Wichita GEAR UP South/West

Campus

Location:

Wichita, KS - Other Wichita Location

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Salary set at $40,000/yr

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8:00am-5:00pm (regular evenings& weekends based on scheduled events but flexible)

Export Compliance Requirement: No export controlrequirement.

This position is designed for someone who believes that early,intentional intervention can change the trajectory of a student’slife and who’s ready to roll up their sleeves to make that happen.

This role sits exactly where impact matters most: face-to-face with students who need guidance, consistency, and someone who won’t giveup on them. Wichita GEAR UP is a program serving students in grades6-12 and first year in college. Multiple positions available at multiple school locations within Wichita.

• You’ll serve as a trusted advisor, mentor, and connector for students who need targeted support—not just encouragement, but aplan.
• Provide intensive 1:1 academic advising.
• Lead small and large group mentoring sessions
• Deliver College Access Plan (CAP) components.
• Support entrance exam readiness.
• Act as a student advocate.
• Build strong partnerships with school administrators.
• Engage parents and guardians.
• Promote GEAR UP at school and community events.
• Track services and outcomes meticulously.

You’re a person who can have tough conversations with empathy butstill keeps things moving forward. You know when to listen, how todocument, and when to advocate.

• Strong communication skills across diverse audiences, from students to school leaders all the way to families.
• A natural respect for confidentiality and professionalboundaries.
• The ability to build rapport quickly while maintainingstructure and expectations.
• Cultural awareness and comfort working with students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
• A proactive, self-starter mindset—you don’t wait to be toldwhat needs doing.
• Excellent organizational skills and follow-through(documentation is non-negotiable in grant-funded work).
• A preference for working directly with students in middle orhigh school settings.

Responsible for the enrollment, monitoring and/or advising ofeligible participants. Establishes and maintains a positive and professional relationship with all referral agencies. Planseducational, career and life skills activities, completes the College Access Plan (CAP) on each student and coordinates with College Access Mentors or other partners to ensure services are provided.

Instructs program students in college access workshops to include college preparation, financial literacy and career awarenessworkshops. Provides post enrollment academic monitoring, mentoring and advising as needed. Ensures completion of requiredapplications, surveys and supporting documents by completing all necessary documentation of activities, assisting with data entryand accuracy of student database and obtaining student schoolrecords, surveys and college enrollment information. Sharesparticipant outcome data and best practices with agencies asneeded.

May work closely with privatized foster care agencies andlocal schools in enrolling students in the program. May negotiatein-kind donations with partners to ensure grant matches. Reviewsstudent records, identifies local community referral resources and conducts referrals for students. Determines and schedulesassessments of student needs; may assist with financial aidcoordination. Reports student performance and adjustment needs.

Tracks resource usage and aid adequacy as needed.

Provide intensive, targeted 1:1 academic advising for students identified as high-priority (based on grades, attendance, and behavior), focusing on goal setting and barrieridentification.

Lead small and large group mentoring sessions to develop essentialsocial-emotional learning, study skills, and self-advocacy.

Deliver core components of the College Access Plan (CAP), guiding students through career exploration, financial aid awareness, andcourse planning aligned with postsecondary pathways.

Advising about entrance exams & assistance with those, test preparation resources.

Establ…