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Admissions Specialist

Employer
Rivet School: Educator Pathway
Location
Richmond, CA
Closing date
Jun 13, 2023

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Specialty
Admissions
Position Type
Specialist
Hours
Full-time
Employment Type
Permanent
Organization Type
College / University, Non-profit
Who we are

Across the country, college completion rates are abysmal. Here in California, for instance,just over a quarterof students enrolled at a California State University (CSU) campus graduate within four years. Of students who do graduate from college, around four in 10 end up underemployed in a first job. Traditionally underserved populations - like working students, parent learners, and those who are the first in their families to attend college - disproportionately suffer.



We think this status quo is unacceptable. Rivet School is a college built for real life - a new type of college experience designed from the ground up to support traditionally underserved students. Rivet School students earn an accredited, job-relevant bachelor’s degree in as little as 2-3 years and for around $10,000 total. We’re part of the Postsecondary Success Collective- a network of innovative organizations that use a unique university-to-community model.



Rivet School is a fast-growing nonprofit currently supporting ~200 students across California, aiming to enroll another 150 new students by the end of 2023. We’re a tight-knit, supportive, and diverse team of 20.

Why do we need you

As we work to recruit more Riveters and grow our impact, we’ll need more capacity to support a growing number of new applicants. We’re not here to duplicate the traditional admissions experience where a student can get lost in the countless tasks and to-dos needed to enroll in college. Instead, we think innovatively about how to offer a different admissions experience, one that is streamlined, easy-to-navigate, and supportive. We’re quick on our feet when problems arise, and we make decisions with our students in mind. As our next Admissions Specialist, you’ll work on the front lines, managing and supporting all aspects of our admissions process alongside the rest of our admissions team.



We need you to work directly with prospective fellows, supporting them as they navigate our application, financial aid options, transfer of credits, and Onboarding process. But you’ll do more than execute; you’ll also join our admissions team in thinking critically about how we communicate with applicants, how we manage our admissions process and pipeline, and how we can best set up new students for success.



As an Admissions Specialist, you’ll be managed by our Associate Director of Admissions, Angelina Rucobo, and will work directly with a team of Admissions Specialists, Alanza Mirabella, and Lorena Rodriguez. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
  • Pipeline support/Applicant Management (~60% of the role): You’ll complete 1:1 calls with prospective fellows, track follow-ups for your assigned cohort of prospects, offer application support, review submitted applications, serve as Onboarding students’ financial planning advisor, and support Onboarding students to prepare for the program before you hand them over to their College Coach.
  • Admissions Projects (~20% of the role) Outside of executing your daily work, you’ll also think critically about how we communicate with applicants, how we manage our admissions process and pipeline, and how we can best set up new students for success. You’ll do this by working with the admissions team on strategic projects to support prospective students through the admissions pipeline (e.g., supporting the admissions team by leading conversion strategies at each pipeline stage).
  • Operations (~20% of the role) Keep detailed and organized data by inputting student information into our CRM, maintaining airtight task documentation, and consistently following internal processes.


Who you are

Below we list some specific skills, experiences, and dispositions we seek in a candidate. We also don't expect all strong candidates to excel at every one of these skill areas! So if you're intrigued by this role but have less familiarity with one of the bullets below, we strongly encourage you to apply anyway.

Characteristics & qualities
  • You have a deep interest in helping traditionally underserved students access opportunities. A typical Riveter is in their late 20s; a first-generation college student; Black, Latino, and AAPI; a parent or has significant family responsibilities; and has previously enrolled in and stopped out of college. You understand that our current education system discriminates against low-income people and people of color in systemic ways, and you want to be part of changing outcomes.
  • You’re a “people person” who draws energy from relationships and working with others. You are exceptional at quickly building rapport with people you’ve just met. You’re charismatic, but more importantly, you care.
  • You sweat the small stuff and are meticulous about documenting, communicating, and organizing your work.
  • You love using technology and have a knack for using and customizing tech systems. Bonus points if you’re proficient in Google Docs, Sheets, and Salesforce.
  • You hustle (in the best sense) and relentlessly pursue your goals. You love the thrill of a big, meaningful challenge and aren’t easily discouraged by setbacks.
  • You’re creative, adaptable, and like variety. You’re a fast learner and are comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity.
  • You’re an excellent writer and a keen communicator. You can readily tailor a message for a variety of audiences.
  • You have experience applying for federal financial aid using the FAFSA or helping others do so. We’re particularly interested in candidates who have worked in an educational institution’s financial aid office, have helped students complete the FAFSA, and have helped students navigate financial aid options and resources.
  • You have experience in navigating the college transfer process or have helped others do so. We’re particularly interested in candidates who have worked in an educational institution’s college transfer office or have supported students in completing the transfer process.

Our Core Value Expectations
  • Not Yet: You’re open & receptive to feedback, acknowledging gaps and taking steps to correct them.
  • No BS: You are honest communicative, and balance competing interests appropriately, and help foster an environment in which the full team can do the same.
  • We are the Riveters: You treat Fellows and team members as whole people with whole lives and do not shame team members or fellows for falling short of expectations.
  • On the Journey: You adopt a low-ego, self-responsible approach to work and collaboration, taking accountability for mistakes and proactively seeking solutions to challenges.

Work experience and background
  • You should have experience in direct student work - and you might also be a savvy problem solver with a track record showing how you meet or exceed your goals. We’re particularly interested in candidates that have worked in some student enrollment, financial aid support, matriculation capacity, or higher education fields before this role.
  • You’ve likely worked on a team towards a shared goal or objective - perhaps working towards sales goals, recruitment targets, or student enrollment goals.
  • In general, we define “work experience” broadly, and we care as much about work experience as we do your character, potential, and belief in our mission of building a better college experience for low-income and working students.
  • ‍We do not require a bachelor’s degree, but we do view it as an asset. Rivet School also supports staff members without a BA on their pathway to earning a college degree. We also are particularly enthusiastic about candidates who share proximity to our learners - candidates who worked while attending college, attended a community college en route to a BA were an adult or parent learner, or in some other way deviated from the so-called “traditional” pathway.


Why you should apply

As the fourth member of our admissions team, you’ll play a crucial role in taking Rivet School to the next level. Your work will directly impact the organization’s ability to grow and serve thousands of students in the coming years.
You’ll also join a committed, high-performing, thoughtful, and very fun (if we say so ourselves) team. Here’s what a few team members say about working at Rivet School: I've never worked in a more supportive organization. The team fosters a culture of collaboration and openness that makes me feel comfortable bringing my whole self to work everyday. It’s hard to imagine a better workplace. Team members are genuine, empathetic, open to feedback, and competent. Collaborative work is woven into the Rivet School culture. As an introvert who usually prefers to work alone, I find collaborating with my team to be fun, productive, and supportive. I appreciate our open discussions on race, equity and inclusion and how each of us takes responsibility to use this lens in our work.
Learn more about the Rivet School team on our website here or on Glassdoor.

The nitty gritty

  • The start date range is May 1st through June 5th. We’re looking to fill this role as soon as possible and will consider applications as they’re submitted.
  • This is a full-time role with flexible hours and location. Our office is in Richmond, CA. You’ll be expected to work in our Richmond office at least one day per week to attend team meetings - outside of that; you’re free to work where you like, with openness to periods of remote work.
  • For this role, we prefer candidates based in the greater Bay Area. Still, we’re open to a remote version of this role (with occasional travel) for the right candidate who lives outside the Bay Area in California or elsewhere in the U.S.
  • We mandate proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for employment, to be submitted at the time of offer acceptance.
  • We offer health benefits (medical, dental, and vision), 15 days of PTO per year, 17 recognized holiday days off, one floating holiday, and ten days of Wellness Time (formerly known as sick time).
  • You’ll have a lot of flexibility in your work hours. Still, because many of our applicants and students work during the day, 1:1 admissions support often happens in the late afternoon or evening. Ideally, you’ll be comfortable working shifted hours (for instance, 11 am - 7 pm) for up to 5 days per week.
  • At Rivet School, we use a competency-based hiring and leveling framework to ensure equity and fairness in promotions and compensation. For this position, we are open to candidates with a wider variety of experience levels. The associated salary range for these levels is $63,500 - $71,750.

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