Assistant Director of Professional Advancement

Overview

Prep for Prep is a premier educational and leadership development program that develops ethical and effective leaders who reflect our diverse society. Prep identifies New York City’s most promising students of color, prepares them to excel at the nation’s top independent schools, and supports their academic, professional, and personal growth through middle school, high school, college graduation, and beyond. A core component of the Prep for Prep experience is The Preparatory Component, a rigorous 14-month course that prepares students academically and socially to excel in an independent school.

Today, Prep’s more than 4,000 alumni serve in leadership roles in nearly every industry and facet of society, including education, business, finance, law, technology, media, government, charitable organizations, and the arts.

Learn more about Prep for Prep at www.prepforprep.org.

Position Summary: Professional Advancement is under the umbrella of Leadership Development Opportunities and is led
by the Director of Leadership Development Opportunities. The Assistant Director of Professional Advancement is primarily responsible for maintaining and improving Prep for Prep’s Summer Internship Program, focusing on college students. The Assistant Director of Professional Advancement reports to the Director of Professional Advancement.

Responsibilities for this role include, but are not limited to, these primary areas:
Summer Internship Program (SIP) and Early Career
Oversee the student recruitment and selection process of approximately 150-175 college students, including interviewing, tracking placement activities, employer outreach, and negotiating employment terms (wage, hours, project assignments). Refer students to positions based on skills and interests while advocating for applicants.
Review, edit, and finalize student resumes and cover letters to ensure professionalism and competitiveness.
Provide career advising throughout the internship cycle, including during the search process, interview prep, and placement.
Along with the Program Manager, act as a liaison between students, employers, and internal Prep for Prep staff to address concerns and maximize student success.
Oversee stipend distribution and payment processing for Prep-sponsored internships.
Oversee career opportunity communications, ensuring early career alumni and students receive targeted job and professional development opportunities.
In collaboration with the Director of Professional Advancement and the Alumni Affairs team, develop career programming for the Fellowship for early-career alumni.

Event Management and Strategic Partnerships
Lead event logistics for career seminars, including event promotion, registration, and attendance tracking.
Design and oversee career development programming, including professional skills workshops, in collaboration with the Director of Professional Advancement and Program Manager.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with hiring managers and key corporate partners to expand recruitment pipelines and career opportunities.
Oversee special initiatives such as scholarship and external professional development opportunities, ensuring Prep for Prep students are well-positioned.

Program Evaluation and Reporting
Lead data collection and assessment of internship placements, student outcomes, and employer satisfaction, using insights to enhance program effectiveness and partner strategy.
Prepare annual reports and performance summaries for internal and external stakeholders.

Skills, Experience, and Competencies:
Bachelor’s degree required
The ideal candidate will have 3-5  years of experience in career services, workforce development, corporate relations, or student career advising (experience in nonprofit, education, or talent development preferred).
Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders.
Strong program management and strategic planning skills with a track record of student and employer engagement success.
Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and advocate for student talent with employers and industry professionals.
Excellent public speaking and facilitation skills with experience leading career workshops and professional development initiatives.
Data-driven mindset with experience in program evaluation, reporting, and process improvement.
Passion for student success and professional development, with a deep understanding of early-career pathways.
Embody and advocate for Prep for Prep’s values of Excellence, Integrity, Commitment, Courage, and Community.
Superior written and oral communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills, able to plan and manage multiple competing priorities, ensure delivery to deadlines while maintaining attention to detail
Be self-motivated and able to work both independently and within a team structure.
Proficient user of MS Office (Word, Excel, PPT), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, etc.), Canva, and Adobe.
Flexible and adaptable. This role requires some weekend and evening work.

All employees of the organization should see their roles as, one, contributing to achieve Prep for Prep’s mission in the highest quality manner possible and, two, working in conjunction with all other staff members. With this in mind, we designed the tasks above as a general framework for this position’s responsibilities. Flexibility and continued quality improvement are necessary to this institution and require that individuals not perceive any job description as fixed.

Compensation: $75,000 – $80,000 based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

How to Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume with the subject line “Professional Advancement Assistant Director” to personnel@prepforprep.org and cperez@prepforprep.org.

 

Prep for Prep is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for our students, alumni, families, and staff.