Post-Secondary Pathways Lead Counselor Futures Ignite - 5.0 New York, NY Job Details Full-time $70,000 - $75,000 a year 8 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Flexible spending account Paid time off Vision insurance Qualifications School experience Teamwork Student caseload management Interpersonal skills Family collaboration in education Program development Student performance data analysis Employee relationship building College planning Bachelor's degree Collaboration with other professionals for student support Working with students Working with families Workshop facilitation experience School counseling services facilitation Data-driven decision making Working with youth

Full Job Description Position:

Post-Secondary Pathways Lead Counselor Category:

Full-time, exempt Reports to:

Deputy Director To Apply:

Send cover letter and resume to About Futures Ignite Futures Ignite partners with schools to spark and propel bold college and career futures for every student. We work at the intersection of college access, career exploration, and youth leadership, ensuring that all students, particularly those from historically underserved communities, graduate with a clear, supported, and best-fit postsecondary plan. Our model is school-based, equity-driven, and deeply relational, embedding programming, advising, and real-world experiences directly into the high school journey. Across our partner schools, students engage in a continuum of support from 9th through 12th grade that includes academic preparation, college and career advising, hands-on career exposure, leadership development, and postsecondary transition support. About the Role Futures Ignite is seeking a dynamic, highly organized, relationship-driven professional to serve as the Post-Secondary Pathways Lead Counselor at WHEELS. The Lead Counselor will serve as Futures Ignite's on-site lead for Postsecondary Pathways programming and will work in close partnership with

WHEELS' DOE

postsecondary counselor, and the broader school counseling and administrative team. WHEELS and Futures Ignite have a longstanding partnership and a shared commitment to ensuring that every student graduates with a strong, best-fit postsecondary plan. This position is designed to strengthen that collaborative model. Rather than operating as a separate college access program, the Lead Counselor will work alongside WHEELS staff to coordinate student advising, divide and manage caseloads, identify students needing additional support, align programming, engage families, and ensure students receive consistent and comprehensive postsecondary guidance. This is a highly student-facing, collaborative, in-person position requiring daily presence at WHEELS. Key Responsibilities College & Postsecondary Pathway Counseling - 40%

• Manage an assigned caseload of students in coordination with the

WHEELS DOE

postsecondary counselor and school counseling team.

• Provide individualized postsecondary advising to students, including: ○ Building balanced and best-fit college lists ○ Reviewing personal statements and supplemental essays ○ Completing CUNY, SUNY, private college, and other postsecondary applications ○ FAFSA and financial aid completion ○ Scholarship and opportunity program applications ○ Comparing financial aid packages and making enrollment decisions ○ Exploring workforce, credential, and other non-college pathways when appropriate • Provide multiple individualized advising touchpoints throughout the year, with additional support for students requiring more intensive intervention.

• Support opportunity program matching and applications, including HEOP, SEEK, EOP, QuestBridge, Posse, and other programs.
• Coordinate matriculation and transition support for graduating seniors to reduce summer melt and ensure successful enrollment.
• Support younger students in developing postsecondary awareness and readiness through FI's 9th-12th grade Postsecondary Pathways curriculum. School Partnership & Collaborative Leadership - 30%
• Serve as Futures Ignite's primary on-site Postsecondary Pathways representative at WHEELS.
• Work closely and consistently with the

WHEELS DOE

postsecondary counselor to create a unified postsecondary strategy for students.

• Establish clear systems with the DOE postsecondary counselor for caseload distribution, student referrals, application tracking, follow-up, and intervention.
• Participate in regular planning and student review meetings with WHEELS counseling staff and administration.
• Coordinate with teachers, counselors, school leadership, and FI staff to identify students who need additional academic, financial aid, application, or transition support.
• Ensure FI programming complements and strengthens the college and career work already happening at WHEELS rather than duplicating services.
• Build strong relationships with students and maintain a visible, accessible presence throughout the school community.
• Partner with families to help them understand and navigate the college application, financial aid, and enrollment process.
• Collaborate with FI leadership on program implementation, priorities, and continuous improvement. Postsecondary Programming & Events - 15% In partnership with the WHEELS postsecondary counseling team and FI staff, plan and execute key postsecondary experiences, including:
• College Application Days
• FAFSA and Financial Aid Workshops
• Family Postsecondary Nights
• College visits and campus trips
• College March
• Decision Day
• Scholarship and opportunity-program workshops
• Bridge Day and Summer Institute
• Senior transition and matriculation activities The Lead Counselor will also help identify opportunities to deepen relationships with colleges and universities and create stronger pathways for WHEELS students. Data, Evaluation & Student Progress - 10%
• Maintain accurate and timely student-level postsecondary data.
• Track key indicators including applications, FAFSA completion, opportunity program applications, acceptances, financial aid, enrollment decisions, and matriculation.
• Work with the

WHEELS DOE

postsecondary counselor and FI leadership to maintain a shared understanding of student progress and identify students requiring intervention.

• Maintain an up-to-date site-level Postsecondary Pathways dashboard.
• Use data to prioritize outreach, adjust programming, and ensure students do not fall through the cracks.
• Provide regular progress updates to FI leadership and collaborate with school partners around trends, gaps, and next steps. External Relations & Collaboration - 5%
• Build relationships with college admissions representatives, opportunity program staff, scholarship organizations, and workforce/pro-pathway partners.
• Coordinate opportunities for college representatives and external partners to engage directly with WHEELS students.
• Represent Futures Ignite, as appropriate, at college access and postsecondary convenings. Skills & Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree required, or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• At least 3 years of experience supporting young people with college access, career pathways, youth development, counseling, or related work.
• Strong understanding of the college application and financial aid process.
• Strong relationship-building skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a school environment.
• Ability to work effectively alongside DOE counselors, administrators, teachers, nonprofit colleagues, students, and families.
• Highly organized and able to manage a student caseload while balancing programming, events, data, and school partnership responsibilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable facilitating workshops, meetings, and student/family programming.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to use student data to inform action.
• Self-directed and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and expanding postsecondary opportunities for historically underserved students.
• Spanish fluency is preferred. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience:
• Providing direct college and postsecondary advising to high school students.
• Working within or in close partnership with NYC public schools.
• Collaborating with school counselors and administrators rather than operating programming independently.
• Supporting FAFSA, financial aid, scholarship, and opportunity-program applications.
• Using student-level data to manage caseloads and identify students requiring additional intervention.
• Organizing college trips, application events, family workshops, and other student-facing programming.

Benefits and Compensation Salary Range:

$70,000-$75,000

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision
• Generous PTO, sick, and bonus days

School-Year Schedule Alignment:

This role primarily follows the NYC DOE school calendar. When DOE schools are closed, staff are generally remote. How to Apply Please submit the following materials to by September 25th. In the subject line, please add: "Post-Secondary Pathways Lead Counselor, Full Name"

• Resume
• In your cover letter, please explain your interest in the role and your qualifications for the role.

Pay:

$70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person