Scholar Recruitment & Family Engagement Specialist en College Track

College Track is a comprehensive college completion program. Our students benefit from a 10‑year integrated program that helps them overcome obstacles on the path to a bachelor’s degree and a meaningful career. We offer academic, financial, and personalized support over 10 years to help students persist through college and graduate.

What began in 1997 with 25 students in East Palo Alto has grown into a national movement of more than 5,400 scholars and alumni who are driving change in their families, campuses, workplaces, and communities. Today, we operate 13 centers rooted in communities across California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C. Metro Area, with our newest site opening in Baltimore, thanks to a bold partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank, and Baltimore City Public Schools. To learn more, please visit www.collegetrack.org. 

Our Impact

Our scholars are leaders on more than 300 college campuses nationwide, including at partner institutions like Middlebury College, Tulane University, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. They graduate at rates that are three times the national average for first-generation students, proving what’s possible when talent meets opportunity. One year after college, 80 percent of our alumni are employed, and by age 30, they earn an average of $89,823—outpacing the national median and demonstrating the long-term economic mobility a bachelor’s degree unlocks.

These outcomes are the result of a deliberate approach that supports scholars to minimize student debt, secure paid internships, and reduce the need to work excessive hours while in school—ensuring they can focus on learning, leadership, and personal growth. By preparing our scholars to capture the full value of their degree, we position them to thrive in the 21st-century economy and lead lives of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power.

Our Values

At College Track, our values drive the way we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our passion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged. 

• COMMITMENT: With every choice and every decision, we center the 10-year promise. 
• PASSION: It is the fire that drives us, and we’re in it for the long haul.
• JOY: Energized by the hopes, ambitions, and growth of our scholars, we celebrate the impact of our community.
• AUTHENTICITY: What each brings to the table contributes to deep and trusting relationships.
• EXCELLENCE: Every day is better than the last, we’re always learning, always progressing, always evolving.

Position Overview 

The Scholar Recruitment & Family Engagement Specialist plays a critical role in launching a scholar’s College Track journey. Reporting to the Director of Program, this role is responsible for project managing the scholar recruitment, retention,  and family engagement process, while galvanizing the full site team to share responsibility for achieving recruitment, culture-building, and family education outcomes.

In the first half of the academic year, this role leads the end-to-end recruitment strategy to ensure the 9th grade cohort is fully enrolled, mission-aligned, and culturally connected to the program. Once the cohort is enrolled, the Specialist transitions into leading the 9th Grade Learning Lab or LEAD experience (as determined by the site ESD and/or DOP) and builds the foundation of the Consolidated Education Plan (CEP) in partnership with College  Counselors & Advisors. This role ensures that both scholars and families are introduced early to the expectations, structure, and opportunities of the full 10-year model from academic readiness to college completion and career entry.

Primary Responsibilities 

Scholar Recruitment and Selection

• Design and lead the implementation of the site’s 9th grade recruitment strategy, ensuring a fully enrolled and mission-aligned cohort.
• Build and maintain relationships with local schools, community-based organizations (CBOs), and feeder programs to create a robust recruitment pipeline.
• Serve as the site’s primary public-facing voice at recruitment events, panels, and community forums.
• Manage application processes, interviews, enrollment tracking, and selection communications in partnership with site and central teams.
• Leverage the site team, alumni, families, and current scholars as partners in outreach and storytelling.

Project Management and Staff Engagement

• Coordinate and align site-wide staff involvement in recruitment and family engagement activities.
• Develop clear systems, calendars, and ownership plans to ensure that recruitment and onboarding are shared responsibilities.
• Collaborate with program staff to co-design culturally affirming onboarding experiences for new scholars and families.

9th Grade Culture and Cohort Development 

• Lead the planning and facilitation of the 9th Grade Learning Lab or LEAD curriculum, with a focus on scholar identity, purpose, peer connection, and academic readiness.
• Facilitate and manage the Apple Bytes workshop programming
• Create opportunities for cohort bonding, community-building rituals, and values-based experiences that anchor scholars in the College Track culture.
• In partnership with Academic Advisors and College Counselors & Advisors, launch the development of each scholar’s Consolidated Education Plan (CEP) to ensure a personalized and comprehensive start to their 10-year journey.
• Collaborate with colleagues and instructional leaders to continuously improve curriculum implementation through reflective practice, peer feedback, and shared planning.

Family Engagement and Multi-Year Planning

• Design and manage a four-year family engagement and retention plan that includes orientation, workshops, and ongoing learning touchpoints aligned to the 10-year model.
• Facilitate content or co-facilitate sessions on topics such as college competitiveness, financial aid, adolescent development, and family-school partnership.
• Build trusting relationships with caregivers as co-educators and advocates for their scholar’s success.
• Track and analyze family engagement participation data and feedback to continuously improve experiences.
• Partner with Academic Advisors, College Counselors & Advisors, and site leadership to ensure aligned scholar onboarding, family messaging, and program integration.
• Work closely with communications and development teams to support storytelling, family engagement and retention campaigns, and donor engagement opportunities.

Data Management

• Use College Track’s data systems to manage and monitor student applications and the partner network
• Use data from College Track data systems as well as district databases to inform annual recruitment strategies that respond to the landscape of our area
• Regularly review the number of applicants and admitted students as compared to our goal and adjust the strategy accordingly
• Comfort with excel, spreadsheets and regular usage of data
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications 

First and foremost, the Scholar Recruitment & Family Engagement Specialists will be a fierce advocate for College Track’s mission to equip scholars confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Additionally, candidates bring with them the following skills, experience, and knowledge:

• 3-5 years of experience working with families and young people (late middle and high school youth)
• Spanish language fluency preferred
• Excellent persuasive verbal and written communication skills to explain the program to external partners, and answer the questions of students’ caregivers
• Demonstrated success in project management, including the ability to manage calendars, deadlines, events, and people toward shared goals
• Experience creating culturally responsive onboarding and learning environments for youth and families
• Comfort with reviewing, analyzing, and making strategic adjustments based on data 
• Demonstrated history of innovation, reflection, and continuous improvement
• Minimum 4 year college degree
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass College Track’s driver's clearance process. This role involves frequent visits to high schools.
• Ability to work in person Monday–Friday (generally 11 a.m.–7 p.m., with flexibility during seasonal cycles); some weekend work required.
• Physical Requirements: alternating between sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, standing, typing on a keyboard, manipulating a mouse to use a computer's operating system/internet, and more active work such as moving around an office environment, communicating with scholars/stakeholders, (conveying and receiving information), classroom management, far visual acuity, near visual acuity lifting/carrying/moving objects (20 pounds).

Compensation and Benefits

This position is full-time exempt with a full compensation range of  $69,575.00 - $83,375.00 with the exact compensation depending on experience. As someone new to the role, you can expect an offer between $73,025.00 - $76,473.85 to ensure internal equity while leaving room for salary growth during your time in the position. 

College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work-life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 23 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 23 paid office closures and holidays in your first year of employment.  Learn more about benefits here (bit.ly/JpBs22).

What Else You Should Know

• Ability to work in person Monday-Friday between 11am-7pm and sometimes 9:00am -5:00pm depending on time of year. Some weekend work required.
• While we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, we especially encourage applicants who identify as first-generation college graduates to apply for open opportunities on staff.
• College Track is an equal-opportunity employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. College Track does not discriminate based on race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.