Post-Secondary Program Manager

Position Title: Post-Secondary Program Manager

Date: June 2026

Reports To: Program Director

Classification: Exempt

Salary Range: $60,000-$65,000

General Description

Hope Ignites Colorado Post-Secondary Program Manager is a member of the program team that guides motivated, first-generation college bound high school and college students on their pathways to graduation and beyond. Through year-round outside-of-school-hours programming including tutoring, career exploration, and campus visits, the Hope Ignites Colorado Academy Program creates a culture of college ambition and college preparation for secondary students. Hope Ignites Colorado high school enrichment also includes service learning, character education, and life skills training to promote positive youth development. Hope Ignites Colorado provides post-secondary students with academic, financial, and career transition guidance in addition to some scholarship funding. The team delivers programming that is nurturing, respectful, culturally responsive, and upholds the Hope Ignites Colorado values.

The Post-Secondary Program Manager is a direct collegian support (75%) position that includes administrative work (25%) related to data tracking, financial record keeping, communications, event organization, and resource acquisition and care. The Post-Secondary Program Manager collaborates with the team on design of college-preparation programming, collegian-support programming, and partnership building. The Post-Secondary Program Manager reports to the Program Director.

Major Areas of Responsibility

Post-Secondary Program Management (general)

· Assist Program Director in identifying and maintaining relationships with specific university support programs and professionals who will be key contacts for Hope Ignites Colorado collegians.

· Communicate with all collegians regarding group events, program notices, and opportunities.

· Maintain relationships with business partners who are hosting collegian interns.

· Assist with the recruitment, selection and training of college transition mentors and other volunteers for Hope Ignites Colorado when necessary.

· Develop and maintain relationships with program alumni.

Collegian Support

· Maintain direct, individual communication with a caseload of approximately 70 collegians.

· Spend quality time building relationships with collegians

· Prepare collegians for interviews; review resumes, scholarship essays and graduate school application essays; write letters of recommendation.

· Guide collegians through goal setting, transition plans, success plans, and scholarship application forms, including FAFSA, financial need calculation worksheets and budgets.

· Create intervention plans for collegians who are struggling academically, emotionally, or socially. Also, direct collegians to specific on-campus support programs available at their schools.

· Assist collegians in choosing internships and track their progress.

· Travel to campuses for in-person meetings on occasion (1-2 campuses per major Colorado university per semester).

· Maintain contact and a coaching relationship with collegians-on-leave who have plans to complete their degrees.

Scholar Support (grades 9-12)

· Create and facilitate 1-2 college guidance meetings for senior scholars and their families.

· Collaborate with Hope Ignites Colorado Academy Program Managers and Program Director on campus visits and other college planning activities for high school students.

· Assist Academy Program Managers with critical College Cost Comparisonmeetings.

Administrative and Record Keeping

· Record data (transcripts, scholarship awards, etc.) and communication logs in the Hope Ignites Colorado database; maintain current contact records; and organize physical files.

· Provide periodic reports to the Executive Director and Program Director with all information necessary to carry out their supervision, governance, and planning responsibilities. Program records include success plans, academic records, financial aid and scholarship records, assessment results, and other information as required.

· Ensure proper care, maintenance, and tracking of Hope Ignites Colorado property, including vehicles, technology, educational supplies, and recreational equipment.

Critical Criteria

Applicants must:

· Minimum Bachelor’s degree.

· Possess a valid driver's license and a good driving record.

· Certification in CPR and First Aid will also be required as a condition of continued employment.

Required competencies for success:

· Proactive nature with ability to identify potential bottlenecks or opportunities long before they arise and prepare resources ahead of time.

· Solution-oriented, high initiative, and adaptable. Each of the 70 collegians is different and needs a different approach. It's not a "one way fits all" program.

· Calm, logical mindset and empathetic. Kind but firm approach in guidance.

· Persistence. If collegians don’t engage, perseverance is necessary to get a response.

· Strong organizational skills

· Ability to set, measure, and implement programmatic goals.

· Knowledge of teaching and evaluation methods to interpret testing, college transcripts, etc.

· Proficiency in a variety of technology tools and social media platforms.

· Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with young adults and adolescents, parents and guardians, colleagues, college administrators and other audiences verbally and in writing.

· Ability to coach positive study habits; problem-solving skills; self-advocacy skills.

· Conversational fluency in Spanish is preferred, but not required.

· Flexibility to manage several projects and activities at the same time.

· Ability to track financials to budget.

· Ability to provide training, constructive feedback and supervision of volunteers.

· Professional work habits and dress.

Working Conditions

The position is a hybrid position with approximately 60% of work at the Hope Ignites Colorado office location and high school Academy locations (Aurora Central HS and Regis Jesuit HS) and approximately 40% remote work. This position requires the ability to travel to area universities and events. Must be able to provide supervision to adolescents and young adults in a school, classroom, and community setting.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• teaching and evaluation: 1 year (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Aurora, CO 80014: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Aurora, CO 80014