STEP INSTRUCTOR College Readiness

The College Readiness Instructor will play a key role in supporting STEP participants in preparing for higher education. This position combines college application guidance, career readiness skill-building, and practice test assistance. The Instructor will design and deliver engaging after-school workshops to help students strengthen academic skills, complete competitive college applications, and develop strategies for postsecondary success.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate after-school workshops on college readiness topics, including essay writing, personal statements, resume development, and interview preparation.
• Guide students through the college application process, including CUNY, SUNY, and private institutions.
• Provide individualized support with FAFSA/TAP, scholarship applications, and supplemental materials.
• Assist students with practice tests and test-taking strategies for exams such as the SAT, ACT, and Regents.
• Integrate career readiness activities, including goal setting, time management, and professional communication.
• Collaborate with STEP program staff to track student progress and provide regular updates.
• Maintain an inclusive, supportive, and motivating learning environment that encourages participation and confidence.
• Perform related administrative tasks, such as attendance tracking and workshop planning, as required by the Research Foundation of CUNY and BMCC.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, English, Counseling, or related field
• Prior experience working with high school students in academic enrichment, college readiness, or after-school programming
• Strong background in English instruction, essay writing, and career/college preparation
• Knowledge of the college admissions process, including financial aid and scholarship resources
• Familiarity with standardized tests (SAT, ACT, Regents) and effective test-preparation strategies
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to engage, motivate, and support diverse student populations
• Self-motivated, reliable, and able to work independently as well as part of a team

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.