Job Description

The Talent Search Advisor is responsible for recruiting, enrolling, and supporting a caseload of eligible youth in grades 6–12 as part of the federally funded Talent Search program. The Advisor will meet annual participation goals and deliver high-quality academic support, pre-college advising, and case management services. This role focuses on guiding students through secondary school success and post-secondary preparation, including course selection, tutoring, financial aid, and college application processes.

Our Talent Search program is designed to assist motivated students who wish to continue their education after high school graduation by providing academic, career, and financial counseling services, encouraging students to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their postsecondary education.

This position is contingent upon continued funding.

Essential functions and responsibilities

Participation:

• Accountable for recruiting and enrolling eligible youth into the program
• Accountable for meeting participation goals and objectives
• Serve program youth in grades 6 through 12
• Accountable for meeting participation goals and objectives set forth by the U.S. Department of Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County

Academic Success Programming:

• Provide support to program members about their progress towards secondary education completion with guidance and advice on secondary school course selection, study and test-taking skills, writing skills, and critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Pre-College Programming:

• Assist high school seniors with the post-secondary educational enrollment process including but not limited to college applications, financial aid applications, and other enrollment tasks for institutions' post-acceptance
• Assist underclassmen with their understanding of post-secondary education pathways, career matching, persisting to the next grade level
• Organize and conduct individual and group advising sessions, workshops and meetings on a weekly basis with program participants on college-readiness topics
• Maintain and develop knowledge of admissions and financial aid processes through various professional development and training platforms online and in-person
• Coordinate and carry out daytime and overnight field trips for program members to engage in college and career exploration, cultural activities and STEM discovery

Case Management:

• Provide holistic and comprehensive case management services to members at assigned site(s) including but not limited to: intake, assessment, goal setting, service planning, progress monitoring, follow-up services, advocacy, documentation, and referral services
• Monitor student participation and ensure program goals and objectives are being met using formative and summative evaluations and processes
• Compile and analyze data to assess caseloads' progress towards goals and objectives using caseload management system and program databases

Facility and Child Safety:

• Accountable for adherence to all organizational health and safety policies and implementation of all safety practices and procedures at assigned work location(s)
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect members, staff, equipment, materials, and facilities. Abide by facility maintenance protocols and procedures to ensure compliance
• Accountable for reporting incidents and completing documentation within required timeline
• Maintain discipline, de-escalate conflict between members and/or others
• Obtain and renew CPR and First Aid certification by deadline

Administrative Compliance:

• Complete all required reports and administrative duties on time
• Accountable for completing accurate and timely paperwork, reports and data entry including daily contact logs, monthly reports, and the Blumen database
• Comply with all administrative policies and procedures, processes and controls including tracking senior progression through college applications, financial aid applications, and postsecondary enrollment
• Accountable for utilizing all BGCGTC communication tools regularly and effectively

Relationships:

• Be a positive role model
• Coordinate and work directly with target schools, community agencies and organizations, and postsecondary institutions to provide services to program youth
• Develop and maintain a working and trusting relationship with program members and families
• Represent the Boys & Girls Club in a positive manner

Attendance:

• Regular attendance is required; arrive on time, work required hours/shift, and leave at the scheduled time
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings, training sessions, and parent/student meetings on time

Requirements

Education and Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree required in education, counseling, social work, higher administration, or an appropriate field related to project objectives
• Minimum of one (1) year of appropriate and relevant professional experience working for a TRIO federal program or similar related program/project

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to work regular program hours with periodic evenings, nights, and weekends
• Ability to build relationships and work effectively with youth and internal/external stakeholders including school personnel and administrators
• Ability to be patient with youth and adults
• Ability to identify needs and find solutions
• Ability to motivate others into action
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Proficient documentation skills
• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
• Ability to follow directions both verbally and written
• Strong working knowledge of secondary core course curriculum
• Knowledge of technology and software such as tablets, social media, cloud-based tools, virtual meeting tools
• Effective organizational and planning skills
• Ability to provide knowledge of college preparatory activities
• Must be able to obtain CPR and First Aid certification
• Must be able to pass agency background screens and drug screens at any time
• Must have reliable transportation, liability insurance, satisfactory driving record, and a valid driver’s license for operation of a motor vehicle relevant to carrying out duties

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual
• Case management experience
• TRiO experience
• Work experience with or program knowledge of the Boys & Girls Club Movement (national and/or local Club) is an advantage

Pay & Benefits:

• Hourly Pay: $18.78 per hour (nonexempt; full-time)
• Benefits: Medical Insurance, Flex Spending Account, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement with 5% match, Holiday, PTO

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County is an equal opportunity employer. It maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent discrimination against any qualified employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability and medical condition to the extent protected by law. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all employment practices, including hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, training, and termination.