AmeriCorps Transition Coach in Portland

Position Details/Hours: Portland-based; In-Person; Monday - Friday (40-45 hours/week)

Start Date: March 3, 2025

End Date: August 29, 2025

Term of Service: 900 hours

Compensation

• Living Stipend of at least $11,329.41 or $871.49/biweekly
• AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of $3,697.50
• 100% Employer Paid Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits

WHO WE ARE

As one of the largest and most successful college access and success programs in the country since 2000, College Possible has helped more than 85,700 students from underserved communities get into and through college through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Its pioneering model matches students with a near-peer coach and an evidence-based curriculum designed to help students overcome the most common barriers to getting into college and completing their degree - all at no cost to students or their families. Nationwide, College Possible students are three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree within six years than their peers from similar backgrounds.

College Possible is a proud AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service. Our AmeriCorps members commit to a year of service as a College Possible coach in communities nationwide. Many coaches represent the identities of the students they serve, and each brings a commitment to social justice and closing the college equity divide.

Our near-peer coaching model has earned national recognition: the inaugural Evergreen National Education Award recognized our leadership in increasing access to and success in college for students from low-income backgrounds. It also earns top-of-field results: a Harvard study found that the program more than doubles a student's chance of enrolling in a four-year college, and our students are four times more likely to become college graduates than their low-income peers. College Possible has an annual operating budget of ~$33.5 million, more than 190 full-time employees and more than 245 AmeriCorps and VISTA service members. During the 2021-2022 school year, we reached an estimated 25,700 students nationwide.

Headquartered in Saint Paul, MN, College Possible operates regional sites in Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; Saint Paul, MN; and Seattle, WA; as well as Catalyze partnerships in California, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.

OUR COACHES

College Possible Coaches are selected from a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds across the United States to serve our students as college access and success mentors; each Coach brings their unique skill set to assist students' success. We seek talented, caring, and capable people committed to supporting our students in their path to college. Through this service year opportunity, our Coaches develop leadership skills, participate in professional development workshops, engage in public speaking and much more. This is not only a positive learning experience for our students but for our Coaches as well!

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The College Possible AmeriCorps Transition Coach supports high school seniors through high school graduation and the summer transition period to ensure fall enrollment. Transition Coaches assist in presenting college workshops to high school students, serve as additional support in teaching College Possible sessions and help engage unenrolled College Possible students to better determine their future college and career goals. 

All high coaches are required to be in the office every Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM for mandatory ongoing training. Coaches must have reliable transportation to and from the office, assigned school placements, affiliated institutions, and other required locations.

Transition Coach

• Communicate with program participants, College Possible members and staff in person and via email, phone, and other technology tools
• Track and record program participants information using Salesforce and Microsoft excel
• Work individually with students on their transition from high school to college
• Support programming for high academic achieving students 
• Participate in weekly meetings and group planning sessions/trainings
• Research colleges and universities to provide supplemental resources for student enrollment
• Submit weekly timesheets, periodic reports (i.e., monthly reports, self-evaluations, and supervisor evaluations), and other service-related documentation as required
• Attend and support required programmatic and community service events

Marginal Functions

• Assist with AmeriCorps recruitment (generating visibility on college campuses, tabling, speaking to college classes)
• Chaperone campus visits, college fairs, and other events for students 
• Help with other organizational tasks as requested; ie. working with the media, leading training for other AmeriCorps Members, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS

• You are a U.S. citizen; AmeriCorps members are required to be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents
• You are a recent College Graduate and have obtained a bachelor's degree by February 2025
• You must clear a National Service Criminal History Check and all other security and health requirements set forth by College Possible and the school district in which you serve before the start of training

COMPUTER/SOFTWARE SKILLS

• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and other Office Suite programs.

OTHER SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND REQUIREMENTS

• Desire to work in a growing nonprofit organization with a strong commitment to the mission of helping students from low-income backgrounds earn admission to college and persist toward degree completion.
• Expected to embrace our Core Values of inclusive culture, student success, teamwork, impact and growth + innovation and have a significant commitment to the mission of helping all students earn admission to college and persist toward degree completion.
• Strong communication skills in public speaking, in working collaboratively with others in a team, and in building trusting relationships with students and school partners.
• Adaptability, flexibility, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
• Desire to engage in diversity, inclusion and/or equity work.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with diverse types of people in a team environment.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to effectively interpret data and reports.
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Top quality organization skills, unwavering ability to meet deadlines, multi-task, and handle potentially stressful situations calmly and appropriately.
• Willingness and ability to take initiative and thrive in new environments.
• Motivated and able to work independently as well as with a team.
• Able to establish and maintain cooperative professional relationships.
• Flexibility to work in multiple locations. Time is split between the College Possible office and affiliated institutions.
• Access to reliable transportation required.

COLLEGE POSSIBLE COACH BENEFITS & PERKS

• Consistent professional & leadership development training
• Employee Assistance Program access, with mental, physical, & financial wellness benefits
• Company-provided technology
• Company-provided gear & apparel
• Access to College Possible alumni network

AMERICORPS ELIGIBLE BENEFITS

• Student loan deferment and interest forbearance for qualified loans
• Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
• Child care benefits program
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
• Access to Schools of National Service Network for additional education benefits
• Access to AmeriCorps alumni & Employers of National Service networks