Higher Education Support Specialist

Milton Hershey School (MHS) is one of the world's premier pre-K through 12th grade private schools, dedicated to providing cost-free education and housing to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Founded in 1909 through the generosity of Milton and Catherine Hershey, MHS is fully endowed, ensuring students have the resources they need to thrive. The school has empowered nearly 12,000 graduates to lead fulfilling and productive lives and currently serves approximately 2,200 students, with ongoing expansion efforts to support even more young learners.

MHS is seeking a Higher Education Support Specialist to inspire, advise, and guide recent MHS graduates throughout their pursuit of higher education degrees and certifications. The Specialist plays a key role in supporting and guiding recent graduates through their post-secondary experience to help increase their college persistence and completion rates. Most MHS graduates are first generation college students. This position is responsible for supporting approximately 200 college students at a variety of college campuses across the state and country.

The Specialist is responsible for:

• Provide academic advising and academic progress monitoring for caseload of graduates attending post-secondary programs (reviewing academic schedules, academic progress, utilization of scholarship funding, and more).
• Assist with graduate retention and persistence efforts, tracking at-risk students for focused advising and assisting with special programming for student retention
• Maintain accurate records to monitor student progress and identify strategies for continuous improvement.
• Utilize programmatic data and results in determining students' academic performance
• Partnering with graduates' institutions of learning to ensure graduates are actively participating in relevant programming to ensure student success.
• Proactively building positive and trusting relationships with recent graduates to foster transparent conversations enabling the Specialist to provide meaningful guidance, direction, and support in a timely manner to graduates.
• Providing frequent, relevant, informative, and helpful outreach and updates to their graduate case load.
• Visiting graduates on their post-secondary school campuses. (60% travel)
• Periodically co-present in senior seminar courses teaching seniors about higher education and postsecondary success.
• Collaborate with other MHS staff to organize special events, align efforts, and ensure continuity.
• Pro-actively self-educate to ensure knowledge and strategies are current and best practices are being followed.

• Bachelor's degree required - Higher Education or School Counseling preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in higher education, academic advising and/or working with first-generation college students.
• Experience working with diverse and underrepresented populations.
• Demonstrated success in inspiring & facilitating graduate success.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills - including the ability to influence, lead, educate and collaborate.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility when plans or situations change unexpectedly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and social media. Familiarity with PowerFAIDS applications a plus.
• Willing to travel frequently. 60% travel - including some overnight travel.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license.
• Candidates must demonstrate a high degree of integrity as all MHS staff are considered role models for students.
• MHS desires candidates who are "all in" and are interested in actively engaging with students.