COLLEGE SERVICE ASSOCIATE
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Job Title: College Service Associate
Reports to: GEAR UP Massachusetts Program Director, Head of School
Location: Lawrence High School
Job Type: Full-Time
GEAR UP Massachusetts- College Service Associate, Lawrence, MA - reports to GEAR UP Massachusetts Program Director Type: Full Time
Salary: $61,788- 63,288
For a maximum of : 37.5 hours/week
Position Overview:
- The GEAR UP Massachusetts College Service Associate is responsible for implementing GEAR UP Massachusetts college & career readiness activities with the students, parents, teachers and guidance staff in collaboration with the administration of Lawrence High School (LHS), Lawrence, MA and reporting on student outcomes.
- The GEAR UP Massachusetts College Service Associate is responsible for planning college & career readiness events for students of LHS and must seek prior approval from Program Director on all items. Efforts include student recruitment, academic support initiatives, financial aid assistance/FAFSA completion, college application completion, college knowledge and parental engagement programming for students of LHS. Approval must be requested 2 weeks in advance.
- The GEAR UP Massachusetts College Service Associate is responsible for teaching the GEAR UP college & career readiness curriculum to LHS students on a daily basis in addition to fulfilling the requirements of meeting with an assigned caseload of students in an effort to increase the number who graduate high school and pursue post-secondary education.
Essential Contract Functions:
- Develop & present 2026-2027 GU/LHS Action Plan outlining critical services for the year and resources required to achieve objectives.
- Meet with LHS Principal and GEAR UP Massachusetts Program Director on a monthly basis to ensure goals and objectives are being met & submit monthly reports with student signup sheets as assigned.
- Meet or exceed GU/LHS student recruitment goals as assigned by Program Director & report on monthly progress toward goals
- Meet or exceed GU/LHS goals regarding college application completion, FAFSA/FSAID, PSAT/SAT testing targets, college counseling & visits as assigned by Program Director & report on monthly progress toward goals.
- Utilize the Gear Up Program Services (GUPS) database to track progress on goals and objectives set and meet GU deadlines for required services
- Implement & monitor progress on GU College & Career Readiness curriculum during advisory periods and provide training and support to LHS teachers & guidance staff as needed.
- Coordinate college informational sessions.
- Scholarships lead.
- Coordinate and lead the Trade and Career Schools Fair.
- Coordinate the MCAC (Massachusetts College Application Celebration) for 12th graders.
- The College Service Associate is expected to offer services to grades 9-12.
- Ability to participate in after school, overnight and weekend events related to the program, such as Parent Nights, Student Leadership Conference, etc.
- Ability to travel to professional development events held throughout the state/region as required.
Non-essential Job Functions:
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree required in academic subject area or related field with prior teaching, counseling, or tutoring experience.
- Ability to pass appropriate background checks in order to function as a direct service provider to middle and high school students.
- Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication skills required along with the ability to work independently and with diverse groups.
- Experience providing student services, knowledge of programs serving underrepresented students, ability to work with disadvantaged students, and experience working with urban students and their families.
Preferred Qualifications/Other Skills/Abilities:
- Bilingual Preferred (Spanish and English)
- Familiarity with Massachusetts high school graduation and college admissions requirements preferred.
- Passing score on the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Skills section preferred.
- Masters degree preferred.
- Familiarity with the city of Lawrence, MA and Merrimack Valley region.
GEAR UP Overview:
GEAR UP Massachusetts is a federally funded grant program that serves 6,300 low-income students in 16 schools across seven of the Commonwealth's most impoverished areas: Boston, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Administered through the Department of Higher Education's Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), GEAR UP has helped more than 30,000 students chart a path toward high school graduation and college success over its 19 year history. During the 2011-2018 grant, GEAR UP students achieved gains in standardized test scores and comparisons with non-GEAR UP students showed that participants were much more likely to take the SAT, complete financial aid forms, and enroll in college. This is a grant funded position (2025-2032) therefore employment is contingent upon continuation funding of the GEAR UP Massachusetts program from the US Department of Education.
Position : 307732003
Location : LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Posting End : 09/23/2026
SALARY RANGE: $61,788.00-$63,228.00
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