Senior Manager of Postsecondary Success

Senior Manager of Postsecondary Success

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager of Postsecondary Success is responsible for leading Say Yes Buffalo’s strategy and execution of postsecondary access, success, and partnership initiatives across high school and college pathways. This role provides vision, leadership, and oversight of programs that ensure students successfully transition to postsecondary education.

The Senior Manager of Postsecondary Success supervises the Postsecondary Access Manager (formerly Scholarship Supervisor – High School) and the Postsecondary Success Manager (formerly Scholarship Supervisor – College), ensuring alignment across the Say Yes scholarship lifecycle from high school preparation through college matriculation.

Additionally, the Senior Manager of Postsecondary Success will manage the organization’s facilitation of the Buffalo College Access and Success Network, convening access and success organizations around the common goal of postsecondary completion. Using the Commission on Purposeful Pathways Framework as a guide, this will include the supervision of new team members focused on Career Navigation for high school students and Postsecondary Completion for postsecondary students.

This position also leads the development and management of strategic partnerships with institutions of higher education (IHEs), training providers, and other postsecondary stakeholders to create and implement the Related Technical Instruction (RTI) requirements of the Youth Apprenticeship Pathway.

Essential Duties:

Strategic Leadership & Supervision:

• Develop and implement Say Yes Buffalo’s college access and success strategy in collaboration with organizations working toward similar goals of high school completion, postsecondary matriculation, postsecondary persistence, and postsecondary completion.
• Directly supervise and support colleagues providing Career Navigation and Postsecondary success support to our students.
• Directly supervise and support the Postsecondary Access Manager and Postsecondary Success Manager, providing ongoing coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance metrics across postsecondary access and success functions, including FAFSA/TAP completion, scholarship application completion, and scholarship administration.
• Manage scholarship appeals process, including development of process improvement and process efficiencies
• Manage bi-weekly scholarship payment process in collaboration with Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and Postsecondary Success Manager
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture grounded in accountability and student impact.
• Align postsecondary access and success work with broader organizational priorities, including workforce development and career pathways.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Oversee staffing structures, workflow efficiencies, and resource allocation

RTI for Youth Workforce Pathways:

• Create a task force with IHEs, Say Yes, and school districts to develop an RTI strategy for moving the program to start in high school, if applicable.
• Collaborate with IHEs, school districts, and employers to create a sustainable RTI plan each program year based on current verticals and employer partners.
• Coordinate RTI with new employers as they agree to a partnership.
• Develop additional relationships with RTI providers/IHEs to provide high-quality and equitable
• options for employers and youth.
• Support the development of innovative pathways, including dual enrollment, certification programs, and alternative credentialing opportunities.
• Assist with engagement activities between IHEs and students.

Youth Apprenticeship University (AU):

• With program growth, AU will become a large-scale event requiring high-level management and execution. Responsibilities to include:

• Expand into larger series to meet the demands of growing program and funder requirements.
• Provide project management oversight of the team charged with bootcamp implementation and provide in-person support throughout the event.
• Develop and manage the AU budget

Additional Responsibilities:

• Believe and practice Say Yes Buffalo’s Racial Equity Statement. “Equity will be achieved when we can all just wake up and live freely; be valued and respected; live free from structural impediments based on perceived racial characteristics; and have fair representation and opportunity.”
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to all federal, state, and organizational data policies
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Other Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with or in secondary and postsecondary institutions
• Strong understanding of government financial aid programs, including NYS TAP and Federal Pell
• 5+ years of supervisory or team leadership experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage programs, partnerships, and cross-functional initiatives
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills
• Ability to analyze data and use insights to drive decision-making
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to attend off-site meetings and events.
• Ability to satisfactorily complete required background screenings, including criminal and driving record checks.