College Access Manager

We are looking for a College Access Manager who brings deep expertise in college advising and an equally deep commitment to the students who need it most. Reporting to the Director of College Access, you will manage college access programming from end to end - serving as a case manager, facilitator, summer experience leader, and partner to a team that cares intensely about outcomes.

Your students will be first-generation college-goers navigating complex systems - applications, financial aid, postsecondary choices - often without a roadmap. You will be that roadmap. You will also help design and run signature summer residential experiences that sit at the heart of C5LA's college access work.

The right person for this role is both a systems thinker and a people person: someone who can manage a budget and a Salesforce database, and then turn around and coach a student through their college essay with genuine care.

What You'll Do

Student Advising & Case Management

• Carry a caseload of high school students, providing ongoing 1:1 coaching and advising sessions
• Guide students through the full college application process - UC, CSU, Common App, and community college pathways
• Support students through financial aid applications, including FAFSA, California Dream Act, and CSS Profile
• Manage all aspects of student engagement: communication, attendance tracking, and completion of program requirements
• Build and sustain high-support, mutually accountable relationships with every student on your roster

Programming & Summer Experiences

• Plan and facilitate year-round college access programming, including mandatory weekend events
• Design and execute the Road to College Tour, a residential summer experience for rising high school juniors
• Design and execute the ACTNow Summit - a residential summer experience for rising high school seniors
• Manage student-led groups including summer planning committees and high school crews
• Support all C5LA summer programs as part of the broader program team

Operations & Team

• Maintain the Salesforce database with accurate records of student engagement, academic progress, and postsecondary interests
• Manage a yearly college access programming budget
• Recruit, train, and manage seasonal staff during summer experiences
• Support the College Access Persistence and Success (CAPS) Team
• Maintain relationships with partner organizations and represent C5LA at external events, networks, and conferences
• Collaborate with the program team on project-based work in support of the organization's overall mission

Do you have a valid Driver's License license?, Do you have experience in Zoom?, Do you have a Bachelor's degree?, * Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; Master's degree preferred

• Meaningful experience in college access programming, preferably with first-generation and/or BIPOC students
• Hands-on experience guiding students through UC, CSU, Common App, and community college applications
• Experience supporting students through FAFSA, California Dream Act, and CSS Profile
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting, lasting relationships with students from diverse backgrounds
• Strong facilitation skills and experience in experiential learning
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Zoom, and Salesforce
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Valid California driver's license and ability to travel throughout Los Angeles
• Availability to work evenings and weekends as needed, including an occasional Tuesday-Saturday schedule
• Willingness to be on duty up to 24 hours per day during summer experiences

Who You Are

• Deeply passionate about C5LA's mission and able to bring others into that passion
• A self-starter who adapts quickly and thrives in a fast-moving, collaborative environment
• Committed to racial equity in your practice, your relationships, and the systems you help shape
• A skilled communicator who can hold a room of students and hold a complex spreadsheet with equal confidence
• A team player who supports colleagues while owning your work with pride

Pulled from the full job description

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule, * 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

C5LA is a youth leadership organization dedicated to transforming the lives of high school students from under-resourced communities in Los Angeles. Through rigorous outdoor expeditions, leadership development programming, and college access support, we equip young people with the skills, confidence, and network to succeed in college and beyond. We are a mission-driven team where every role carries direct, visible impact on the students we serve.