Alliance for Catholic Education
About Nativity Jesuit Academy: Nativity Jesuit Academy (NJA) is a K4-8 coed Catholic, Jesuit, urban school serving young men and women in Milwaukee, WI. We prepare our students, in partnership with their families, for Christian leadership and service in high school, college and life.
Through a holistic education program, Nativity Jesuit strives to form leaders who are religious, loving, seeking intellectual excellence, committed to justice and open to growth. Like Christ, who came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45), Nativity Jesuit transforms students to become men and women for and with others.
About Nativity’s Graduate Support Program
The Graduate Support Program at Nativity Jesuit Academy provides the overall management, placement, programming, and tracking of all high school-aged graduates of NJA. This program currently includes two roles: the Director of Graduate Support and a part-time Graduate Support Coordinator.
Director of Graduate Support Position Description
The Director of the Graduate Support Program is a leadership position within the school and extends beyond into the larger community The Director manages the daily department initiatives and envisions the strategic growth of this mission-critical program. The Director manages the Graduate Support Coordinator, collaborates with other Nativity faculty, staff and administration, and networks with partner organizations and volunteers.
This position reports directly to the Director of Advancement and Director of Camp Thunderhead.
This position oversees the Graduate Support Coordinator role.
Responsibilities:
● Oversee and contribute to the High School Application Process
o Provide consultation that empowers Nativity parents during the high school admissions process
o Maintain key contacts with each high school to serve as an advocate for students and families
o Liaison with high school admissions directors and financial aid offices to advocate for students based on both their individual and family needs.
• As needed, make recommendations to Nativity’s President and Director of Finance regarding additional scholarships that may be needed to ensure a student’s enrollment at their best fit area Catholic high school.
o Collaborate to provide a weekly academic block for 8th graders, utilized for work on the high school application process and building soft skills
● Direct and Facilitate Wraparound Supports for High School-Aged Alumni
o Track and support graduates’ development throughout high school, in the areas of academics, behavior, extracurricular involvement, and leadership
• Maintain a graduate support database with pertinent information
o Manage a “caseload” of high school-aged alumni during their four years in high school. This includes one-on-one, periodic visits for alumni at their high schools
o Implement a tiered system of support based on tracked progress
o Continue to promote the development of critical “soft skills” within high school-aged alumni that would promote their future success in post-secondary studies, career, and life
o Help high school-aged graduates advocate for themselves in high school
o Build relationships and pathways for high school-aged alumni to engage in pre-college programs
o Promote participation in in-house programming, such as study hall and social events
o Assist with a warm hand-off of alumni from the Graduate Support Program to the Nativity Jesuit Alumni Association (NJAA)
● Lead and facilitate the Mentoring Program
o Recruit and Coordinate Community Volunteers via the Mentoring Program
o Actively market and recruit mentors for each graduating class
o Build and maintain relationships with area businesses and community organizations as a method of recruiting mentors
o Collaborate to plan and facilitate monthly mentoring meetings and additional mentoring events
o Coach mentors and mentees to best utilize the mentoring relationship
● Maintain and Inspire Program Communication, Marketing, and Visioning
o Track graduates’ achievements in high school and beyond, including annual analysis of National Student Clearinghouse data
o In conjunction with the advancement team, identify and draft relevant alumni highlights and stories which can be shared with the wider Nativity community
o Report on students’ progress to relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to the student’s mentor, Nativity’s president, principal, assistant principals, and advancement team
o Help foster habits of philanthropy, gratitude, and service in Nativity alumni
o Analyze metrics to determine and adjust success of programming
o Address the evolving needs of Nativity graduates and consistently look to serve the needs of students in all decision making
o Contribute to the strategic planning process of the Graduate Support Program
● Supervise the Graduate Support Coordinator to develop a strong team spirit and a willingness to work together on complex projects
● Handle other responsibilities and tasks assigned by the manager
Position Qualifications/Characteristics:
● Bachelor’s degree required
● Previous experience in a management/supervisory role
● Ideally, at least two years of experience working in a school setting
● The ability to speak Spanish would be advantageous
● Ability to analyze data to inform planning and decision-making
● Strong track record as a project manager and an implementer
● Effective writing/editing skills, strong verbal communication skills, attention to email/messaging apps
● Demonstrated ability in drafting, editing, and proofreading documents with proficiency in Google apps, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
● Deadline-driven, goal-oriented, self-starter and able to work independently
● Energetic, respectful, flexible, collaborative, and proactive with the ability to work with others within the department, throughout the school and larger community
● Sensitive to and supportive of high-school aged positive youth development
● Optimistic and positive attitude
● Commitment to the mission, goals, and objectives of the school
How to Apply:
Send resume, cover letter, and three references to:
gradsupport@nativityjesuit.org
Attention: Jasmine Binion, Josh Kraemer