Role Title: College Access Program Manager

The Opportunity: 

Across the nation, only 25% of high-performing, low-income students with the academic record and test scores to succeed at the nation’s most selective colleges and universities ever apply to attend. At EMERGE, we believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Grounded in this belief, EMERGE empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges and universities across the nation. 

Program Managers will support the implementation of programming designed to develop students throughout the college application process. The primary goal is to increase the number of students in Houston and surrounding areas who successfully attend and graduate from top-tier colleges and universities. 

The ideal candidate for this role is a motivated educator and excellent relationship cultivator with a passion for college access.  A minimum of two years of professional experience is required.  

Start Date: July 20, 2026  

Salary: $64,000
Reports to: Director of District Strategy  

The Role: 

As a Program Manager, you will spend your time in the following ways.  

EMERGE Program Implementation and Advising 

• Implement all aspects of EMERGE Curriculum for 10th – 12th-grade students through cohort sessions, 1-1 college access advising, and events. 
• Coordinate and deliver student programming, including New Student Orientation and EMERGE Junior Retreat, Summer Trip Experience, College Application Workshops, Financial Aid Workshops, district workshops, and leadership development training workshops. 
• Provide individualized assistance to students and families in the program throughout the college admission and financial aid application processes. 
• Provide individualized support to ensure successful matriculation of all EMERGE Scholars to college. 

District Relationship Management and Support 

• Collaborate with district and school staff to successfully recruit, select, and orient students to the EMERGE program. 
• Manage relationships with district personnel and school leadership teams to ensure successful program implementation. 
• Support in building college-going culture on campuses by collaborating with school-based staff to host workshops and events on topics that may include: 
• Navigating the selective college admissions process 
• Financial aid advising 
• Course advising 
• Using Schoolinks and/or Common App portals with counselors 
• Promote the EMERGE program at school sites and support EMERGE with fundraising and outreach efforts. 

Leading Initiatives 

• Provide support on major program initiatives, including: 
• Student Recruitment  
• New Student Orientation  
• EMERGE Junior Retreat  
• Summer Trip Experience  
• Senior Celebration  
• Create, organize, and monitor plans to ensure successful implementation of the EMERGE program across various campuses and ensure all program goals and outcomes are met. 
• Support the senior EMERGE staff with curriculum evaluation, tracking, design, and enhancement throughout the course of the year. 
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned. 

The Person: 

Time Maximizer 

• Meets professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, coordinating resources and meetings in an effective and timely manner, and demonstrating respect for others.  
• Anticipates needs and is able to take initiative when necessary; self-starter.  
• Conscientious about priorities; displays good time management and a positive attitude.  

Relationship Builder 

• Builds authentic relationships with students and families to drive program implementation and outcomes. 
• Leverages relationships with students to consistently assess student needs and provide individualized support. 
• Actively seeks to build relationships with partners at high school and college campuses to influence program outcomes. 

Team Player 

• Listens attentively, and works with others to resolve problems, clarify, or interpret complex information, and validate understanding.  
• Works well independently and in teams.  
• Open to sharing ideas and expertise in efforts to improve and develop existing programs.  
• Initiates collaboration with team members and other partners.  

Dynamic Leader 

• Demonstrates accountability to the organization, supervisors, team, and school-based staff.  
• Possesses dynamic and effective teaching ability in the classroom.  
• Uses strong analytical ability and inductive thinking to devise new approaches to situations where previously accepted solutions have proven inadequate.  
• Demonstrates continuous learning by seeking new job-related knowledge and skills.  
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment, adapts to change, and responds favorably to feedback.  

Ideal candidate will have: 

• Bachelor’s degree (required) 
• Minimum of 2 years of teaching experience 
• Experience in college admissions/advising (preferred) 
• Experience with Salesforce, Common App, and/or Naviance (preferred) 
• Bilingual (Spanish or Vietnamese) ability (highly desired) 
• Ability to analyze and interpret data 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills 

Physical and Working Conditions:

• Open-office environment 
• Sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time. 
• Role requires walking, standing, hearing, and talking. 
• Ability to lift/carry and push/pull up to 50 pounds.  

Who we are: 

At EMERGE, we live by our Core Values: 

• Equity grounds us 
• Diversity defines us 
• Talent mobilizes us 
• Meaningful relationships fuel us 
• Results distinguish us 

Founded in 2010, EMERGE is a developmental, college-access organization changing the life trajectories of hundreds of students across the Houston area. Since its inception, EMERGE has grown from serving 14 students across four high schools to serving over 1,500 high school students across five school districts. We also serve over 1,200 college scholars at over 100 selective colleges and universities across the country. 

The EMERGE nonprofit is a partner to houston-area school districts. As the EMERGE’s impact has grown, our nonprofit team has grown to 32 staff members. This team includes College Access Program Managers, the College Success team, and our internal business functions. This position is a role with the EMERGE nonprofit on the College Access Program team.  You will be joining an energetic, passionate team of individuals working to propel Houston’s top talent upward and onwards. 

Note: This role is not employed Houston ISD. Program Managers will be full-time employees of EMERGE.  

What we offer: 

Compensation  
At EMERGE, we aim to enact our core value of “equity grounds us” within our compensation practices to ensure a competitive and equitable salary & benefits package for all employees. To determine salary, we consider responsibilities within the role as well, equity across similar roles within the organization. The starting salary for this role is $64,000 for all new hires.  

Health Benefits  

EMERGE offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage. EMERGE also provides short-term and long-term disability insurance, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, along with life Insurance.    

Retirement Planning  

Eligible employees may participate in EMERGE’S 403(b) plan. EMERGE will match 100% of eligible contributions up to 3% of your gross earned salary.  

Paid Time Off  

Eligible employees have access to 27 Paid Time Off days for the year upon their first day of employment. EMERGE is closed for 18 holidays.    

Professional Development   

Eligible employees are awarded a stipend for role-relevant professional development opportunities as well as access to internal EMERGE development tracks as they are offered.