Senior Program Advisor

Company: WASHINGTON CENTER
Location: Washington
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

Salary Range: $73,000.00 to $78,000, AnnuallyThe Senior Program Advisor is a pivotal role within the Employer Relations team at The Washington Center, bridging the responsibilities of career coaching, student advising, and team leadership to ensure excellence in student experiential learning experiences and program outcomes. The position combines the hands-on engagement of a Program Advisor with the strategic oversight as a team lead. The Senior Program Advisor will supervise and mentor Program Advisors, oversee a portfolio of student participants and collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet enrollment and internship placement goals. This role requires expertise in student advising, employment internship best practices, industry insights, and data management, alongside the ability to lead initiatives, manage relationships, and drive innovative solutions to enhance the student experience.The Washington Center is a remote/hybrid organization with many employees working on average one day per week in TWC's Residential and Academic Facility, conveniently located near Union Station and public transportation in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, DC. Given our organizational mission focus on skills, workforce development, and collaboration, there are times where cross-collaboration among teams and departments will require more than one day per week in the office. Further, some programs at TWC do require program staff to work nights and/or weekends. The individual in this role is expected to reside in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.Essential FunctionsStudent Advising and Internship Placement

• Serve as a senior advisor, providing advanced career coaching and mentorship to students from all over the nation as well as international participants.
• Coach and guide students in preparing internship application materials, conducting industry-specific research, and developing professional skills for successful interviews and internship offers.
• Collaborate with the Employer Relations team to track internship applications, interviews, and internship offers, ensuring alignment with participant goals and organizational benchmarks.
• Act as an escalation point for complex student cases, providing tailored solutions and liaising with internal teams as needed.Team Leadership and Mentorship
  • Supervise and mentor a small team of Program Advisors, offering guidance on best practices for advising, participant communication, and data management.
  • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with team members to review progress, address challenges, and foster professional growth.
  • Develop and deliver training sessions for Program Advisors on advising techniques, CRM usage, and program updates.
  • Provide accountability for team performance, ensuring timely and accurate completion of tasks.Strategic Program Development
    • Contribute to the refinement and enhancement of the pre-arrival process, including the development of materials, resources, and workshops for participants.
    • Partner with the Executive Director and interdepartmental leadership to analyze trends in student development and propose strategies for program improvement.
    • Lead initiatives to enhance cultural competency and inclusion within advising practices.Data and Process Management
      • Oversee team adherence to CRM protocols, ensuring the accuracy of participant data and milestones.
      • Track and analyze participant outcomes, and weekly team performance metrics generating insights to inform process improvements and strategy development.
      • Provide regular updates to the Executive Director on student progress, team performance, and emerging trends.Required Education and ExperienceAn equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.
        • Bachelor's Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Career Counseling, or a related field.
        • 3+ years of experience in student advising, career services, or program management.
        • 1+ year of staff supervision or team leadership experience.
        • Familiarity with CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce) and data management best practices.Preferred Education/Qualifications and Experience
          • Master's Degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Career Counseling, or a related field.
          • Experience advising diverse populations, including socioeconomically and neurodiverse participants.
          • Knowledge of J-1/F-1 visa requirements and international student support.
          • Proven ability to design and implement training programs or process improvements.
          • Technical acuity with platforms such as career services management systems, resume review software, learning management systems, and CRMs, including Salesforce and Symplicity.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
            • Strong knowledge of career services, advising techniques, and workforce readiness trends.
            • Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and empower team members.
            • Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and apply insights to strategy.Equipment Used to Perform the JobMay be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position:
              • Cloud-based technologies
              • Standard office equipment including a computer
              • Job-related softwarePhysical AbilitiesCommonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform described essential functions of this job. These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:
                • Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision to work on a computer.
                • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use repetitive wrist, hand, and/or finger movement, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
                • The employee may be required to stand and walk.This job description no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws.Certain job functions described herein may be subjected to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
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Keywords: WASHINGTON CENTER, Frederick , Senior Program Advisor, Other , Washington, Maryland