Advises adult learners through university application and admissions processes, from initial discovery through the first week of classes. Manages student files, tracks admissions progress, identifies educational goals, provides enrollment resources, and supports successful conversion and enrollment. Collaborates with university partners, maintains accurate and confidential records, follows security and data policies, and uses student-management technologies to deliver effective support.
Who We Are
Our mission is simple but critical: to build pathways for adult learners to earn high-quality, workforce-aligned degrees and credentials from North Carolina’s public universities.
At Project Kitty Hawk, our work reflects our company values:
Collaboration – We prioritize our partners’ success and reputation, aligning every initiative with their goals, reflecting their values, and enhancing their impact.
Innovation – We innovate, not replicate. As creative problem solvers, we use data-driven insights to push boundaries, continuously improve our services, develop solutions, and redefine what it means to serve nontraditional learners.
Empathy – We understand the unique challenges of nontraditional learners, and are committed to supporting them with empathy, respect, and solutions that fit their needs.
Integrity – We operate with transparency and accountability in everything we do. We uphold honesty, take ownership of our work, and maintain the highest standards.
Teamwork – We embody the collaboration we seek. We always strive to be dependable, supportive, and solutions-oriented teammates.
Together, we partner with universities in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System to produce innovative, flexible degree and credential programs in high-demand fields. Each PKH team member plays a vital role in advancing this mission and shaping the future of education for adult learners.
These values will enable us to realize PKH’s vision: to make North Carolina’s public universities the top choice for adult learners and to amplify the UNC System’s role as a national leader in higher education innovation, access, and student success. By joining our team, you have an opportunity to contribute to our achievement of that vision, in the process helping to create opportunities for thousands of learners to earn their success and move up the economic ladder.
At Project Kitty Hawk we hire talented people who are not only dedicated to our mission but share our belief that working together makes us stronger and more effective. In this organization you’ll find individuals with a range of interesting backgrounds and life stories; the true magic happens when those individuals come together to solve problems in service of a common goal. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective, talents, and ideas to the table as we strive to make a meaningful impact.
The Role
The Application Specialist is a dedicated professional who understands the needs, challenges, and benefits of degree completion for adult learners.
They are responsible for advising potential students on admissions requirements, degree completion requirements, and guiding students through the application processes, admissions processes and through the start of the student's first week of classes for each of the universities Project Kitty Hawk serves.
The Application Specialist serves students by striving to understand their unique situations, aspirations, and educational backgrounds, and by connecting them to the appropriate programs and resources to suit these needs.
The Application Specialist serves Project Kitty Hawk by guiding the student through the discovery phase, maintaining their student file as updates occur, tracking the student’s progress through the admissions funnel, and ensuring the student gains admission and has a smooth start to their desired program.
What you'll do:
- Prospect for and guide students through application processes of Project Kitty Hawk’s partner universities.
- Manage student files as they navigate through the applications processes by ensuring the potential student is informed, completing their action items, and clear on the admissions expectations.
- Help students assess their readiness for classes and connect them to relevant resources to assist in their successful enrollment.
- Complete discovery sessions with students to identify their educational and career goals, create a clear roadmap for success, and monitor their progress.
- Analyze and interpret data to effectively support students and improve conversion rates.
- Ensure confidentiality and proper documentation of all student information.
- Adhere to and enforce the appropriate security policies based on the sensitivity of company data
- Report any security related issues to the appropriate individuals
- Ensure the appropriateness, accuracy, and timeliness of institutional data used for the conduct of business.
- Collaborate with external partners and universities to ensure that the best practices, excellent student service, and high standards are met and upheld.
- Participate in professional development activities, attend relevant conferences, and engage with industry associations to expand knowledge and network with peers.
What you bring:
- A bachelor’s degree.
- At least 1 year of experience working in higher education with adult students in an online setting.
- Demonstrated success in individual and organizational goal-focused performance.
- Knowledge of the challenges and needs specific to adult learners in higher education.
- Knowledge of and experience with CRM, LMS, and SIS platforms and other technologies used in online higher education and student management.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with adult students.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Knowledge of relevant academic policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
- Ability to exercise discretion, professionalism, and good judgement and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
What We Offer
Project Kitty Hawk offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes full medical/dental/vision coverage, a 401K with match, and a generous time-off policy with paid volunteer time. In addition, we are committed to providing competitive salaries with the potential for performance bonus and remote working flexibility.
Project Kitty Hawk is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Project Kitty Hawk is dedicated to this policy concerning recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact Kelly Snow at [email protected].
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What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
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