Kamehameha Schools·Maui, Hawaii
The College Transition Specialist supports alumni in their post-secondary journeys by providing guidance on financial aid, career readiness, and academic persistence. They also design and deliver engagement programs and workshops to empower students and alumni to successfully graduate from college.
Job Posting Title College Transition Specialist Employee Type Regular Recruiting Start Date 08-03-2026 Job Exempt?
Yes Recruiting End Date 08-26-2026 Aloha mai!
Mahalo for your interest in Kamehameha Schools.
If you are looking for an opportunity to utilize your skills and talents and grow in your profession, while serving and strengthening our Native Hawaiian community, we would love to have you join our ʻohana!
Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus is seeking a relationship-driven College Transition Specialist who is passionate about supporting alumni as they navigate their post-secondary journeys.
The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented and brings a strong understanding of student development and college readiness, along with experience working with high school or college-aged students.
Knowledge of college admissions processes, financial aid systems, event coordination, and FERPA regulations is essential.
This position is ideal for someone who: Uses data strategically to inform decision-making, evaluate program effectiveness, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement to drive student success initiatives and campus-wide outcomes.
Demonstrates flexibility, creativity, and adaptability when responding to changing student, campus, and community needs.
Builds strong, collaborative relationships with students, families, alumni, colleagues, and external partners.
Communicates effectively and respectfully with diverse audiences while working both independently and as part of a team.
Takes initiative, thinks proactively, and seeks opportunities to strengthen alumni engagement and expand professional networks.
Possesses strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and programs simultaneously.
A master's degree in Psychology, Communications, Sociology, Business, Higher Education, Counseling, or a related field is highly desirable.
Experience supporting college transitions and student success initiatives is strongly preferred.
This is a regular, full-time position with comprehensive benefits.
Job Summary Integral member of the Kamehameha Schools (KS) ʻohana, working with counselors, external partners, students, and their 'ohana to pursue post-secondary opportunities.
They will serve as the primary resource for financial aid and transitional programs to empower alumni to continue their education.
This role will maintain communication with alumni enrolled in regional colleges to ensure they are supported on their journey to continue their education.
Work both independently and as part of a team that utilizes evidenced based best practice to equip and empower current high school students and alumni with the skills and knowledge, through matriculation workshops, summer and bridge programs, scholarships, life skills, career, and networking opportunities, enrichment opportunities, and other resources, to overcome educational barriers to persist and graduate from college in a timely fashion with minimal debt.
Essential Responsibilities Program Development Build an understanding of campus level educational support services (academic, financial, personal, and career-‐related assistance) for students, allowing them to work in collaboration with staff, faculty, student and/or academic affairs and other key university offices and community agencies, to make necessary referrals, ensuring services are well-coordinated.
Develop and deliver informational programs and workshops targeted towards increasing awareness around post-secondary education enrollment, financial resources, academic, social, and supplemental support services, and career development.
Plans, designs, and delivers new student, parent, and alumni engagement programs, based on shared outcomes to support and align to KS programs, services, projects, and initiatives.
Craft communication for multiple platforms, targeting students, alumni, and 'ohana.
Stakeholder Guidance Manages alumni enrolled in two and four-year colleges, providing advising services focused on college persistence and completion, career readiness, academic and social integration, and transfer options Serves as a resource for scholarship/ financial aid opportunities as well as assisting students and families through the application process.
Maintains meaningful relationships with alumni to further their education and/or career plans through individualized post-secondary plan.
Continued student engagement may include college visits to meet with students.
Motivates students to continuously evaluate and explore postsecondary educational and career opportunities which align to their personal passions and interests.
Supports persistence which may include transfers between institutions by providing guidance to students.
Organizes networking opportunities with KS alumni across the country, helping current students, alumni, and KS administration to remain connected to identify ways for all groups to positively use these relationships to grow as people and community leaders.
Provides interventions, equity initiatives and advocacy efforts where appropriate and necessary to provide equity and access for all students.
Provides support in documenting students in non-college pathways.
Organizes, plans, and coordinates co-curricular initiatives including but not limited to: matriculation life skills, and career-readiness workshops; summer bridge program; mentor program; job shadowing and internship program.
Market Research and Data Analysis Researches and stays current on higher education programs, trends, and issues with student impact and make recommendations based on best practices and research.
Collects and assesses student data (contact information, grades, financial aid packages, scholarships, etc.) and uses this information to support persistence, retention, and program improvement.
Partner Relationship Management Develops and nurtures positive relations with college and community representatives to build a strong network of support for students and ʻohana.
Partners with key university offices such as the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Academic Affairs, and Admissions, and other community agencies to ensure that the services provided to alumni are well-coordinated.
Position Requirements
An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the requirements listed. Bachelor’s Degree in business, education, student personnel administration, counseling, higher education, social work or a related field. Minimum 2 years of Program Management experience or experience providing direct advising support and career coaching to high school and college aged students. Ability to communicate and connect with people from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic and professional backgrounds evidenced by strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills that can be adapted to serve the communication needs for a variety of stakeholders. Capacity to plan, create and deliver dynamic and motivational presentations. Willingness to learn and exhibit a commitment to an improved, high-quality education system for Native Hawaiian learners.
Master’s Degree in business, education, student personnel administration, counseling, higher education, social work or a related field. Demonstrated event planning skills. Physical Requirements Frequently sits, performs desk-based computer tasks and grasp light or fine manipulation, talk or hear. Occasionally stand and/or walk, write by hand, and lift and/or carry, push and/or pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds. Rarely twist, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, reach or work above shoulder, or grasp forcefully. Working Conditions This position may involve traveling to various locations to conduct business. Work is conducted in an office/school environment and may require work to be conducted in non-standard workplaces. Work is typically conducted Monday through Friday at normal business hours, but evening and weekend hours are often required to meet goals and objectives. For Internal Use Only: #LI-CAR #MAUI Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required. The incumbent may be expected to perform other duties as assigned. Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please contact us at hr@ksbe.edu or 808-534-8040 if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. KS does not accept unauthorized solicitations of candidate referrals from third-party vendors (i.e. Staffing Agencies, Executive Recruitment Firms). Any third-party vendor who has interest in supporting KS's recruiting efforts must be authorized by Human Resources prior to the vendor’s candidate applying with KS. Work Year 12 Pay Range 90,200.00 - 128,400.00 Annual Compensation and Benefits Based on the compensation range provided below, salaries are commensurate with job-related experience, skills and competencies, education, internal equity, length of work year, and other organizational needs. At Kamehameha Schools (KS), we recognize that compensation is just one facet of a fulfilling employment experience. Our commitment lies in fostering a positive work environment and equipping employees with the necessary resources to excel every day. Our Total Rewards Program embodies KS's dedication to the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employee ʻohana. Explore our comprehensive Benefits Summary for more information. Primary Location Maui Campus City, State Makawao, Hawaii Additional Locations
Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in a related field and at least two years of experience in program management or student advising. A master's degree is highly desirable, along with strong communication skills and a commitment to supporting Native Hawaiian learners.
Market context
College Transition Specialist roles in Hawaii are often tied to student support, retention, and postsecondary access, especially for Native Hawaiian learners. Competition can be strong because employers typically look for a related bachelor’s degree, two years of program management or advising experience, and strong communication skills; a master’s degree can help. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to show experience supporting student transitions and culturally responsive services.