Adviser

Posting Details

Work experience or education that is NOT included on the application will NOT be considered when screening your application. Please include ALL work experience and education on the application to ensure that you receive the appropriate credit toward qualification for this position.

2026-27 Next Step Adviser (Multiple Vacancies)

High school(s) located throughout Western NC (please see Essential Job Functions for possible locations)

TBD 2026

Office of Rural Promise - 240105

• Earned or will earn an associates degree between May 2019 and June 2026; candidates must have received an associates degree within seven years of applying to serve as an adviser
• Ability to work well with various population groups
• Strong desire to serve
• Strong interest in learning and professional growth
• High level of professionalism in all communications and interactions
• Must be able to relocate to the service area and be involved in the surrounding community

Working Locations:
High school(s) located within one of the following counties:
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, McDowell, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.

Regular responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Assist students with the development of post-graduation plans, including workforce entry, trade or technical school enrollment, 2-year or 4-year college enrollment, or military enlistment
• Provide one-on-one admissions and financial aid advisement to any student or family seeking assistance
• Encourage students to consider a broad range of appropriate post-secondary choices and assist them in developing a comprehensive list of good fit and match options
• Help students and families complete and submit admissions and financial aid applications
• Offer a variety of workshops, presentations, and events to promote next steps planning
• Engage families and mentors in support of their students’ post-secondary process, including calling all seniors’ families/guardians via phone
• Participate in activities, attend events, and interact with the school and community in an effort to build trust and relationships
• Collaborate with the Advise NC at App State Program Staff and partner school personnel
• Record up-to-date service activity data using a web-based database system (training provided)
• Submit weekly progress reports to the Advise NC at App State Program Staff documenting progress and outputs
• Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, teachers, and other student support staff in partner high school(s)
• Actively seek the advice and counsel of the on-site liaison at partner high school and the Advise NC at App State Program Staff in order to provide student and family services most effectively
• Develop expertise in admissions and financial aid advising
• Participate fully in pre- and in-service training
• In consultation with the Advise NC at App State Program Staff, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development
• Create resources for the larger advising team, including (but not limited to): social media templates, graphics & videos, advising resources, financial aid resources, scholarship guides, newsletters, event planning guides, etc.
• Assist Advise NC at App State Program Staff with the development and facilitation of adviser pre-service and in-service trainings
• Represent the Advise NC at Appalachian State program appropriately at all times
• Other duties as assigned

• Report to Appalachian State-based program staff, as well as high school-based on-site facilitator
• Participate in 4-week training during the summer and ongoing professional development throughout the school year
• Commit to one academic year (11 months) of service with preferred two-year commitment if mutually agreed upon by the program staff, the adviser, and the school site

The Office of Rural Promise (ORP) housed in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) builds partnerships to solve big challenges in rural communities; designs…