College and Career Specialist

Overview

Summary:

In collaboration with the student services staff, advises students in grades 9-12 on post-secondary options, including college planning, career planning, scholarships, and financial aid; manages relationships with a wide variety of organizations, such as colleges and universities, military recruiters, local employers, nonprofits, scholarship donors, and community organizations; has primary responsibility and accountability for managing a student-centered college and career center with resources on a wide variety of information concerning colleges, technical schools, military, apprenticeships, employment, and gap year opportunities.

Required

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
• Two (2) years of experience in an education environment, some of which shall have been in college admission counseling, secondary school counseling, workforce development, post-secondary financial aid, or other related field.
• Advanced degree(s) beyond the minimum degree requirement in a relevant field may be considered for some experience.
• May be required to work a flexible schedule for evening appointments and walk-in services and/or evenings for planned events.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, guidelines, concepts, regulations, and practices related to college admissions and success.
• Knowledge of college planning, scholarships and financial aid, career planning, workforce development, and career trends.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, specifics of colleges and universities, their academic programs, admissions policies, and selection processes.
• Proficiency in the use of technology.
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement programs, projects, and activities.
• Ability to apply effective time management skills.
• Ability to present information to groups.
• Ability to work effectively with students, staff, and the public from diverse cultural, social, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with school staff, colleges, businesses, and community groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in education, management, or human resources.

• Advises and assists students in the exploration and planning of post-secondary college and career options, including but not limited to, four-year colleges and universities, two-year community college and junior colleges, apprenticeships, technical schools, employment, military, and gap year opportunities.
• Manages a student-centered college and career center with current information and resources on all post-secondary options, career exploration and planning, scholarships and financial aid, part-time jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities.
• Reviews, selects, and maintains college and career information from a wide variety of sources and makes this information available and accessible to all students.
• Manages relationships and hosts admissions representative visits from four-year colleges and universities throughout the country and internationally.
• Coordinates multiple visits and programs with local community college representatives; hosts information sessions, application workshops, and organizes field trips.
• Performs a full range of professional duties required to support the school's scholarship program, which includes managing relationships with scholarship donors.
• Advertises scholarship opportunities, creates the self-nomination process, serves on internal scholarship committees, and works closely with school nominees on final application and preparation for competitive scholarship interviews.
• Plans and executes large-scale day and evening college and/or career programs to educate students and families; coordinates all logistical planning.
• Communicates college, career, scholarship, job, summer, and/or leadership opportunities to the school community via electronic newsletters, emails, websites, and social media platforms.
• Develops and presents college and career workshops specific to grade level on topics such as resume writing, essay writing, interviewing, and scholarships and financial aid.
• Designs and delivers college and/or career presentations to classrooms.
• Coordinates visits with military recruiters and other representatives and supports ASVAB test and interpretation dates.
• Schedules visits from military cadets, school alumni promoting specific college programs, or other representatives from the community or businesses to promote career awareness and opportunities.
• Provides guidance and support to students and families regarding paying for postsecondary education, such as supporting the FAFSA process and/or the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application, as appropriate.
• Participates in appropriate professional development, such as visiting college campuses and attending college admissions events and/or college admissions counseling conferences in order to stay abreast of the ever-changing…