College & Career Readiness Specialist (Excel Center)

Goodwill Kentucky•Louisville, KY

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is hiring a College and Career Readiness Specialist to support an unprecedented educational initiative at The Excel Center, which addresses critical workforce challenges. The Excel Center provides a tuition-free opportunity for Kentuckians 18 years of age and older who have dropped out of high school to earn a diploma in a unique environment that caters to adult life demands, featuring flexible 8-week class schedules, free on-site childcare, transportation assistance, industry-recognized certification options, and career coaches. The CCR Specialist will build relationships, systems, and programs to ensure each student graduates with a realistic career plan connected to postsecondary employment and education. This role involves providing direct advising and case management services for students nearing graduation, and instrumental in implementing a comprehensive foundational career-development program. This program allows for intentional advisement of students on academic diploma tracks and enrollment in industry-recognized certification courses and/or dual-credit course attainment. The CCR Specialist will also develop and maintain an industry-based network of community partners and close working relationships with local college and university staff, departments, and enrollment protocols to assure graduates are supported in a viable pathway into a career and/or college placement, prepared with the skills, resources, and support to actualize their postsecondary plan.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in related field required
Must have a minimum of two (2) years’ experience working in a secondary or higher education setting, and/or career counseling and workforce development.
Knowledge of career/vocational theories, career education program development, and community resources and employers.
Must be detailed oriented with a passion for accuracy.
Must be a highly motivated self-starter who is a team player with strong organization skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, frequently changing environment.
Previous experience with college admissions process

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Experience in career pathway development highly desirable.

Responsibilities

As directed, lead the school culture toward development and design of career pathways for targeted, industry-driven programs with sequential options, including dual-enrollment, noncredit and credit certificate programs.
Work with industry advisory networks to develop more student exposure to the world of work, including on-the-job opportunities, internships or job shadowing and other experiential learning for career pathways.
Make sound recommendations to the school director on student placement into internships and job opportunities.
Conduct, gather and coordinate the development of research and performance measures for credential completion, educational attainment and efforts that bridge educational systems for career path employment.
Research, gather and report current labor market and demographic information examining the current education and workforce system for gaps and alignments.
Attend and participate in meetings of key stakeholders in education and training, workforce, and economic development to develop and strengthen information and resources related to the creation of career pathways.
Provide one-on-one support to students throughout the college preparation process (which includes but is not limited to college search, application, and transition process). Understand and explain the college admissions process to Excel Center students.
Build relationships and partner with college admissions counselors to create open lines of communication and sharing of information.
Perform other duties as assigned.