College & Career Readiness Specialist (Excel Center)

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky•Louisville, KY

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is hiring a College and Career Readiness Specialist to support an unprecedented educational initiative that will address critical workforce challenges in the state’s largest city. The College and Career Readiness Specialist (CCR Specialist) will build relationships, systems, and programs to ensure that each student at The Excel Center graduates with a realistic career plan that is connected to postsecondary employment and education. The CCR Specialist will provide direct advising and case management services for students as they near graduation and will be instrumental in the implementation of a comprehensive foundational career-development program, which will allow for intentional advisement of students on academic diploma tracks and enrollment in industry-recognized certification courses and/or in dual-credit course attainment. The CCR Specialist will develop and maintain an industry–based network of community partners, along with close-knit working relationships with local college and university staff, departments, and enrollment protocol. The work of the CCR Specialist is to assure that our 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. The school – better known as an 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 the life demands they now face as adults. To help its adult students succeed in earning their diplomas, the Excel Center features: flexible 8-week class schedules, free on-site childcare, transportation assistance, industry-recognized certification options, and career coaches who help graduates transition into college or meaningful careers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in related field required
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

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.