Regional K-12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator

Appalachian State University•Boone, NC

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

The K–12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator coordinates school-facing and youth-facing health career pathway activities in 12 counties in Region 3 and helps students, families, counselors, and educators understand practical next steps into health professions education and employment. This position develops and aligns school partnerships, career exposure experiences, pathway advising, and transition supports that increase student awareness of and access to health professions education and employment. The role serves as a regional connector among schools, families, postsecondary institutions, employers, and community partners to support learner progression from early career exploration into postsecondary education and workforce pathways.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, public health, health sciences, workforce development, student services, higher education, or a related field.
At least two years of experience working with K–12 students, schools, youth programs, academic advising, career development, outreach programs, or related work.
Strong communication, event coordination, relationship-building, and student support skills.
Ability to work effectively with schools, families, students, and community partners.
Ability to travel across Region 3 (Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union Counties).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience with rural schools, CTE, GEAR UP, Upward Bound, HOSA, Career and College Promise, health career pathways, or community college transition programs.
Knowledge of Region 3 (Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union) school systems and youth-serving organizations.
Experience developing student-facing pathway materials or managing youth outreach events.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of youth-facing health career pathway strategies across Region 3.
Coordinate regional efforts that increase awareness of health professions and expand access to structured career exploration and pathway experiences.
Support and align youth engagement initiatives including career exposure, pathway advising, camps, student organizations, outreach programs (PATH, GEAR UP, Camp Med, etc.), and related activities that advance health workforce goals.
Develop scalable models and resources that support long-term regional pathway sustainability.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with K–12 school systems, Career and Technical Education programs, counselors, teachers, school administrators, HOSA chapters, and youth-serving organizations.
Coordinate with school and regional partners to integrate pathway awareness, academic planning, and career readiness activities into existing student support systems.
Facilitate communication and collaboration among schools, community colleges, universities, and workforce partners to strengthen transitions and reduce pathway fragmentation.
Represent Appalachian State and the Office of Rural Promise in regional school-facing initiatives and collaborative workgroups.
Develop and coordinate student- and family-facing outreach materials, pathway maps, events, and next-step resources.
Connect students and families to community college, dual enrollment, Career and College Promise, university, and health workforce opportunities.
Coordinate youth ambassador, mentoring, and near-peer engagement strategies that strengthen student belonging and pathway participation.
Identify and address barriers affecting rural student participation, including transportation, awareness, scheduling, and family access to information.
Support student transition planning to promote continuity from K–12 exploration into postsecondary education and training opportunities.
Coordinate with employers, training sites, health systems, and regional partners to expand age-appropriate career exposure opportunities.
Support development of job shadowing, experiential learning, workplace awareness activities, and other early workforce engagement strategies.
Align youth-facing experiences with regional workforce priorities and emerging health workforce needs.
Track participation, school and county engagement, student interests, transition activity, and pathway outcomes.
Support collection, analysis, and reporting of grant and program performance measures.
Develop recommendations to improve participation, equity of access, and regional pathway effectiveness based on stakeholder feedback and outcome data.
Support documentation, regional implementation activities, and continuous improvement efforts.
Coordinate closely with the Postsecondary Pathways Coordinator to ensure seamless learner progression from K–12 engagement into postsecondary education, work-based learning, and workforce opportunities.
Contribute to regional planning and implementation efforts designed to strengthen long-term health workforce outcomes.
Support strategic initiatives of the Office of Rural Promise and regional grant objectives.
Perform other duties as assigned.