Ready To Work Part-Time Student & Career Specialist

Kentucky Community and Technical College System • Elizabethtown, KY

9d • Onsite

About The Position

ECTC is seeking a Ready to Work Student & Career Specialist to support students participating in the Kentucky Ready to Work program. This position will help students successfully enter, persist in, and complete their educational and employment goals. The specialist will serve as a primary point of contact for Ready to Work students, providing recruitment, orientation, advising, career coaching, retention support, and connections to campus and community resources. Funding for Ready to Work is provided by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Community-Based Services.

Requirements

• Associate degree in education, counseling, student affairs, career services, social services, business, or a related field preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with college students, adult learners, workforce programs, career services, advising, or student support programs preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of career exploration, employment preparation, and student success strategies.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with faculty, staff, employers, and community partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn college and program-specific technology systems.
• Student-centered, encouraging, and highly organized professional who understands that students may face significant barriers while pursuing college credentials and employment.
• Comfortable building relationships, making frequent student contacts, solving problems, and helping students move from recruitment → orientation → enrollment → persistence → credential completion → employment.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and engage eligible students for the Ready to Work program.
• Conduct outreach to prospective students through individual contacts, campus events, classrooms, community organizations, and other appropriate activities.
• Explain program requirements, benefits, expectations, and available support services.
• Develop relationships with faculty, staff, employers, and community partners to identify and recruit potential participants.
• Conduct individual and group orientations for new Ready to Work students.
• Explain program policies, requirements, work expectations, academic responsibilities, and available resources.
• Help students develop an initial plan for successfully balancing work, college, and personal responsibilities.
• Ensure required program documentation and forms are completed accurately and on time.
• Provide regular academic and program advising to Ready to Work participants.
• Help students identify educational goals, select appropriate courses, and develop plans for program completion.
• Monitor student progress and communicate with students regarding academic or program concerns.
• Connect students with appropriate college resources, including financial aid, advising, tutoring, disability services, counseling, and other student support services.
• Maintain accurate and timely student records and documentation.
• Provide individualized career coaching based on students' interests, skills, education, and employment goals.
• Assist students with career exploration, resume development, interviewing skills, job searches, and professional communication.
• Connect students with employers, internships, work-based learning opportunities, and other employment resources.
• Help students identify career pathways that connect their education and work experience.
• Maintain regular contact with students to encourage persistence and program completion.
• Identify students who may be experiencing academic, financial, employment, transportation, childcare, or other barriers to success.
• Develop proactive intervention strategies and connect students with appropriate resources.
• Follow up with students who miss appointments, stop attending classes, or demonstrate other indicators of potential withdrawal.
• Celebrate student accomplishments and encourage continued progress toward educational and employment goals.
• Work closely with the Ready to Work Coordinator and other college personnel to support program goals and student success.
• Maintain appropriate documentation related to recruitment, orientation, advising, career coaching, retention, and student participation.
• Participate in Ready to Work meetings, training, professional development, and program activities.
• Assist with program reports, student tracking, evaluations, and other administrative responsibilities.
• Establish positive working relationships with faculty, staff, employers, workforce agencies, and community organizations.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree