Work Based Learning Specialist

Douglas County School District • South Hanover Township, PA

11h • $1

About The Position

Designs, implements, expands, and evaluates high-quality work-based learning (WBL) experiences for Douglas County School District high school students aligning with industry needs, state expectations, and district career readiness goals. Leads the district’s efforts to advance equitable access real-world WBL opportunities, ensuring measurable student outcomes. Acts as the primary liaison among students, families, secondary educators, local employers, workforce partners, and postsecondary institutions to create and sustain meaningful, industry-connected partnerships. Collaborating with the CTE Coordinator and the Postsecondary Readiness team, ensures WBL is integrated into CTE pathways and supports all students. Also ensures compliance with Colorado WBL Quality Expectations and supports data collection, reporting, and funding for state and district needs. This position requires a proactive educator with strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills, and a commitment to equity, economic opportunity, and career readiness for all students.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Requires travel among district schools using personal vehicle
• Frequent standing and walking
• Frequent working at a rapid pace
• Occasional lifting five (5) to ten (10) pounds
• Occasional bending, squatting, or standing

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred (Education, Career/Workforce Development, Counseling or related)
• CTE Work Based Learning Coordinator Credential - Colorado Department of Education

Responsibilities

• Partnership Development: Build and maintain meaningful partnerships with local and regional employers, workforce development partners, postsecondary institutions (including CCCS), and community organizations to expand WBL opportunities such as internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, job shadows, service learning, and paid workplace experiences. Effectively leverage and utilize community resources
• Negotiate and administer partnership agreements, ensuring alignment of employer expectations, student learning outcomes, and district compliance.
• Communication & Outreach: Develop and implement strategic communication plans to promote WBL opportunities, student success stories, and employer involvement to internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent the district at local, regional, and state-level meetings, collaboratives, and councils focused on workforce development and career readiness.
• Develop and maintain a community personnel resource file.
• Use the resources of other agencies such as the local and regional chambers of commerce, workforce planning centers and community partnerships to leverage opportunities for students
• Program Design & Strategic Leadership: Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the district’s Work-Based Learning framework aligned to Colorado’s three categories of WBL—Learning ABOUT Work, Learning THROUGH Work, and Learning AT Work—ensuring consistent student progression along the continuum from exposure to career training.
• Develop objectives and key results and key performance indicators for the program.
• Integrate the Colorado Department of Education’s Essential Skills in all WBL instruction, activities, and experiences.
• Support and partner with school counselors as students complete Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP).
• Work with district leadership to align WBL objectives with district strategic plans and funding opportunities as identified in state law.
• Collaborate with staff and postsecondary institutions to develop and maintain career pathways which prepare students for apprenticeships, community college, university degree programs or startup experiences.
• Professional Learning & Capacity Building: Provide professional development and guidance for secondary educators and WBL mentors on effective practices for integrating academic and workplace learning, equitable recruitment, and student support strategies.
• Serve as a resource for secondary staff on labor market trends, industry skill standards, credentialing pathways, and best practices in WBL.
• Advise potential program enrollees, work with school counselor(s), career field teachers, and student support service providers to personalize experiences for students based on passion, ability, and growth opportunity.
• Provide reference material for career information.
• Develop and coordinate work experiences that encourage a variety of occupational opportunities.
• Help students determine ways to best utilize their marketable skills.
• Compliance, Quality, and Evaluation: Ensure all student placements comply with applicable state and federal labor laws, safety regulations, and district policies.
• Supervise and monitor students in work, internship, apprenticeship, and volunteer experiences to assess/evaluate their skill development, provide support, and track appropriateness of workplace conditions.
• Implement quality assurance strategies tied to Colorado’s WBL Quality Expectations, ensuring experiences have clear outcomes, structured supervision, and documentation of skill development.
• Create, monitor, and adjust training plans in collaboration with the worksite supervisor and student.
• Collect, analyze, and report data on WBL participation, demographics, outcomes, and employer engagement to inform continuous improvement and meet reporting requirements.
• Review state and federal labor and safety and health laws with the employer/worksite supervisor and student.
• Other: Support related district initiatives including career pathways expansion, postsecondary credit articulation, and alignment to Colorado’s Big Three outcomes (industry credentials, college credit, work-based learning).
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested
• Student Support & Equity: Advise and support students and families in identifying, obtaining, and reflecting on WBL opportunities that align with student interests, passion, strengths, labor market data, and career goals.
• Ensure equitable access to all students, proactively addressing barriers (transportation, scheduling, language access, financial supports) that impede participation.
• Facilitate reflection, skill documentation, and career readiness competencies with students during and after WBL experiences.
• Develop outcome-based, measurable student objectives in alignment with our competency based education model.
• Evaluate instruction and curriculum, using input from students, employers/worksite supervisors, and advisory council members.
• Program Administration, Management, and Evaluation: Develop and file written training plans and agreements.
• Know and assure compliance with relevant state and federal labor laws.
• Effectively manage resources including facilities, equipment, and supplies.
• Ensure student-learner safety and health protection.
• Prepare, administer, and analyze student and employer follow-up surveys.
• Seek evaluation from advisory council members.
• Prepare and analyze year-end reports.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for health, vision, dental, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, critical illness and accident voluntary insurance, employee assistance program (EAP), voluntary 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan options.
• This position is eligible for paid sick and personal time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time