College & Career Readiness Specialist- Excel Center Grant County

This is for our brand new Excel Center serving Grant County/Marion, IN residents later this summer (the position will start ASAP to assist with opening the school). The general salary range is $50-$60K annually including full benefits (below):

The College and Career Readiness Specialist (CCR Specialist) builds 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 provides 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 allows 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 develops and maintains 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 assures that our graduates are directed to a viable pathway into a career and/or college placement, prepared with the skills, resources, and assistance to actualize their postsecondary plan.

The CCR Specialist facilitates the student path, from enrollment through graduation, to successfully transition into work and/or college engagement, and culminating with the CCR Specialist following up with The Excel Center graduates/alumni to assure sustained success along their career pathways.

Example Duties and Activities

• Creates and maintains relationships with community partners, certification providers, and employers to aid the needs of students.

• Strategically implements programming to expose students to workplace experiences to increase interest while utilizing internal and external resources. Refers students to internal partners and tracks employment/work-based learning opportunities.

• Implements programming to expose students to college experiences to increase interest. Connects and enrolls students into dual credits and/or certification opportunities that align with their post-secondary plans.

• Facilitates the graduation capstone course with fidelity to The Excel Center model. Adapts the course to meet the needs of all students based on readiness, interests, and special populations.

• Identifies and tracks relevant student/school data/staff performance to set improvement and/or achievement goals and to drive future evaluation and feedback.

• Partners with various administrative teams and instructors to conduct interventions with systems, staff, and students.

• Develops personal professional/performance goals and action plans to reach goals. Reflects on prior goals and makes adjustments to professional practice and goals.

• Works directly with the school director to develop and implement school-wide goals around graduation outcomes, enrollment needs, student achievement, retention, etc.

• Assists staff with professional development, training, and goal setting.

• Sets and maintains a high-performance culture for staff and students.

• Participates in student recruitment, enrollment, and outreach efforts.

Required Competencies

• Degree and Credential Requirements - Bachelor's degree in business, human relations, rehabilitation counseling, or related fields.

• Industry Expertise - Works in a secondary or higher education setting, and/or in career counseling and workforce development. Is knowledgeable of the financial aid process, college admissions process, and various scholarships, internships, and certifications.

• Technical Knowledge - Has working knowledge of G Suite and MS Office, as well as student information systems.

• Communication Skills - Articulates thoughts and expresses ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to comprehend others' needs. Delivers information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.

• Diversity Awareness - Works with diverse populations including people who have experienced barriers to their education.

• Informed Decision-Making - Identifies and comprehends issues, problems, and opportunities; compares data from different sources to draw conclusions; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

• Teamwork - Works well with others and makes valued contributions in a team setting in order to achieve the required goals and outcomes. Contributes to creating a positive learning environment that promotes productivity, mentoring, teamwork, and partnership.

Preferred Competencies

• Program Management - Is skilled at developing, organizing, monitoring, and evaluating career pathway development programs, including writing policies and procedures, mapped to learning goals that align with post-secondary plans.

• Building Collaborative Relationships - Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support. Has an established, professional network of community resources, employers, Indiana State agencies, and others.

Other Requirements

• Background Screening - All candidates must pass a pre-employment background check.

Benefits: Full-time employees may participate in a comprehensive benefits program that includes:

• Continuing education and leadership development as well as tuition reimbursement

• Comprehensive health plan

• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays

• Life, dental and vision insurance

• Short- and long-term disability plans

• Parental and sabbatical leaves

• Nationally recognized preventive health and wellness program

• Section 125 pretax health spending account, dependent care spending account, and premiums

• Retirement plan with generous match or contribution into Teachers' Retirement Fund for eligible employees

• Eligible for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

Goodwill Education Initiatives

Goodwill strongly believes it is essential to raise education attainment levels in Indiana. Not only are the lifetime earnings of high school graduates significantly higher than those of dropouts, children of high school graduates are 50% less likely to drop out of high school than the children of dropouts are. Goodwill provides opportunities for adults (The Excel Center) and youth (Indianapolis Metropolitan High School).

The Excel Center Model

The Excel Center is operated by Goodwill Education Initiatives, Inc., a not-for-profit organization formed by Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.

Recognizing that nearly a half million working-age Hoosiers lack a high school diploma, Goodwill opened The Excel Center for adults in 2010. The Excel Center is a tuition-free public high school for adults offering an Indiana Core 40 high school diploma.

Mission and Values:

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana is an EEO Employer/Vet/Disabled

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