Education and Career Advisor

Description

Valley Opportunity Council
Job Description Form

Job Title: Education and Career Advisor

Department: Adult Education

Reports to (title): Director of Adult Education

Type of Position (check all that apply):
0 Full-time
1 Part-time
1 Exempt
0 Nonexempt
0 Seasonal
0 Intern

Number of hours per week: 14.5

General Description:
The Education and Career Advisor provides contextual educational and career advising to help adult students take the next steps toward the CDL Driver career pathway. The Advisor also provides supportive counseling and problem solving to help students resolve barriers to attendance and completion of the program. This position works collaboratively with the ESOL instructor, as well as with our CDL partner program.

Specific Essential Duties:
– Work one-on-one with students to assess skills, and clarify, and focus on career goals.
– Work closely with each student and with the instructor to guide the development of an individual Education and Career Plan
tailored to the student?s values and skills, including a timeline for the achievement of each goal.
– Conduct assessments as needed.
– Address barriers to attendance, achievement and retention by assisting students with problem solving, providing referrals to human service agencies, and helping students to access and maintain unemployment benefits, food stamps, and other aid for which they may qualify.
– Prepare and conduct workshops in cooperation with the instructor around workforce preparation and job readiness.
– Work with both MassHire career centers as appropriate.
– Work with students on locating potential employment opportunities
– Enter student data in database(s), as required to document student contacts and maintain records.
– Maintain and update a confidential record of all student conferences.
– Participate in all staff meetings
– Other duties as required.

General Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field; minimum 1 year experience in educational or employment advising; experience working with adult learners, out-of-school youth and newcomer and immigrant populations; ability to work collaboratively to plan and implement programs; excellent organizational, written and oral communication skills and computer skills. Travel in the employee’s car (with mileage expenses reimbursed) may be required. Ability to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations, where possible, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
MA in Education, Counseling or Psychology. Experience designing and implementing career exploration and career planning curriculum, and job search workshops; knowledge of area higher education and post-secondary training opportunities. Ability to effectively represent the program in the community. Bilingual/bicultural is a plus.

Physical Demands (Full physical demands form to be completed during orientation):

0 None
1 Occasional
0 Frequent
0 Constant

Work Experience:
0 None experience necessary
1 1-2 years relevant experience
0 3-5 years relevant experience

Education Requirements:

0 None required
0 High School Diploma/or equivalent or evidence of working towards either
0 High School Diploma Required
0 High School Diploma/or equivalent working towards an Associate?s Degree
0 Associate?s Degree
1 Bachelor?s Degree Required
0 Bachelor?s Degree working towards Master?s Degree
0 Master?s Degree Required
0 Special License Required