Career Skills Development Specialist (Grant-funded)

Weekly Work Hours: 19.5

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Position Type: Staff

About the role

Dallas College is seeking a student-centered professional with a proven track record of supporting student success through high-impact career and transfer skill development. The Career Skills Development Specialist will focus on improving students’ career development skills, providing oversight for the development of programming and services that support student resume development, interview coaching, job application assistance, job placement, and development of a variety of marketable skills that support the successful transition to careers.

The Career Skills Development Specialist will provide comprehensive employment and career planning services to Dallas College students, ensuring they can effectively plan for part-time employment opportunities while enrolled. As a result, students will fulfill career readiness and job placement while at the institution. The role requires initiative and self-direction to increase and maintain student engagement, career readiness, job placement, tracking, reporting, and assessment. Works with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Support students throughout their academic journey by creating career preparation plans, exploring and choosing a Career Pathway and program, supporting resource materials and skills (resume creation and editing, interview coaching, networking, etc.), soft skill development, as well as job, internship, externship, and apprenticeship exploration and placement. Deliver high-quality career support services, including resume development, interview coaching, personal brand development, application to internships, and job placement of eligible students.

Responsibilities

• Support students in developing skills that facilitate successful attainment of part-time employment while enrolled at Dallas College.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality career support services, including resume development, interview coaching, personal brand development, and application to internships, jobs, and placement.
• Provide career skills development through seminars and workshops on interviewing techniques, resume preparation, use of online job search tools, and other job search skills training in person and virtually.
• Provide career exploration to students through administration and interpretation of career assessments, labor market information, and aids in developing students' career-related decision-making capabilities.
• Facilitate both in-person and virtual career workshops.
• Collaborate regularly with team members from Academics, Workforce and Advancement, Career Connected Learning, Employee Resource Center, and Student Success to support strategies that promote student pathway persistence, experiential learning, and employment.
• Partner with other division liaisons to create a seamless student connection between career and job placement.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships and communication with faculty, staff, and administrators of key departments to support and track students.
• Participate in professional development to ensure current knowledge of effective career strategies.
• Leverage emerging technology to maintain systemic efficiencies in delivering and tracking student communications, services, and experiences.
• Meet regularly established goals and benchmarks.
• Prepare and present reports, proposals, and recommendations for overall programs; maintain detailed records of assigned activities.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with grant(s), Dallas College, state, and federal requirements, as applicable.
• Promote a customer service-focused environment to respond to stakeholders' needs.
• Coordinate career and job fairs that lead to the employment of current eligible students.
• Facilitate the development of marketable skills, such as negotiating salaries, networking, personal branding, and other skills that support successful career development and job placement.
• Collaborate with a broad career-connected network of internal and external partners to leverage resources and supports that eliminate barriers and promote effective career skill development for Dallas College students.
• Leverage technology to monitor and track initiatives focused on student career skill development and job placement according to objectives.
• Complete required Dallas College Professional Development training hours per academic year.
• Communicate and express ideas effectively both orally and in writing with individuals within the Dallas College community network.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the purpose of community colleges and the vision of Dallas College.
• Ability to identify and address opportunities and challenges that arise because of Dallas College’s current transformation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the relational impact of Guided Pathways, career development, and transfer skills.
• Experience in successfully supporting students in creating career preparation plans and supporting resource materials and skills (resume creation and editing, interview coaching, networking, etc.).
• Experience in coordinating student career skill development, including career and/or job fairs.
• Experience collaborating with academic partners to support students in developing industry-specific job search materials and skills.
• Experience in communicating, team building, and working collaboratively with academic, workforce, and student success partners.
• Understanding of emerging technologies and the effective application of service technologies to enhance student career skill development virtually and in-person.
• Strong technology skills, including knowledge of and comfort with educational technologies, such as presentation and collaboration tools.
• Ability to respond appropriately to issues in a dynamic, rapidly changing educational/economic environment.
• Time management, organization, problem-solving, and communication skills, with an emphasis on verbal and writing skills that effectively communicate complex ideas with clarity and precision.
• Understanding of the principles of program evaluation and student outcome assessment.
• Proficiency in using quantitative and qualitative data to inform an improved student experience and student success outcomes.
• Experience effectively engaging and supporting students in a remote work environment.
• Strong writing, speaking, presenting, and interpersonal skills in person and online.
• Excellent interpersonal skills using collaboration, tact, patience, and courtesy.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree plus one (1) year of experience in a related field in higher education, non-profit, or corporate setting related to careers, human resources, job placement, and/or recruitment; or three (3) years of experience in a related field in higher education, non-profit, or corporate setting related to careers, human resources, job placement, and/or recruitment.
• Official transcripts required.
• Current and valid Texas driver’s license required.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.

Pay

Hourly Rate: $23.78

Schedule

Part-time, on-site role. After six months of employment, some positions may be eligible to apply for a hybrid work arrangement based on job responsibilities, operational needs, supervisor approval, and Dallas College policy. Opportunities available at either the North Lake or Cedar Valley campus.

Physical Requirements

Normal physical job functions performed within a standard office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to individuals with physical challenges to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

About Us

Since 1965, Dallas College, formerly Dallas County Community College District, has served more than three (3) million students. Comprising seven campuses located around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we are one of the largest community college systems in the state of Texas. We strive to be a leader in the community college space, placing students at the center of everything we do. Dallas College is committed to cultivating an environment of opportunity and belonging for all students and employees.