PROGRAM SPECIALIST, EDUCATION

Responsibilities

• Conduct regular one-on-one coaching sessions (in-person or virtual) with each student.
• Develop, monitor, and refine individualized education and career success plans.
• Connect students to relevant resources, workshops, and actionable next steps.
• Guide students through career assessments, academic milestones, and planning timelines.
• Support students in identifying and applying for internships, training programs, post-secondary education, and employment opportunities.
• Provide feedback on mock interviews and assist in creating professional materials (e.g., resumes, portfolios, headshots).
• Equip students with essential interpersonal and workplace readiness skills.
• Foster a supportive environment that promotes self-sufficiency and career confidence.
• Serve as a consistent and trusted point of contact throughout the program.
• Aid in planning and execution of career events, industry site visits, workshops, and presentations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, social work, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in academic advising, student support services, or coaching/counseling roles.
• Proven ability to build rapport with high school students from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge of college and career planning, internship programs, and educational systems.
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and documentation skills.
• Experience developing policies, training materials, or curricula is highly desirable.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish or other languages) preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Must demonstrate excellence in on-site engagement, performance tracking, and student satisfaction.

Benefits

Competitive benefits.

Pay

Commensurate with experience, education, and market, $26-36/hour.

Schedule

Full-time / Non-exempt.

About the Role

The Program Specialist, Education is a dynamic, student-centered professional dedicated to empowering high school students through Orange County United Way’s Youth Career Connections program—a comprehensive college and career readiness initiative spanning junior and senior years. This role provides individualized coaching and strategic guidance to a cohort of 100 students, helping them build and execute personalized career and success plans.

Company Standards

• Approach tasks and duties with quality within deadlines.
• Interact professionally with coworkers, customers, and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Embrace change and new technologies.
• Commitment to the values and mission of Orange County United Way.

Physical Demands

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently required to be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time.
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, records, and office machinery.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs, and constantly positions self to maintain computers in the office, including under the desks.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with coworkers and customers who have inquiries about our business operations and the community we service; therefore, the person must be able to exchange accurate information.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Contact Information

To apply, send cover letter and resume to: recruiting@unitedwayoc.org
Orange County United Way
18012 Mitchell South, Irvine, CA 92614
www.unitedwayoc.org