Career Center Advisor

Ohlone College; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohlone College seeks a career services professional to provide advising, case management, and program coordination for students and community members in Newark. The role emphasizes equity-minded practices and collaboration with campus and community partners.

You will conduct workshops, support WIOA enrollment services, and ensure compliant documentation and reporting across grant-funded programs. This position requires strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in social science or related field.
• Three years of increasingly responsible experience in career counseling.
• Commitment to equity-minded practices across diverse student populations.

Responsibilities

• Outreach to campus and community on career counseling and grant programs.
• Provide program case management and data/documentation support.
• Counsel and advise students/job seekers on career exploration and goals.
• Develop and update job seeker workshops and curriculum.
• Review program eligibility for local, state, and federal funds.
• Coordinate internal and external job search presentations.

Skills

Career counseling theories

Labor market trends

Effective communication

Cultural sensitivity

Presentation skills

Microsoft Office

Social media platforms

Time management

Equity-minded practices

Curriculum development

Data/documentation accuracy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field

Three years of career counseling experience

Tools

CRM software

Project management software

Data tracking systems

Job description

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate is an equity-minded, compassionate, and highly organized career services professional committed to helping individuals overcome barriers and achieve meaningful education, training, and employment goals. This position will provide career advising and case management to a blend of WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Out-of-School Youth participants, as well as Ohlone College students and community members.

The ideal candidate has experience providing individualized career advising and coaching, developing employment and training goals, connecting individuals to education, training, and employment opportunities, and supporting participants throughout their workforce journey. They will be responsible for managing an active caseload, maintaining regular participant engagement, tracking participant progress and outcomes, and providing consistent follow-up to support successful outcomes.

The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented and understands the importance of program compliance, accurate documentation, case notes, data entry and tracking, file maintenance, and meeting program deadlines and performance expectations. They are comfortable working with data and tracking systems and understand that accurate and timely documentation is an essential part of effective case management and grant-funded programming. Experience with WIOA is a strong plus, as is experience working with other grant-funded, workforce development, or outcomes-driven programs.

They are skilled at building rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including youth and young adults, adult learners, career changers, dislocated workers, and individuals experiencing barriers to employment. They bring strong communication, sound judgment, initiative, and a solutions-oriented approach, while recognizing when collaboration or additional guidance is needed.

They are collaborative, dependable, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced career center environment. They work effectively as part of a team while taking ownership of their caseload, responsibilities, documentation, and participant outcomes.

Above all, the ideal candidate balances compassion with accountability, builds strong relationships with participants and partners, maintains high standards for their work, and is committed to delivering equitable, responsive, and high-quality career services to the diverse individuals and communities we serve.

Position Description

Under the direction of an administrator, provide career advice and assistance to students/job seekers; provide resources for career development; prepare, coordinate and implement workshops for job seekers; provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) enrollment services; conduct community and campus outreach regarding career counseling services; conduct internal audits of client files.

This position is funded by categorical funds, and employment is subject to those funds being available.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conduct community and campus outreach services regarding career counseling services, grant programs and learning opportunities, including various types of orientations, presentations, and fairs;
2. Engage collaboratively with campus and community-based partners, and agencies in career center outreach activities;
3. Provide program case management in compliance with grant-funded programs; procedures include but are not limited to: data entry, audit reviews, program design, client interactions, report tracking, budget management, funder trainings, and progress reports;
4. Provide career counseling and campus outreach regarding career exploration/pathways and assessments using various settings, including but not limited to: individual appointments, and presentations to groups;
5. Provide direct assistance with job-related skills, including interview techniques, résumé critiques, job/internship search assistance, industry trends, and referrals to community and social services;
6. Develop, prepare and update curriculum, inclusive of diversity of training techniques and learning styles for job seeker workshops;
7. Coordinate and implement internal job search and external community presentations for job seekers;
8. Review and assess program eligibility for local, state, and federally-funded programs and provide support using an application, documentation review process, and ongoing client support and resources throughout the process;
9. Provide current and relevant professional development trainings based on industry trends using various platforms, including but not limited to: college-wide trainings, funder trainings, partner/affiliate trainings, self-training, and online training;
10. Integrate, align and design tailored career planning services based on statewide initiatives for career/degree mapping plans and present information in-person or using social media platforms to all stakeholders;
11. Provide support to campus departments/divisions, campus-based initiatives and projects, and community-based partners;
12. Demonstrate sensitivity to and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of the College’s students, faculty, staff and community.
13. Effectively engage and support historically disproportionately impacted groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.
14. Provide technical information and assistance regarding assigned functions and assist in the formulation and development of policies, procedures, and programs;
15. Attend and conduct a variety of meetings, conferences, or committees, as assigned;
16. Other relevant duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of

1. Career counseling theories and techniques;
2. Career interest assessments and tools;
3. Curriculum development for presentations related to the position;
4. Labor market and industry trends;
5. Appropriate résumé formats and styles;
6. Presentation tools and techniques;
7. State and Federal workforce programs and State unemployment benefit programs;
8. Effective communication skills;
9. Cultural sensitivity;
10. Operation of a computer and assigned software.

Skill To

1. Present career theories and concepts as well as job search techniques;
2. Develop curriculum and deliver material;
3. Use Microsoft Office and social media platforms;
4. Work with diverse populations;
5. Write and speak with proper grammar;
6. Interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures;
7. Plan, organize and meet schedules and deadlines.

Ability To

1. Manage client case files;
2. Develop curriculum and deliver material effectively;
3. Use Microsoft Office, Customer Relationship and Project Management Software [LW1] and social media platforms with minimal supervision;
4. Understand and apply grant requirements;
5. Understanding of Career Assessments
6. Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others;
7. Communicate effectively.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination equivalent to:

Bachelor's degree required in social science or a related field

AND

Three years of increasingly responsible experience in career counseling

AND

Must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.

Other Requirements

A valid California Driver’s License

Desirable Qualifications

Two to three years of experience in counseling, career advising, education and/or industry experience in recruiting, human resources, and/or staffing.

Physical Characteristics

This position requires physical abilities needed to work in a standard office setting, including but not limited to: standing and/or sitting for prolonged periods; occasional stooping, bending, kneeling, and twisting; occasional lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling light and moderate amounts of weight; operating office equipment which may require repeated fine motor skills (e.g.: keyboard use); and the ability to communicate in written and verbal forms. The position requires vision and hearing in normal ranges (with or without correction) sufficient to operate any assigned equipment and the ability to clearly communicate with others in written and verbal forms.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary Placement

California School Employees Association (CSEA) Range 37.

Initial salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources. Classified employees advance one step on the salary schedule each year and have the potential to reach the current maximum step of $81,888 annually.

Foreign Transcripts

Transcripts issued outside the United States require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA.

This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the filing deadline. Here is a list of approved foreign degree evaluations services: http://www.ohlone.edu/org/hr/forms/docs/evaluationofforeigndegrees.pdf

District Statement

Founded in 1967, Ohlone College is named in honor of the early Ohlone People who inhabited the San Francisco Bay Area. Ohlone College is committed to providing a high-quality education to serve our diverse population of over 15,000 students per year. Ohlone College is nationally recognized for our Deaf Studies and Interpreter Preparation programs, and is widely known for our nursing, health sciences, liberal arts, biomedical science, and smart manufacturing programs. As a learning community, we embrace and champion inclusivity, integrity, student expression, global citizenship, and continuous improvement.

Ohlone College is one of the top-ranked community colleges in California, serving the cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Our campuses in Fremont and Newark are centrally located in the East Bay between San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. This region is known as a hub of innovation and economic activity, and home to some of the most advanced manufacturing, biomedical research, and clean energy companies in California, including Tesla, Meta, Seagate, and Lam Research.

The main campus in Fremont is located near Interstate 680 at the base of Mission Peak, just south of the historic Mission San Jose, and is the primary gateway to year-round hiking, biking, and hang gliding in the Mission Peak Regional Preserve. The Newark Center for Health Sciences and Technology is located near Interstate 880 in a hub of new residential and commercial development. The two campuses are connected by shuttle to each other and the Warm Springs BART station, which offers convenient access to public transit throughout the Bay Area.

Vision Statement

Ohlone College will be known for inclusiveness, innovation, integrity, engagement, and exceptional student success.

Mission Statement

Ohlone College offers high quality educational and career pathways and personal enrichment courses to serve the diverse needs of all students and the community. Ohlone provides excellent instruction and support services, awards associate degrees and certificates, and promotes university transfer in an inclusive, equitable, and multicultural environment where student learning and achievement are paramount. Ohlone fosters innovation, encourages student expression, and promotes ethical behavior and global citizenship.

EEO Statement

The District is strongly committed to the principles of equal opportunity and to hiring qualified staff who reflect the diversity of our community. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age (40 or over), medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, military and veteran status, pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding or related medical condition or any other protected basis in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. The college encourages applications from all qualified applicants. If you have a disability and are in need of special services, equipment, or facilities in order to apply or interview for this opening, please call the Human Resources office at: [phone].

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon Governing Board approval. Employment with Ohlone Community College is not complete or official until applicants meet all pre-employment requirements. All new employees are required to submit official transcripts, proof of freedom from tuberculosis. In addition, you will be required to provide identification and employment eligibility as outlined in the federal “Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986.” Pre-employment tests and/or medical examinations may be required. Ohlone Community College does not sponsor H1B visas. Employees must sign the Oath or affirmation of Allegiance and submit fingerprints for CA Department of Justice clearance. Employees must be California residents on their date of hire and for the duration of their employment with Ohlone Community College District.

Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986

Applicants selected for positions will be required to provide identification and employment eligibility as outlined in the federal Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986.