Career Coach

Virginia’s Community Colleges; Georgia; On-site; USD 46,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) seeks a passionate Career Coach to bridge students with college and workforce opportunities. You will guide career assessments, help develop individualized plans, and support counselors in career pathways and postsecondary planning.

You will foster work-based learning, industry connections, and dual enrollment opportunities while mentoring other coaches and contributing to program improvements across MGCC's transfer and career-oriented offerings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required.
• Experience administering and interpreting assessments.
• Knowledge of Career Pathways and Dual Enrollment programs.
• Experience using career coaching strategies with diverse student populations.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Excellent command of English (oral and written).

Responsibilities

• Coordinate career assessments and help students develop individualized career plans.
• Support school counselors and staff with career exploration and postsecondary pathways.
• Assist students with college placement, program selection, and transition planning.
• Incorporate work-based learning and employability skills into career preparation.
• Build relationships with local business to expand career pathways and certifications.
• Collaborate with high school and college staff to create seamless student transitions.

Skills

Assessment administration

Career pathways knowledge

Dual enrollment knowledge

Career coaching strategies

Data analysis

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Posting Summary

Working TitleCareer Coach

Role TitleEducation Support Spec III

Role Code29144-SWFLSAExemptPay Band04

Position Number287R0052

AgencyMountain Gateway Community CollegeDivisionMountain Gateway Community College (Div)

Work LocationRockbridge - 163

Hiring Range$45,600 to $47,000Emergency/Essential PersonnelNoEEO Category2-ProfessionalsFull Time or Part TimeFull TimeDoes this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs-Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference?Work ScheduleTBDSensitive PositionNoJob Description

Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) is a two-year public institution of higher education and one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. The college is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia; the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt (northern portion) and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington; and the town of Clifton Forge. MGCC provides opportunities for the extension of knowledge, skills and personal enrichment in an environment that maintains high academic standards and respect for each individual. The college strives to keep programs and services financially and geographically accessible for all students. Credit and non-credit courses are offered to meet life-long learning needs. On-site and distance learning options incorporate up-to-date technologies.

Help Students Discover Their Future. Build Pathways to Success.

Do you believe every student deserves a clear path from high school to college, career, and beyond?

Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) is seeking a passionate, collaborative, and student-focused Career Coach to help students turn their interests and potential into meaningful career and educational opportunities.

This is more than a career coach position. The Career Coach serves as a bridge between students, schools, higher education, and the workforce, helping students understand their options, develop career goals, gain real-world experience, and successfully transition into postsecondary education and careers.

If you enjoy building relationships, connecting people with opportunities, and making a tangible difference in students’ lives, we invite you to consider joining the MGCC team.

What You’ll Do

As a Career Coach, you will:

• Guide students toward their future by coordinating career assessments through Wizard and helping students develop individualized career plans aligned with their interests, strengths, and goals.
• Be a trusted resource for school counselors and staff, providing expertise and support related to career exploration, planning, and postsecondary pathways.
• Help students navigate college opportunities, including college placement, program selection, career exploration, and transition planning.
• Connect learning to the real world by incorporating work-based learning experiences, employability skills, and soft-skills development into students’ career preparation.
• Build relationships with business and industry to expand career pathways, connect students with workforce opportunities, and promote industry-recognized certifications available through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
• Create seamless pathways from high school to college by collaborating with high school personnel, community college faculty and staff, and other educational partners.
• Become an expert on MGCC’s programs, including transfer and career-oriented degrees, certificates, and Career Studies Certificates, so you can help students identify programs that match their goals.
• Support and mentor new Career Coaches, helping them understand the role, expectations, best practices, and Virginia Community College System (VCCS) reporting requirements.
• Support dual enrollment initiatives by working collaboratively with the Dual Enrollment Coordinator and Associate Vice President/Chief Student Affairs Officer.
• Contribute to program management and continuous improvement efforts that strengthen career exploration, college access, work-based learning, dual enrollment, and student transitions

Position Status

This is an 11-month, grant-funded position with an annual employment period of August 1 through June 30. This position is based at Alleghany High School and Bath High School.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Proven academic excellence and subject matter knowledge, which may be evidenced by training, experience, and/or a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Experience administering and interpreting assessments
• Knowledge of Career Pathways programs
• Knowledge of Dual Enrollment Program and procedures
• Knowledge of best practices related to career development services
• Knowledge of MGCC programs
• Experience using career coaching strategies
• Experience working with underserved/underrepresented populations
• Experience in academic and career advising
• Ability to gather and analyze data
• Command of the English language both oral and written
• Excellent computer skills
• Ability to be a team player including maintaining confidentiality

Additional Considerations

Knowledge of MGCC programs

Knowledge of Dual Enrollment Programs and procedures

Experience in administering and interpreting assessments

Operation of a State Vehicle

NoSupervises EmployeesYesRequired Travel

Some travel

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.