Career Readiness Specialist - Akron

Stark-State-College-of-Technolog; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 44,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition benefits

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Stark State College Akron is seeking a Career Readiness Specialist dedicated to helping students, alumni, and community members explore career pathways and connect education to employment opportunities. The role focuses on coaching, workshops, and partnerships with employers.

As the primary Workforce and Career Readiness partner for multiple programs and campuses, you will expand work-based learning, develop employer relationships, and use Handshake, Starfish, and other tools to track outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in higher education, counseling, business management, HR, education, or related field.
• Valid Ohio driver's license.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal communication, presentation, and customer service skills.
• Ability to develop productive relationships with students, faculty, employers, and community partners.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Computer proficiency with MS Office, spreadsheets, reporting tools, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and protect confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Provide Career Coaching and Student Support: individualized coaching, assessments, résumés, interview prep, LinkedIn, job-search strategies.
• Build Academic Partnerships: partner with Akron Campus and programs to integrate career readiness into academics.
• Develop Employer Relationships: establish relationships with regional employers and workforce groups.
• Expand Work-Based Learning Opportunities: internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, Learn-and-Earn experiences.
• Coordinate Career Programming and Events: plan workshops, panels, fairs, information sessions.
• Support Career Coaching Initiatives: contribute to the Career Coaching Ecosystem and data improvements.
• Use Technology and Data: utilize Handshake, Career Coach, Big Interview, Starfish; maintain records.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Presentation skills

Customer service

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Business Management, Human Resources, Education, or related field

Master’s degree in relevant field (preferred)

Tools

Handshake

Career Coach

Big Interview

Starfish

Job description

Stark State College is seeking a student-focused and relationship-driven Career Readiness Specialist to help students, alumni, and community members explore career pathways, develop essential career-readiness skills, and connect their education to meaningful employment opportunities. This position plays an important role in connecting academic programs, students, and regional employers to strengthen career preparation and workforce opportunities across the College. In addition to the core responsibilities of the Career Readiness Specialist position, this Specialist serves as the primary Workforce and Career Readiness partner for the Akron Campus, Arts & Sciences, CDL (Springfield location), and Automotive programs.

Salary Range

$43,914.00 - $57,089.00 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is a non-exempt, 250-day contract role.

Consistent with the College’s employment practices, this position is offered on a one-year, renewable contract basis. The position is initially funded through a Title III grant, with the College anticipating gradually assuming a greater share of funding over the grant period. Contract renewal is subject to available funding and institutional needs, regardless of funding source, and continued employment is not guaranteed.

Location

Stark State College Akron

Hours

Typical hours are Mon-Fri 8:00a-4:30p but may be adjusted based on student/department needs.

Important Note

To best serve Stark State College students, Career Readiness Specialists are required to work from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a minimum of one day per week.

Who We Are

The positive energy at Stark State College comes from exceptionally dedicated employees who work hard for students. Success for both our employees and our students is the result.

You’ll Be a Great Fit If

You are passionate about helping people connect their education, skills, and interests to meaningful career opportunities. You bring strong coaching, communication, and relationship-building skills and enjoy working collaboratively with students, faculty, academic leaders, and employers. You are equally comfortable providing individualized career guidance, facilitating engaging workshops, coordinating events, and developing partnerships that create real-world learning and employment opportunities for students.

Typical Responsibilities Include

• Provide Career Coaching and Student Support: Deliver individualized career coaching and career exploration services to students, prospective students, alumni, and community members. Assist with career assessments, occupational exploration, career planning, résumés, cover letters, interview preparation, LinkedIn profiles, job-search strategies, and professional development.
• Build Academic Partnerships: Serve as the primary Workforce and Career Readiness partner for the Akron Campus and assigned Arts & Sciences, CDL, and Automotive programs. Collaborate with academic leadership, faculty, department chairs, and program coordinators to identify student needs and integrate career exploration, career readiness, and employment preparation into academic and co-curricular experiences.
• Develop Employer Relationships: Establish and maintain relationships with regional employers, workforce organizations, and community partners to understand hiring needs, communicate employment trends, and expand career exploration, recruiting, and employment opportunities aligned with academic programs.
• Expand Work-Based Learning Opportunities: Develop and promote internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, Learn-and-Earn opportunities, and other work-based learning experiences that connect classroom learning with practical workplace experience. Partner with faculty and employers to align opportunities with student interests, academic programs, and workforce needs.
• Coordinate Career Programming and Events: Plan and facilitate career-readiness workshops, employer panels, career fairs, recruiting events, occupational information sessions, classroom presentations, and other programming that prepares students for the transition from college to employment.
• Support Career Coaching Initiatives: Participate in implementing and continuously improving the College’s Career Coaching Ecosystem, collaborating with College staff to strengthen career development services and incorporate career readiness throughout the student experience.
• Use Technology and Data to Support Student Success: Utilize Career Services platforms and College systems, including Handshake, Coach, Career Coach, Big Interview, Starfish, and other applicable technologies, to support coaching, employer engagement, work-based learning, student participation, and career outcomes. Maintain accurate records and contribute to assessment and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support Grant Initiatives and Institutional Priorities: Contribute to assigned Title III/SPARC grant activities, including career-readiness initiatives, employer engagement, work-based learning, implementation of the Career Coaching Ecosystem, data collection, documentation, reporting, and performance outcomes.
• Collaborate Across the College and Community: Participate in enrollment, retention, student success, and workforce development initiatives. Represent Workforce and Career Readiness with employers, community organizations, workforce partners, and other stakeholders while supporting consistent Career Services practices across College locations and academic divisions.

To Be Considered, You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Business Management, Human Resources, Education, or a related field.
• Valid Ohio driver’s license.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal communication, presentation, and customer service skills.
• Ability to develop productive relationships with students, faculty, academic leaders, employers, and community partners.
• Strong organizational, project coordination, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications, spreadsheets, reporting tools, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, protect confidential information, and work effectively with diverse student populations and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications (although not required)

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Business Management, Human Resources, Education, or related field.

Six months of experience (may be intern/practicum student experience) providing career planning assistance in a college or university related setting.

Benefits

Full-time employees can expect excellent medical, dental & vision coverage; paid life and AD&D insurance; state pension/retirement (OPERS/STRS); paid time off, sick leave and paid holidays; paid Stark State tuition, tuition reimbursement and employee assistance program.

The work you do at Stark State will matter to the thousands of students who walk through our doors, and eventually across the commencement stage, on their journey to a better tomorrow. Come join us and learn how your aspirations can be part of a better future for them – and you.