Career Specialist

Athens State University; Athens (AL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Athens State University in Athens, Alabama, is seeking a Career Specialist to help students build career readiness by coordinating programs, events, and engagements with faculty, employers, and community partners.

The role involves coaching on job search strategies, labor market information, and pathways to internships and employment, with emphasis on developing practical competencies and professional readiness for the workforce.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• Three years' relevant professional experience, with one year directly related to providing career guidance.
• Familiarity with guiding principles and practices promoted by prominent career development associations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate career-focused events and activities with partnerships across student clubs, community partners, faculty, and administrators.
• Monitor and assess student progress toward developing career readiness skills and post-graduation preparation needs.
• Maintain accurate tracking and notes for students who engage in career development opportunities.
• Provide coaching to students and engage them in career-related conversations and explorations.
• Assist in collection, tabulation, and analysis of outcomes data and labor market research.
• Stay current with industry trends to provide up-to-date advice to students.
• Facilitate workshops, classroom presentations, and career-related learning sessions.
• Support coordination and execution of career fairs, employer visits, and on-campus events.
• Offer guidance on job search strategies and techniques.
• Collaborate with community partners for internship and job placement opportunities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Career Specialist

Job Duties

The Career Specialist supports students in developing careerreadiness by coordinating career-focused programs, events, andengagement opportunities. The role provides individualized andgroup guidance on career exploration, job search strategies,assessments, and labor market information. This positioncollaborates with faculty, staff, employers, and community partnersto facilitate career pathways, learning opportunities, andsuccessful transitions into internships and employment.

Why Athens State University

As Alabama's only upper-division university, Athens State serves amission-centered population of transfer students and adultlearners, positioning it uniquely for strategic enrollment growththrough innovation, strong partnerships, and an unwaveringcommitment to access.With a deep dedication to career-focusededucation, Athens State is advancing bold initiatives designed toalign academic programs with workforce demand. The launch of CareerAdvantage underscores this commitment—providing adult learners withflexible, high-quality pathways that are closely aligned withemployer needs and regional workforce priorities. Throughintentional employer engagement, streamlined transfer processes,and student-centered support models, the university is poised toexpand its reach and strengthen its role as a catalyst for economicmobility and community impact.

Essential Functions

• Coordinate career-focused events and activities, such ascareer/industry panels and networking opportunities, throughpartnerships with student clubs/organizations, community partners,faculty, and college administrators
• Monitor and assess student progress toward developing criticalcareer readiness skills, post-graduation preparation needs, andprovide engagement opportunities that support growth in NACE CareerCompetencies
• Maintain accurate tracking and notes for students who engage incareer development opportunities
• Provide coaching to students and engage them in career-relatedconversations and explorations
• Assist in the collection, tabulation, and analysis of outcomesdata for students, as well as research on employment and markettrends
• Stay current with industry trends and labor market informationto provide up-to-date advice to students
• Facilitate workshops, classroom presentations, andcareer-related learning sessions focused on career pathways andworkplace readiness
• Support the coordination and execution of career fairs,employer recruitment visits, and on-campus engagement events
• Offer guidance on job search strategies and techniques
• Collaborate with community partners for internship and jobplacement opportunities
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Three years' relevant professional experience, with one yeardirectly related to providing career guidance

Other Qualifications and Job Requirements

• Familiarity with guiding principles and practices promoted byprominent career development associations (i.e., NationalAssociation of Colleges and Employers, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage projects and meetdeadlines
• Proven interpersonal communication (oral and written), andcustomer service skills
• Ability to achieve a high degree of accuracy with greatattention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment;strong organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills;and proficiency in proofreading, grammar, punctuation, andspelling
• Ability and willingness to adapt to technological and businessprocess changes

Work Conditions

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position, such asstanding and/or sitting, for up to 65% of the time
• Occasionally tasked with duties that require low postures suchas crouching, kneeling, and/or stooping
• Must be able to occasionally adjust or move objects up to 20pounds in all directions.
• Frequently communicates with others to exchangeinformation
• Occasionally operates a motor vehicle for off-campusjob-related duties
• Frequently uses hands/fingers to operate a computer and otheroffice productivity machinery, such as copier, printer, etc.
• Frequently uses near vision for the use of computers andreading small print
• Occasionally works outdoors

Salary Schedule

Salary Range: $40,122 – $50,152 – $60,183To view salary schedulesvisit: https://www.athens.edu/about/offices/human-resources/resources/salary-schedule-tables Salary will be commensurate with experience andqualifications.

About Athens State University

Located in historic Athens, Alabama, Athens State University offersjunior and senior-level coursework to community college graduatesand transfer students holding sufficient credits from otherinstitutions. Presently, over 3,100 students have selected AthensState because of its neighborly environment where 50 majors anddegree programs are offered, with courses taught by a supportiveand exceptional faculty. Approximately 80% of the students areenrolled in at least one online course. The typical student is aworking adult who commutes. Recently, the University was featuredin the 2015 Best Value Online College Rankings by OnlineU.org forfour online programs including computer science, accounting,education and human resources. The University offers undergraduatedegree programs in Liberal Arts, Teacher Preparation, and Business.The University employs more than 350 full and part-time employeeswith approximately 90 full-time faculty members in three colleges:College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and College ofEducation. Seventy-five percent of the full-time faculty membershold a terminal degree. The University is accredited by theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission onColleges.

Athens, Alabama is located in north Alabama equidistant betweenNashville, TN and Birmingham, AL. Athens is home to several eventsand festivals that have been featured as the Southeast TourismSociety's “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” including the AthensStorytelling Festival and the Tennessee Valley Old Time FiddlersConvention.

In accordance with Athens State University Policy and guidelines, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign aconsent form for a criminal background check. Employment will becontingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from thatcriminal background check.

Non-Discrimination Policy Statement

Non-Discrimination Policy Statement Athens State University, asan equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, complies withall applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscriminationand affirmative action. Athens State University does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age,marital status, gender, gender identity, gender expression,pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, religion, geneticinformation, or veteran status in employment, or admissions to orparticipation in educational programs and activities. Inquiries orconcerns may be addressed to the Office of the Vice President ofEnrollment and Student Support Services, 300 N. Beaty St., Athens,AL 35611, 256- 233-8175.