Career Specialist (CTE/CE)

Cape Fear Community College; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC, seeks a Career Specialist to promote CTE and CE programs, recruit prospective students, and connect individuals with workforce pathways aligned to regional industry needs.

The role builds partnerships with K-12 schools, employers, and community organizations; uses CRM tools; coordinates events; and supports enrollment through outreach, information sessions, and campus visits. Evening/weekend work is required.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field.
• Two years of recruitment or workforce development experience.
• Ability to travel within the service area.

Responsibilities

• Generate, track, and manage prospective student leads through outreach, events, and referrals.
• Conduct one-on-one consultations with prospective students to identify career interests and pathways.
• Promote dual enrollment, workforce pathways, and credentials to high school students and families.
• Coordinate program showcases and career exploration activities.
• MaintainCRM records of interactions, leads, and enrollment progress.
• Collaborate with Student Services and academic departments to support admissions and enrollment.

Skills

Relationship building

Public speaking

CRM tools

Recruitment

Education

Associate degree

Tools

CRM software

Job description

DEFINITION:

The Career Specialist (CTE/CE) serves as a primary outreach, recruitment, and workforce pathway representative for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Continuing Education (CE) programs. This position is responsible for building awareness of workforce training opportunities, generating prospective student leads, and connecting individuals with educational pathways that align with regional industry needs and career goals.

The Career Specialist develops relationships with K-12 schools, community organizations, employers, workforce agencies, and the general public to promote enrollment in workforce education programs. The position actively recruits prospective students through presentations, events, individual consultations, campus visits, community outreach activities, and strategic partnerships.

Working closely with Student Services and academic departments, the Career Specialist identifies, qualifies, and nurtures prospective student leads before transitioning them into the enrollment process. The position maintains a thorough understanding of college CTE and CE programs, workforce credentials, career pathways, labor market trends, and employment opportunities to effectively guide prospective students toward training and educational opportunities that support career success.

Requires evening and occasional weekend work, travel throughout the service area, participation in college committees and events.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

• Receives supervision from the Senior Director, Apprenticeships and Workforce Partnerships
• Exercises no supervision.

ESSENTIAL AND OTHER IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS STATEMENTS:

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

Recruitment and Lead Generation

Develop and implement outreach and recruitment strategies to increase awareness and interest in Career and Technical Education and Continuing Education programs.

• Generate, track, and manage prospective student leads through community outreach, presentations, events, referrals, and partnership activities.
• Track and manage prospective student leads, engagement activities, and enrollment pipeline progress to support institutional recruitment goals.
• Conduct one-on-one consultations with prospective students to identify career interests and recommend appropriate educational pathways.
• Maintain regular communication with prospective students throughout the exploration phase and facilitate warm handoffs to Student Services for admissions, advising, and enrollment.
• Utilize CRM and student tracking systems to document interactions, monitor lead progress, and evaluate recruitment outcomes.
• Coordinate follow-up communications and engagement activities designed to move prospects through the enrollment funnel.

K-12 Outreach and Educational Partnerships

• Develop strong relationships with high school administrators, counselors, teachers, career development coordinators, and Career and College Promise personnel.
• Promote dual enrollment, workforce pathways, certifications, and postsecondary opportunities to high school students and families.
• Conduct classroom presentations, career fairs, information sessions, parent events, and workforce awareness activities.
• Assist students with identifying career pathways that align with their interests, aptitudes, and workforce opportunities.
• Coordinate program showcases and hands-on career exploration opportunities.
• Represent the College at K-12 events and initiatives throughout the service area.

Community and Workforce Engagement

• Build partnerships with community organizations, workforce development agencies, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and other community stakeholders to generate prospective student referrals.
• Participate in community events, workforce initiatives, job fairs, and recruitment activities to promote college programs.
• Collaborate with CTE and CE leadership to stay informed of workforce trends, labor market demands, and industry needs, and communicate career opportunities and employment outcomes to prospective students
• Serve as a liaison between the College and community partners to strengthen CTE and CE workforce development pipelines.
• Identify underserved populations and develop outreach strategies to increase access to workforce education opportunities.

Program Promotion and Workforce Pathway Advisement

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of all CTE and CE programs, credentials, certifications, and career pathways.
• Communicate program requirements, costs, schedules, credential opportunities, transfer options, and career outcomes to prospective students.
• Remain knowledgeable of regional labor market information, industry trends, workforce shortages, wage data, and employment opportunities.
• Assist prospective students in understanding career options and educational pathways without performing formal academic advising functions.
• Collaborate with academic departments to stay current on program updates, new offerings, and workforce initiatives.

Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of outreach activities, lead generation efforts, recruitment outcomes, and partnership engagement.
• Prepare reports related to prospect activity, recruitment metrics, conversion rates, and outreach effectiveness.
• Analyze recruitment data and recommend strategies to improve lead generation and enrollment outcomes.
• Support institutional reporting requirements related to workforce recruitment initiatives.

Other Important Functions:

• Attend and actively participate in college events including open houses, enrollment events, workforce expos, and community engagement activities.
• Participate in professional development activities related to recruitment, workforce development, career pathways, and student engagement.
• Serve on college committees and workgroups as assigned.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Ability To:

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with students, parents, educators, and community partners.
• Effectively recruit, engage, and motivate prospective students from diverse backgrounds.
• Deliver dynamic presentations to individuals and groups of varying sizes.
• Communicate complex educational and career information in a clear and meaningful manner.
• Utilize customer relationship management systems and data tracking tools.
• Analyze labor market information and communicate workforce opportunities.
• Meet performance goals and recruitment objectives.
• Work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Represent the College in a positive and professional manner.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Work independently
• Make sound decisions and use good judgment
• Assist in the development of policies, procedures, and systems, which ensure productive and efficient operation of the Department.
• Maintain confidentiality
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Interpret and apply CFCC goals, objectives, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
  • Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
  • Making observations
  • Reading and writing
  • Communicating with others
  • Operating assigned equipment
  • Handling varied tasks simultaneously
  • Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following:
    1. Standing or sitting for extended periods of time
    2. Operating assigned equipment
    3. Handling varied tasks simultaneously
    4. Bending, stooping, climbing, or lifting up to 50 pounds
  • Maintain mental capacity, which allow the capability of:
    1. Making sound decisions
    2. Responding to questions
    3. Demonstrating intellectual capabilities

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES:

Minimum Education/Training:

• Associate degree from a regionally accredited institution in Business, Marketing, Communications, Education, Workforce Development, or a related field.
• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license.

Minimum Experience:

• Two years of progressively responsible experience in sales, recruitment, admissions, workforce development, business development, student services, community engagement, or a related field.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience meeting recruitment, enrollment, sales, outreach, or business development goals.
• Knowledge of workforce training programs, career pathways, and labor market trends.
• Experience utilizing CRM or prospect management systems to track leads and engagement activities.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• This position REQUIRES UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS be submitted in addition to the application. Please have these documents ready to upload when applying.

• Candidates are required to submit OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS for all degrees obtained prior to their first day of work or hire date. If highest level of education is High School diploma or equivalent, proof of completion is required.

• Candidates who have obtained their education outside of the US and its territories must have their academic degree(s) validated, at their own expense, by an outside credential evaluation service as equivalent to the Baccalaureate or Master’s degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

• To claim veterans’ preference, all eligible persons shall submit a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to Human Resources during the application process. Human Resources will verify eligibility.