College and Career Specialist

Urban Alliance; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 52,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

90% employer-paid individual healthcare coverage

403(b) retirement plan with 3% match

Paid time off between December 25 and January 1

18 days of PTO, 10 federal holidays, and 5 sick days

Job summary

A community support organization in Washington, DC, is seeking a College & Career Support Specialist to enhance alumni engagement and support young adults in their educational and career journeys. The role involves mentoring, event coordination, and collaboration with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate should have a background in education or social work and 2–4 years of experience with youth. A comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage and retirement plans, is offered alongside a competitive salary between $52,000 and $61,000.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience working with high school or college-aged students in workforce development or education.
• Ability to engage diverse young people in interactive learning environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide coaching and workshops on resume writing and interview preparation.
• Plan and execute alumni-focused events and workshops.
• Build and maintain relationships with Urban Alliance alumni.

Skills

Relationship building

Mentoring

Event coordination

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, youth development, or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Urban Alliance is seeking a College & Career Support Specialist to join our Baltimore team. This position plays a vital role in strengthening alumni engagement, post‑secondary success, and workforce development programming for young adults. The Specialist supports alumni and young adults as they navigate college, employment, and personal growth while helping expand opportunities for career exposure, professional skill‑building, and long‑term success.

The ideal candidate is a relationship‑builder who enjoys mentoring, event coordination, and collaborating across teams to help young people achieve their educational and career goals. This position reports to the Director of College and Career Services and works closely with program staff, employer partners, and community organizations.

About Urban Alliance

Urban Alliance (UA) believes that all young people deserve equal access to the work experience, professional networks, and skills training needed to achieve economic mobility. For over 25 years, UA has connected high school students and recent high school graduates from historically excluded communities to career opportunities through paid internships, mentoring, and job skills training.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualized coaching and group workshops on resume writing, interview preparation, networking, and college navigation.
• Support the design and delivery of programming that enhances career readiness, financial literacy, and goal‑setting.
• Collaborate with the UA team to align college and career programming with organizational goals and local workforce priorities.

Program & Event Coordination

• Plan and execute alumni‑focused events, workshops, and networking opportunities.
• Support logistics for career development sessions, employer panels, and special initiatives such as the Ozzie Newsome Scholars and Property Management Program events.
• Develop and distribute communications and marketing materials to promote opportunities and success stories.

Alumni Engagement & Support

• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with Urban Alliance alumni through consistent outreach, communication, and check‑ins.
• Support alumni in identifying and accessing resources for college persistence, career advancement, and personal development.
• Track alumni data and outcomes to inform program improvement and reporting.
• Collaborate with community partners, employers, and higher education institutions to create new engagement opportunities and partnerships.

Internship & Recruitment Support

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and placement for internship and alumni programs.
• Assist with developing and maintaining relationships with employer partners to identify meaningful placement opportunities.
• Track student and alumni progress to ensure success in placements and ongoing career pathways.
• Maintain case notes, attendance, and participation data using Salesforce or similar databases.
• Identify trends, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen alumni outcomes.
• Participate in professional development to advance youth development and workforce readiness practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, youth development, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 2–4 years of experience working with high school or college‑aged students, preferably in workforce development, education, or nonprofit settings.
• Strong facilitation and mentoring skills with the ability to engage diverse young people in interactive learning environments.
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills; ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Passion for youth development, career readiness, and equitable access to opportunity.
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for events.

Preferred

• Experience with event planning or program coordination.
• Familiarity with Baltimore City youth and community resources.
• Comfort with databases (e.g., Salesforce) and virtual engagement tools.
• Experience working in Baltimore schools or with local youth‑serving organizations.
• Coaching, mentoring, or case management experience.

Compensation and Benefits

At Urban Alliance, one of our core values is taking care of each other. The salary for this position is $52,000–$61,000, depending on experience, with a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 90% employer‑paid individual healthcare coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% match
• Paid time off between December 25 and January 1, plus up to 18 days of PTO, 10 federal holidays, 5 sick days, and additional paid closure and diversity day.
• Pre‑tax commuter, health, and childcare benefits, and whole life insurance.