College Success Coach

Mountain Empire Community College; Wise (VA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountain Empire Community College is seeking a College Success Coach to support students in Wise County and surrounding areas. The role focuses on creating individualized academic plans, guiding financial aid applications, and connecting students to tutoring and support services to promote completion of their academic program.

The position requires collaboration with faculty and student services, regular communication with students, and data capture to improve coaching outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills to help engage, provide support to, and motivate students.
• Ability to develop individualized academic plans with students that will lead to program completion.
• Knowledge of and links to financial aid and scholarship information available through the college.
• Academic and career counseling skills.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of the specific needs of underserved populations in order to attain educational success.
• Ability to work with students with identified risk factors for academic success.
• Ability to work with college faculty and staff in support of student success.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills throughout the application packet and selection process.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist students in developing individualized academic plans and navigating degree requirements.
• Help students apply for financial aid and scholarships and connect to scholarships.
• Identify academic needs and link to tutoring or other learning support resources.
• Provide follow-up when risk factors such as poor attendance or low grades are evident.
• Communicate with students in the target population regularly, in person or in groups.
• Coordinate with college faculty and student services staff to ensure access to resources.
• Capture data on student communications, interactions, and success strategies to strengthen program impact.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Academic planning

Financial aid knowledge

Counseling skills

Problem-solving

Underserved populations awareness

Faculty coordination

Written/verbal communication

Microsoft Office

Presentation & facilitation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, counseling, or related field

Job description

College Success Coach

Posting Details

Working Title: College Success Coach

Role Title: Education Support Spec III

Role Code: 29144-SW

FLSA: Nonexempt

Pay Band: 04

Position Number: 299R0119

Agency: Mountain Empire Community College

Division: Mountain Empire Community College (Div)

Work Location: Wise - 195

Hiring Range: $45,739 - $47,500

Emergency/Essential Personnel: No

EEO Category: 5-Paraprofessionals

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time

Telework options: No

Bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference: No

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Sensitive Position: No

Job Description

Mountain Empire Community College is a comprehensive two-year college serving residents of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson counties, and the City of Norton. MECC is one of twenty-three colleges in the Virginia Community College System and operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Local Advisory Board. The College is financed primarily with state funds, supplemented by contributions from the local jurisdictions.

The Center for Student Outreach and Success (CSOS), a division of Student Services, is designed to ensure students have access to the services they need to be successful at MECC. The C-SOS serves as a one-stop shop on campus assisting students with the academic process and ensuring they are referred to the appropriate services needed. The SOS Center encourages students to walk in with any questions they may have. The staff in the SOS Center are trained to refer students to the appropriate offices or assist the student if appropriate. The SOS Center is comprised of the College Success Coach Initiative. The CSCI Program’s primary focus is to serve their cohort students with one-on-one case management services to address barriers to success. When appropriate, the CSCI staff will assist students with referrals and provide backup advising services when faculty/Student Services staff are not available.

The College Success Coach is responsible for working with students to support and enhance their success in college. The college success coach will assist students in developing individualized academic plans, applying for financial aid and scholarships, identifying academic needs and linking to tutoring or other learning support resources, and providing follow up when risk factors such as poor attendance or low grades are evident. The College Success Coach will communicate with students in the target population on a regular basis and engage them in person individually and/or in small groups. College success coaches will communicate with college faculty and coordinate with student services personnel regarding students in the target population to ensure that they have access to college resources and support that will lead to completion of their academic program. College Success Coaches will capture appropriate data on student communications, interactions, and success strategies in order to strengthen the college’s use of College Success Coaches.

This position is designated as a restricted position in accordance with Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) Policy 2.20. A restricted position is one that is funded, in whole or in part (minimum of 10%), by non-continuous or non-recurring funding sources such as grants, contracts, donations, auxiliary revenues, or other time-limited funding streams. As a result, the continued availability of this position is dependent upon the continuation of the identified funding source(s). Should such funding be reduced, modified, or discontinued, the position and therefore employment in this role may be subject to change or elimination in accordance with applicable state and institutional policies. Employees serving in restricted positions are generally afforded the same terms and conditions of employment as other classified employees; however, certain provisions such as layoff sequencing and eligibility for placement rights or severance benefits may differ based on the nature and continuity of funding. By accepting or continuing in this position, the employee acknowledges and understands the restricted status of the role and the potential implications associated with its funding source.

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

• Strong interpersonal skills to help engage, provide support to, and motivate students.
• Ability to develop individualized academic plans with students that will lead to program completion.
• Knowledge of and links to financial aid and scholarship information available through the college.
• Academic and career counseling skills.
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of the specific needs of underserved populations in order to attain educational success.
• Ability to work with students with identified risk factors for academic success.
• Ability to work with college faculty and staff in support of student success.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills throughout the application packet and selection process.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, counseling, or a related field.
• Work experience in counseling or academic coaching, advising, or within the Division of Student Services/Affairs.
• Must possess a current driver’s license.

Additional Considerations

• Master’s degree in a related field such as counseling, education, psychology, or a related field.
• Experience working with students in a Community College setting.

Operation of a State Vehicle: Yes

Supervises Employees: No

Required Travel: Infrequent statewide travel.

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number: CLS_4843P

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Number of Vacancies: 1

Position End Date:

Job Open Date: 11/06/2026

Job Close Date: 11/20/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Agency Website: www.mecc.edu

Contact Name: Cory Darnell

Email: [e-mail]

Phone Number: 276-523-9081

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.

https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/102744