FastForward/G3 Career Coach (Restricted)

Macon; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

New River Community College (NRCC) is seeking a FastForward/G3 Career Coach to assist non-credit and credit-bearing students in transitioning to employment and credential attainment. You will provide career planning, connect to financial aid and G3 funding, and work with Workforce Development and Student Services to support student success.

The role emphasizes proactive coaching, case-management, and ongoing connection to community resources, with a two-year grant funding period that ends May

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education settings or academic advising preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with students.
• Ability to clearly communicate in writing and speech.
• Familiarity with educational technologies and student records.

Responsibilities

• Provide career coaching support for FastForward and credit-bearing students.
• Serve as liaison between Workforce Development and Student Services.
• Discuss goals and pathways, including short-term credentials and degrees.
• Document interactions using a case-management approach.
• Meet with students individually and in groups, including evenings.
• Connect students to tutoring, financial aid, and G3 funding options.
• Conduct follow-up studies after students enter the workforce.
• Maintain presence in Workforce Development and Student Services locations.

Skills

Barrier knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Diversity awareness

Career exploration knowledge

Communication skills

Prioritization

Tech proficiency

Independent/team work

Professional development

Confidentiality

Education

Higher education experience

Tools

PeopleSoft

CRM systems

Career service platforms

Office 365

Google Workspace

Job description

FastForward/G3 Career Coach (Restricted)

New River Community College (NRCC) is a comprehensive community college located in the New River Valley of Virginia. At NRCC you can prepare for the future with any of our various occupational programs or college transfer courses. NRCC faculty members are well known not just for their academic background, but also for their capacity to work closely and effectively with students. You’ll find that they have a genuine interest in your success. They also have excellent academic credentials. All faculty who teach college transfer courses have doctorates or master's degrees, while those in occupational programs have a diverse background which combines academics with practical on-the-job experience. In recent years individual professors and college programs have received state and national awards for their quality.

NRCC is seeking a student-focused, connection building individual to serve as the FastForward/G3 Career Coach. Reporting to the Coordinator for Admissions and Advising Services, the FastForward/G3 Career Coach will assist students enrolled in non-credit, short-term programs in making the transition from workforce training to successful employment, providing a variety of career planning services. This career coach will also assist students enrolling in credit-bearing programs that qualify for the state's G3 funding. The FastForward/G3 Career Coach will assist students in overcoming barriers to their success by connecting them to supportive services in the region. The career coach will work closely with students during and after their training and credentialing programs to provide support throughout the program and into the workforce.

The FastForward/G3 Career Coach will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of specific needs of underserved populations and a commitment to helping these individuals attain educational success. The work of the FastForward/G3 Career Coach will be proactive and designed to assist students in achieving career success. This includes communicating regularly with students, maintaining records of student outreach and other interactions and making connections to available college and community support services. The FastForward/G3 Career Coach will utilize available technological resources in addition to in-person interactions to connect with students and program graduates. The ability to utilize such resources and the willingness to work in different environments is essential. The successful candidate must be caring, organized, communicative, and flexible.

Reporting to the Coordinator for Admissions and Advising Services, the FastForward/G3 Career Coach's primary role will be to provide career coaching support for both FastForward/G3 and credit-bearing program students to ensure completion of program and credential attainment, in addition to job placement and retention assistance to students completing workforce training and credentialing.

Note: This is a two-year grant funded position which will end on May 31, 2028.

Responsibilities:

• Assist students enrolled in FastForward (short-term, non-credit) programs in preparing for successful transitions to employment
• Serve as a liaison between the college's Workforce Development department and Student Services staff, including keeping the latter informed about policies and practices relevant to FastForward programs
• Discuss career and educational goals and available pathways with students, including short-term workforce credential opportunities and traditional academic degree programs
• Utilize a case management model to work with FastForward students in preparing for success in the workplace, including documenting interactions
• Meet with students individually and in group/classroom settings (including evening classes) to provide career planning advice
• Connect students enrolling in college credit programs to tutoring and other academic supports as needed, as well as to financial aid resources including Virginia's G3 funding, Federal Title IV student aid funding, and scholarship opportunities through the college's foundation
• Conduct follow-up studies of student experiences after they have entered the workplace
• Utilize technology and other resources to connect with students
• Contribute to the success of the Workforce Development and Student Services teams, including maintaining a physical presence in the locations of both departments
• Perform other duties as assigned

KSA’s/Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of barriers to educational success and a desire to help others reach their educational goals utilizing evidence-based solutions
• Strong interpersonal skills to help engage, provide support to, and motivate students
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to effectively follow up and follow through
• Understanding of the needs of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including the ability to communicate and work with racially, ethically, economically, and age-diverse individuals and groups
• Demonstrated knowledge of career exploration programs and experience providing personalized advice on career and postsecondary options
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage tasks while working in a demanding, fast-paced environment with changing priorities, and adhering to required deadlines meeting work priorities and objectives
• Proficiency in use of technology, such as Office 365, student information systems, and Google Workspace
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Desire to learn and grow by participating in professional development opportunities
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality with student records

Additional Considerations:

• Work experience in a higher education setting, academic/career coaching, or academic advising
• Demonstrated knowledge of PeopleSoft, customer management systems, career service platforms, or similar relevant educational technologies
• Knowledge of available financial aid and scholarship information

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.