Regional K-12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator

Appalachian State University; Boone (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Appalachian State University is seeking a Regional K-12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator to lead health career pathway activities across Region 3, coordinating with schools, counselors, and community partners. The role supports students and families, aligns outreach programs, and develops scalable regional models for sustained impact.

The position emphasizes collaboration with K-12 systems, community colleges, and health workforce partners to facilitate smooth transitions from exploration to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in education, counseling, public health, health sciences, workforce development, student services, higher education, or related field.
• At least two years of experience working with K-12 students, schools, youth programs, or related work.
• Strong communication, event coordination, relationship-building, and student support skills.
• Ability to travel across Region 3 (multiple counties).
• Master's degree preferred and relevant experience with rural schools, CTE, or health career pathways welcome.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of youth-facing health career pathway strategies across Region 3.
• Coordinate regional efforts to raise awareness of health professions and provide pathway experiences.
• Support youth engagement initiatives including camps, pathway advising, and outreach programs.
• Develop scalable models and resources to sustain regional pathways.

Skills

Strong communication

Event coordination

Relationship-building

Student support

Travel coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, public health, health sciences, workforce development, student services, higher education, or a related field

Master's degree

Job description

Position Title

Regional K-12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator

Location

Boone, NC

Faculty Rank

No

Provide Rank

N/A

Position Number

0A0991

Department

Office of Rural Promise - 240105

Primary Purpose

The K-12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator coordinates school-facing and youth-facing health career pathway activities in 12 counties in Region 3 and helps students, families, counselors, and educators understand practical next steps into health professions education and employment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, public health, health sciences, workforce development, student services, higher education, or a related field.
• At least two years of experience working with K-12 students, schools, youth programs, academic advising, career development, outreach programs, or related work.
• Strong communication, event coordination, relationship-building, and student support skills.
• Ability to work effectively with schools, families, students, and community partners.
• Ability to travel across Region 3 (Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union Counties).

License/Certification Required

No license or certification is required. Project management, workforce development, public health, clinical, or related certifications may be preferred where applicable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Experience with rural schools, CTE, GEAR UP, Upward Bound, HOSA, Career and College Promise, health career pathways, or community college transition programs.
• Knowledge of Region 3 (Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union) school systems and youth-serving organizations.
• Experience developing student-facing pathway materials or managing youth outreach events.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

YOUTH PATHWAY DEVELOPMENT & COORDINATION

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of youth-facing health career pathway strategies across Region 3.
• Coordinate regional efforts that increase awareness of health professions and expand access to structured career exploration and pathway experiences.
• Support and align youth engagement initiatives including career exposure, pathway advising, camps, student organizations, outreach programs (PATH, GEAR UP, Camp Med, etc.), and related activities that advance health workforce goals.
• Develop scalable models and resources that support long-term regional pathway sustainability.

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP & EDUCATOR ENGAGEMENT

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with K-12 school systems, Career and Technical Education programs, counselors, teachers, school administrators, HOSA chapters, and youth-serving organizations.
• Coordinate with school and regional partners to integrate pathway awareness, academic planning, and career readiness activities into existing student support systems.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among schools, community colleges, universities, and workforce partners to strengthen transitions and reduce pathway fragmentation.
• Represent Appalachian State and the Office of Rural Promise in regional school-facing initiatives and collaborative workgroups.

STUDENT OUTREACH, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT & TRANSITION SUPPORT

• Develop and coordinate student- and family-facing outreach materials, pathway maps, events, and next-step resources.
• Connect students and families to community college, dual enrollment, Career and College Promise, university, and health workforce opportunities.
• Coordinate youth ambassador, mentoring, and near-peer engagement strategies that strengthen student belonging and pathway participation.
• Identify and address barriers affecting rural student participation, including transportation, awareness, scheduling, and family access to information.
• Support student transition planning to promote continuity from K-12 exploration into postsecondary education and training opportunities.

EMPLOYER CONNECTIONS & CAREER EXPOSURE

• Coordinate with employers, training sites, health systems, and regional partners to expand age-appropriate career exposure opportunities.
• Support development of job shadowing, experiential learning, workplace awareness activities, and other early workforce engagement strategies.
• Align youth-facing experiences with regional workforce priorities and emerging health workforce needs.

DATA, REPORTING & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Track participation, school and county engagement, student interests, transition activity, and pathway outcomes.
• Support collection, analysis, and reporting of grant and program performance measures.
• Develop recommendations to improve participation, equity of access, and regional pathway effectiveness based on stakeholder feedback and outcome data.
• Support documentation, regional implementation activities, and continuous improvement efforts.

CROSS-§-SECTOR ALIGNMENT & REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION

• Coordinate closely with the Postsecondary Pathways Coordinator to ensure seamless learner progression from K-12 engagement into postsecondary education, work-based learning, and workforce opportunities.
• Contribute to regional planning and implementation efforts designed to strengthen long-term health workforce outcomes.
• Support strategic initiatives of the Office of Rural Promise and regional grant objectives.

OTHER

• Other duties as assigned.

Type of Position

Full Time Position

Staff/Non-Faculty

Staff/Non-Faculty

VISA Sponsorship?

VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.

Appointment Type

1.0

Work Schedule/Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; with some nights and weekends as needed for student programming.

Number of Hours Per Week

40

Number of Months Per Year

12

Suggested Salary Range

$55,000 - $60,000

Physical Demands of Position

This position primarily involves office and computer-based work, including prolonged periods of sitting, typing, reading, virtual meetings, document review, and project communication. The position may require occasional travel to partner sites, schools, community colleges, healthcare organizations, meetings, and regional convenings. Occasional lifting or transport of meeting materials and supplies up to 20 pounds may be required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.