Specialist – TRIO Employment Opportunity Center (EOC)

Kilgore College; Kilgore (TX); On-site; USD 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36-hour work week

Health, life, and income protection

TRS retirement program

Free use of fitness facilities

Public Student Loan Forgiveness after

Tuition scholarships for employee and 

Paid leave time

Job summary

Kilgore College in Kilgore, TX seeks a Specialist for the TRIO Employment Opportunity Center (EOC) to provide academic, career, admissions, and financial aid guidance to program participants while supporting daily operations of the EOC program.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in education or a related field and has at least two years of counseling experience, including work with non-traditional and economically disadvantaged students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in education or related field.
• Experience helping served populations become successful college students and future employees.
• Minimum of two years' experience in counseling (career/transfer advising/financial aid).
• Minimum of two years' experience in higher education or relatable field.
• Experience working with non-traditional students, economically and academically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Excellent oral and written communication; human relations; organizational and administrative skills are essential.
• Must work independently, respect confidentiality, solve problems, and maintain courtesy with students and partners.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite and database management.
• Must be in good standing with personal federal student loans to access federal student aid software.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in record keeping and reporting as required.
• Assisting with the management of the day-to-day operation of the EOC program.
• Assisting with data collection for annual performance reporting.
• Overseeing the selection process of participants for the program.
• Helping fulfill all activities and objectives of the project.
• Providing individual and group college admissions, testing, and financial aid guidance.
• Conducting career and degree choice workshops.
• Arranging campus visits for EOC participants.
• Maintaining a research bank and conducting research on admissions, testing, and financial aid requirements.
• Cultivating relationships with area colleges and universities.
• Working with community partners, faculty, and staff of area colleges and universities in getting participants’ referrals.
• Assisting the Program Manager in follow-up activities of former participant’s end status.
• Fostering a climate supportive of the success of low-income, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities.
• Making recommendations for accommodations for all EOC project participants with learning, physical and emotional disabilities.
• Evaluating students’ needs through assessments and personal interview.
• Assisting with completion of FAFSA’s for all EOC participants.
• Serving as community outreach and event coordinator; schedule presentations for staff.
• Participate in ongoing trainings: Federal TRIO Policy, Career Assessment, FAFSA, and transfer advising.
• Coordinate with college marketing department for promotion of the EOC Program and scheduled events.
• Read and respond to all College email communications in a timely manner.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Counseling experience

Non-traditional students

Microsoft Suite

Leadership abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in education or related field

Tools

Database management

Job description

Specialist – TRIO Employment Opportunity Center (EOC)

The Specialist for TRIO EOC provides academic, career, admissions, and financial aid guidance to program participants while assisting with the coordination and daily operations of the Educational Opportunity Center program.

Position Responsibilities

• Assisting in record keeping and reporting as required
• Assisting with the management of the day-to-day operation of the EOC program
• Assisting with data collection for annual performance reporting
• Overseeing the selection process of participants for the program
• Helping fulfill all activities and objectives of the project
• Providing individual and group college admissions, testing, and financial aid guidance
• Conducting career and degree choice workshops
• Arranging campus visits for EOC participants
• Maintaining a research bank and conducting research on admissions, testing, and financial aid requirements
• Cultivating relationships with area colleges and universities
• Working with community partners, faculty, and staff of area colleges and universities in getting participants’ referrals
• Assisting the Program Manager in follow-up activities of former participant’s end status
• Fostering a climate supportive of the success of low-income, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities
• Making recommendations for accommodations for all EOC project participants with learning, physical and emotional disabilities
• Evaluating students’ needs through assessments and personal interview
• Assisting with completion of FAFSA’s for all EOC participants
• Serving as community outreach and event coordinator; schedule presentations for staff
• Participate in ongoing trainings: Federal TRIO Policy, Career Assessment, FAFSA, and transfer advising
• Coordinate with college marketing department for promotion of the EOC Program and scheduled events
• Read and respond to all College email communications in a timely manner
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required in education or related field.
• Experience in assisting served population in becoming successful college students and future employees.
• Minimum of two years' experience in counseling, preferably in the following areas: career/transfer advising/financial aid.
• Minimum of two years' experience in higher education or relatable field.
• Experience working with non-traditional students, economically and academically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Excellent oral and written communication; human relations; organizational, and administrative skills are essential.
• Must be able to work independently, respect confidentiality, be able to solve problems, and maintain courtesy in dealing with students, community leaders, faculty, staff and visitors.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities are essential.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite and database management.
• Must be in good standing with personal federal student loans to have permission to access federal student aid software.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• 0 Full-Time Direct Reports
• 0 Part-Time Direct Reports

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited physical effort required; however, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Safety

• Provide resources for safe operation of units. Create and support workplace safety.

Benefits and Perks

• 36-hour work week for a healthy work life balance as well generous paid leave time.
• Health, life, and income protection insurance are provided.
• An excellent retirement program through the Teacher Retirement System.
• Full Time employees have free use of the college’s recreational/fitness facilities.
• Full Time employees are eligible for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PLSF) after 10 years of service.
• Tuition scholarships arefor the employee and dependents.
• Compensation for this 12-month position is $38,208.

Disclaimer

The above description is an overview of the job. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Duties and responsibilities may change with business needs. Kilgore College reserves the right to add, change, amend, or delete portions of this job description at any time, with or without notice. Employees may be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made by Kilgore College at its discretion to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Kilgore College does not participate in the federal Social Security program.

All full-time positions are located in Kilgore, TX. No fully work from home positions are available at this time. All employees must be available to physically present to work on the Kilgore, TX or Longview, TX Campus. Some Part-Time and Adjunct positions may be offsite but the candidate MUST live in the State of Texas.

Kilgore College is a two-year, comprehensive public community college with a campus in Kilgore and an extension center in Longview, Texas. With approximately 7,000 students, Kilgore College is a student-centered institution characterized by excellence in teaching and quality learning opportunities. Kilgore College is focused on continually improving their students’ holistic experience leading them to success in life while improving access to higher education and partnering with those who advance the vision of a stronger community culturally, socially and economically.

Vision Statement: We commit to be the higher education institution of choice in Northeast Texas.

Positions will remain open until filled. Some Adjunct and Part-Time teaching positions may remain open perpetually as the need for part time instructors fluctuates with student enrollment. Teaching positions will be required to submit official transcripts upon an offer of employment. An offer of employment will be contingent upon passing a background check. Federal law prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens. All persons hired must submit satisfactory proof of employment authorization and identity within three (3) days of being hired. Failure to submit proof within the required time shall result in immediate employment termination. All position appointments are subject to approval by the college's Board of Trustees.

This description is an overview of the job. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Duties and responsibilities may change with business needs. Kilgore College reserves the right to add, change, amend, or delete portions of this job description at any time, with or with notice. Employees may be required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made by Kilgore College at its discretion to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Kilgore College is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or 34 C.F.R. Part 104, veteran's status or genetic information in its educational programs, employment policies or activities.

Know Your Rights Employment Notice

Employee Rights and Responsibilities Under the Family and Medical Leave Act

All positions are considered security-sensitive and subject to a background check pre-employment.

Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran

• A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
  • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
  • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
• A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
• An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
• An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants and employees are treated fairly and equitably regardless of personal characteristics. We strongly encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.