Student Services Program Coordinator II - Midlands Region

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public Service Loan ForgivenessProgram

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Health, dental, and life insurance

15 days annual (vacation) leave per yr

15 days of sick leave per year

13 paid holidays

State retirement plans and deferred'

Discount Programs such as TicketatWork

Job summary

State of South Carolina DJJ is seeking a career navigator to coordinate and deliver individualized career, education, workforce readiness, and life-pathway navigation services for youth involved with DJJ.

You will assess strengths, interests, goals, and barriers; develop pathway plans; connect youth to education, training, credentialing, employment, and community resources; and maintain records to support positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and experience in student services programs.
• Knowledge of the principles and theories of student development and educational administration.
• Knowledge of the techniques of individual, group and career counseling (CDF).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Highly organized and ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse groups and individuals within DJJ and externally.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies and procedures relevant to the area of employment; ability to exercise judgment and discretion.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Must have ability to work in a high-stress, high-traffic/fast-paced environment; and flexibility to work some evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive career and education assessments to identify youth interests, strengths, goals, skills, barriers, and service needs.
• Develops and maintains individualized pathway plans that establish measurable goals, action steps, timelines, referrals, and follow-up activities.
• Assists youth with career exploration, labor market awareness, goal setting, and transition planning to support long-term educational and employment success.
• Provides and coordinates career readiness, educational support, and life skills services including resume development, job search assistance, interview preparation, workplace communication, financial literacy education, leadership development, decision‑making skills, and access to high school completion, GED, postsecondary education, occupational training, and credentialing opportunities.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with employers, workforce-development agencies, technical colleges, adult education providers, apprenticeship programs, community organizations, and other service partners.
• Coordinates referrals, warm handoffs, career exposure activities, work-based learning experiences, employer engagement opportunities, internships, occupational training, and employment connections for participating youth.
• Coordinates implementation of career readiness and workforce development programming.
• Collaborates with DJJ staff and stakeholders to identify eligible youth, coordinate services, address barriers to participation, ensure accessibility of services, and support continuous engagement.
• Participates in program planning, staff meetings, training activities, and operational initiatives to enhance youth outcomes.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of youth contacts, pathway plans, referrals, service activities, measurable milestones, and outcomes in agency-approved systems.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports program data related to youth participation, educational advancement, credential attainment, employment outcomes, and workforce development activities.
• Ensures compliance with confidentiality, records management, and agency reporting requirements.
• Participates in required training, professional development activities, staff meetings, and special initiatives to maintain current knowledge of workforce development, juvenile justice, education, and career readiness practices.
• Assists with administrative functions, special projects, program implementation activities, and agency initiatives.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Prevention and Intervention Director to support departmental goals, strategic priorities, and operational needs.

Skills

Relationship-building

Organization

Communication

Diversity sensitivity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and you have a passion for making a difference in the lives of South Carolina's youth, consider joining the dedicated people of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

Mission

It is the mission of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to impact and transform young lives, strengthen families, and support safer communities through targeted prevention and rehabilitation.

Job Purpose

Under limited supervision, coordinates and delivers individualized career, education, workforce readiness, and life‑pathway navigation services for youth involved with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. Assesses youth strengths, interests, goals, and barriers; develops individualized pathway plans; connects youth to education, training, credentialing, employment, financial literacy, transportation, and community resources; establishes partnerships with workforce and community stakeholders; monitors youth progress; and maintains accurate records to support positive educational, employment, and independent living outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive career and education assessments to identify youth interests, strengths, goals, skills, barriers, and service needs.
• Develops and maintains individualized pathway plans that establish measurable goals, action steps, timelines, referrals, and follow‑up activities.
• Assists youth with career exploration, labor market awareness, goal setting, and transition planning to support long‑term educational and employment success.
• Provides and coordinates career readiness, educational support, and life skills services including resume development, job search assistance, interview preparation, workplace communication, financial literacy education, leadership development, decision‑making skills, and access to high school completion, GED, postsecondary education, occupational training, and credentialing opportunities.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with employers, workforce‑development agencies, technical colleges, adult education providers, apprenticeship programs, community organizations, and other service partners.
• Coordinates referrals, warm handoffs, career exposure activities, work‑based learning experiences, employer engagement opportunities, internships, occupational training, and employment connections for participating youth.
• Coordinates implementation of career readiness and workforce development programming.
• Collaborates with DJJ staff and stakeholders to identify eligible youth, coordinate services, address barriers to participation, ensure accessibility of services, and support continuous engagement.
• Participates in program planning, staff meetings, training activities, and operational initiatives to enhance youth outcomes.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of youth contacts, pathway plans, referrals, service activities, measurable milestones, and outcomes in agency‑approved systems.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports program data related to youth participation, educational advancement, credential attainment, employment outcomes, and workforce development activities.
• Ensures compliance with confidentiality, records management, and agency reporting requirements.
• Participates in required training, professional development activities, staff meetings, and special initiatives to maintain current knowledge of workforce development, juvenile justice, education, and career readiness practices.
• Assists with administrative functions, special projects, program implementation activities, and agency initiatives.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Prevention and Intervention Director to support departmental goals, strategic priorities, and operational needs.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A bachelor's degree and experience in student services programs.
• Knowledge of the principles and theories of student development and educational administration.
• Knowledge of the techniques of individual, group and career counseling (CDF).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Highly organized and ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse groups and individuals within DJJ and externally.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies and procedures relevant to the area of employment; ability to exercise judgment and discretion.
• Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Must have ability to work in a high‑stress, high‑traffic/fast‑paced environment; and flexibility to work some evenings and weekends.
• Moderate lifting of 40 pounds or less, long periods of sitting and working at a computer monitor.
• Capable of attending overnight trainings and workshops.
• This position performs job duties relating to the custody, control, transportation, or recapture of youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the employee may have direct and indirect contact with youth within the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Training applicable to these duties will be provided.

Benefits

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health, dental, and life insurance
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days of sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State retirement plans and deferred compensation programs
• Discount Programs such as TicketatWork and WeSave

Benefits for State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note

The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time‑limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.

I understand that the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice is an equal opportunity employer. DJJ does not discriminate in hiring, promotions, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, or other employment aspects based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Any acts you feel are in violation, please get in touch with the Office of Human Resources, 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC [phone].

I understand that the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice's School District also does not discriminate in any programs or activities based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. The following offices have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the school district's nondiscrimination policies: Title IX - Inspector General's Office - 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC 29210-5427 - Ph: 803-896-9595; Special Education Office, 220 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC I have read and fully understand DJJ's position concerning the law.

I understand that SCDJJ will not hire or promote anyone who may have contact with residents and shall not enlist the services of any contractor who may have contact with residents who have engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility juvenile facility, or other institution (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997); has been convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

I understand that my fingerprint record received from the FBI and SLED must indicate no felony convictions as a condition of employment.

I certify that I have not been convicted of any criminal offenses that carries a sentence of 1 year or more or any criminal offenses that involves moral turpitude (an act contrary to the accepted rule of right and duty to man and society). Forfeiture of bond, a guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere is considered the equivalent of a conviction.