Career Readiness Specialist

Stark State College is seeking a student-focused and relationship-driven Career Readiness Specialist to help students, alumni, and community members explore career pathways, develop essential career-readiness skills, and connect their education to meaningful employment opportunities. This position plays an important role in connecting academic programs, students, and regional employers to strengthen career preparation and workforce opportunities across the College. In addition to the core responsibilities of the Career Readiness Specialist position, this Specialist serves as the primary Workforce and Career Readiness partner for the Akron Campus, Arts & Sciences, CDL (Springfield location), and Automotive programs.

$43,914.00 - $57,089.00 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is a non-exempt, 250-day contract role.

Consistent with the College’s employment practices, this position is offered on a one-year, renewable contract basis. The position is initially funded through a Title III grant, with the College anticipating gradually assuming a greater share of funding over the grant period. Contract renewal is subject to available funding and institutional needs, regardless of funding source, and continued employment is not guaranteed.

Stark State College Akron

Typical hours are Mon-Fri 8:00a-4:30p but may be adjusted based on student/department needs.

To best serve Stark State College students, Career Readiness Specialists are required to work from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a minimum of one day per week.

The positive energy at Stark State College comes from exceptionally dedicated employees who work hard for students. Success for both our employees and our students is the result.

You are passionate about helping people connect their education, skills, and interests to meaningful career opportunities. You bring strong coaching, communication, and relationship-building skills and enjoy working collaboratively with students, faculty, academic leaders, and employers. You are equally comfortable providing individualized career guidance, facilitating engaging workshops, coordinating events, and developing partnerships that create real-world learning and employment opportunities for students.

• Provide Career Coaching and Student Support: Deliver individualized career coaching and career exploration services to students, prospective students, alumni, and community members. Assist with career assessments, occupational exploration, career planning, résumés, cover letters, interview preparation, Linked In profiles, job-search strategies, and professional development.
• Build Academic Partnerships: Serve as the primary Workforce and Career Readiness partner for the Akron Campus and assigned Arts & Sciences, CDL, and Automotive programs. Collaborate with academic leadership, faculty, department chairs, and program coordinators to identify student needs and integrate career exploration, career readiness, and employment preparation into academic and co-curricular experiences.
• Develop Employer Relationships: Establish and maintain relationships with regional employers, workforce organizations, and community partners to understand hiring needs, communicate employment trends, and expand career exploration, recruiting, and employment opportunities aligned with academic programs.
• Expand Work-Based Learning Opportunities: Develop and promote internships, apprenticeships, co-ops, Learn-and-Earn opportunities, and other work-based learning experiences that connect classroom learning with practical workplace experience. Partner with faculty and employers to align opportunities…