Student Career Program Specialist

Job Title: Student Career Program Specialist Job : 31980 Location: LaGuardia Community College Full/Part Time: Full-Time Regular/Temporary: Regular

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States;

they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).

LaGuardia Community College seeks an experienced Student Career Program Specialist to support adult and non-credit students as they transition into credit-bearing associate degree programs. Reporting to the Director of the Career Development Center, the Student Career Program Specialist will serve as a key connector between Adult & Continuing Education (ACE), Student Affairs, Admissions, International Student Services, and the NEST onboarding team.

• Conduct targeted outreach to former ACE participants, workforce program completers, and community-based organization partners
• Re-engage stopped-out students and guide them back into academic pathways.
• Provide academic transition advisement focused on admissions requirements, program eligibility, Accuplacer placement interpretation, and Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).
• Collaborate with the NEST team to streamline onboarding workflows across ACE, Admissions, Registrar, and ISS.
• Maintain records of outreach, advisement, onboarding, and enrollment outcomes.
• Develop and facilitate innovative workshops on career exploration and development.
• Maintain accurate records of student records and keep updated written guidelines about processes and procedures to include qualifications, course and work schedules, calendar dates, deadlines, standard forms, and students and administrators’ expectations.
• Collaborate with program administrators to ensure that the program is meeting the needs of students and employers.
• Collaborate with Career services staff to develop and deliver career readiness workshops and events for students.
• Use web-based career assessments, labor market information, and other occupational research tools to help students explore their career interests and develop career plans.
• Provide students with feedback on their career goals and help them identify the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their goals.
• Cultivate and maintain professional relationships with ACE divisional counseling, employment, and administrative staff to promote collaboration and cooperation.
• Conduct outreach to current and alumni students to inform them about Credit for prior learning and upskilling opportunities.
• Help students identify the Credit for prior learning and upskilling opportunities that are right for them.

Bachelor's Degree and four years related experience required.

• Experience working on grant-sponsored projects in a community college/higher education setting or workforce development.
• Working knowledge of allowable and unallowable costs for higher education grants.
• Experience working in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Creative thinking skills.
• Ability to collaborate and interact well with a variety of people and personalities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Highly…