Job Details

Career Services Specialist

Virginia Western Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under the Virginia Community College System, a statewide system of community colleges. The College operates under the policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Virginia Western Community College Local Advisory Board. Virginia Western is located on a 70-acre campus in southwest Roanoke, VA. The service region of the College includes Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. The College was established in 1966 and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of over 9,000 students in credit courses and more than 1,400 enrollments in fast-track workforce and continuing education courses.

Virginia Western Community College is accepting applications for a full-time, restricted Career Development Specialist (Education Support Specialist III) position in Career Services. This position assists with development, administration, and delivery (in-person and virtual) of a comprehensive, impactful, and accessible set of career and employment assistance services for students and graduates. Favorably impacts student success through the planning and delivery of full-cycle, comprehensive career services. Assists with the coordination of career advising, planning, preparation, and employment search activities. Provides direct individual and group career advising and coaching to prospective and current students, administering and interpreting appropriate assessment instruments. Works to promote the inclusion of career and placement activities in the classroom. Presents and promotes information on career and employment services to groups of students, and various internal and external stakeholders. This position plays an integral role in helping Career Services support the College's Mission by:

• Assisting students to establish clear educational and occupational goals, which is a necessary first step in supporting the college mission to help students succeed throughout their programs of study.
• Helping students develop the necessary workforce readiness skills, which supports the college mission to help students secure employment when they graduate.
• Assist in managing the career services portal and job notification processes, helping increase student awareness and participation in employment, internships, and apprenticeships.
• Providing Career Services with an increased ability to gather data about employment of our students and graduates all of which supports the college mission to help students secure employment when they graduate.
• Coordinating recruitment activities, campus events, and serves as first point of contact for employers, students, graduates, and the public using Career Center services.
• Assisting with marketing information, customer contacts, and utilization of daily Career Center programs and services to all customer bases.

NOTE: This is a full-time, restricted position funded until January 1, 2028. Review of applications will begin November 2, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience providing advising, coaching, workforce development, student support, recruiting, or related services that help individuals identify, develop, and achieve educational, career, or employment goals.
• Ability to provide welcoming, student-centered career services, assess student needs, provide appropriate referrals and follow-up, and assist students in developing career and employment goals.
• Ability to assist students with resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, interviewing, job searches, career assessments, and other career-readiness activities.
• Ability to support the Career Center Manager with daily operations, programs, events, outreach, employer engagement, and administrative activities.
• Experience using databases, CRM systems, student information systems, case management software, Microsoft Office, or similar technology platforms; ability to learn and effectively use new software and information systems.
• Ability to accurately maintain student, employer, employment, event, and Work-Based Learning data and records.
• Ability to coordinate appointments and support career fairs, hiring events, workshops, employer visits, presentations, orientations, and student outreach.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, communication, active listening, presentation, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with students, Student Affairs, faculty, staff, employers, and community partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, organize and prioritize multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn and effectively use College information systems and Career Center technologies.

Additional Considerations:

• Associate's degree in counseling, student affairs, human resources, human services, or a related field, preferred.
• Professional experience in career or employment services, career coaching, higher education, workforce services, human resources, recruiting, or a related student-support field, preferred
• Experience using career services, student management, CRM, or web-based technology to support career development, advising, workforce services, student success, or graduate outcomes, preferred.
• Experience conducting career or needs assessments and providing individualized career guidance, coaching, referrals, or student support, preferred.
• Experience developing or facilitating workshops, presentations, career readiness programs, or student engagement activities, preferred.
• Experience supporting career fairs, employer recruitment, Work-Based Learning, internships, or other career and employment-related programs, preferred.
• Experience working collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, employers, and community partners, preferred.

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer