Job Description

Posting Summary

Working Title Career Services Specialist Role Title Education Support Spec III Role Code 29144-SW FLSA Exempt Pay Band 04 Position Number 286R0267 Agency Virginia Western Community College Division Virginia Western Community College (Div) Work Location Roanoke (City) - 770 Hiring Range $45,739 to $47,000 Emergency/Essential Personnel No EEO Category 2-Professionals Full Time or Part Time Full Time Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- No Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? No Work Schedule

Monday – Friday 8 AM to 5 PM

Sensitive Position No Job Description

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 September 23, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Special Assignments

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge of career development, career exploration, Work-Based Learning, employment services, career advising and coaching, recruiting, and college outreach.
• 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.
• Familiarity with career services and student success technologies, including Symplicity CSM, Big Interview, Career Coach, Navigate, and career assessment tools.
• 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.

Operation of a State Vehicle No Supervises Employees No Required Travel

Minimal travel anticipated in this position. State vehicles are available for most business-related travel.

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number CLS_4734P Recruitment Type General Public - G Number of Vacancies 1 Position End Date (if temporary) Job Open Date 09/10/2026 Job Close Date 11/03/2026 Open Until Filled Yes Agency Website https://www.virginiawestern.edu Contact Name Lindsey Weston Email hrapps@virginiawestern.edu Phone Number 5408577305 Special Instructions to Applicants

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth’s Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly called a Certificate of Disability) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans may also apply via the AHP if they also provide an AHP Letter. To request an AHP Letter, use this link: https://www.dars.virginia.gov/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155

Virginia Western is committed to Equal Opportunity.

Additional Information

Sponsorship will not be offered for this position.

Background Check Statement Disclaimer

The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/

EEO Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

ADA Statement

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

E-Verify Statement

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.

Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/100935