Career & Veteran Services Specialist

Career & Veteran Services Specialist

The Career and Veteran Services Specialist supports the mission of New River Community College through enhancing student success, career readiness, employment outcomes, and engagement of veterans and their dependents. Reporting to the Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Outcomes Coordinator, this position serves as the primary oversight for the college's Veterans Services Center while providing comprehensive career development services to students and alumni across all academic programs. This position collaborates extensively with faculty, staff, employers, workforce partners, and community organizations to strengthen pathways from education to employment. Regular travel throughout the college service region and work at both the Dublin Campus and the Christiansburg site are required. Work hours are limited to 29 hours per week and 1500 hours per year.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Serve as the primary staff member responsible for the daily operations and oversight of the Veterans and Career Services Center.
• Create and maintain a welcoming environment that supports veteran and military-connected student success and facilitate a warm hand-off to campus resources and support services.
• Develop programs, activities, and engagement opportunities that promote veteran student success, community building, career fairs, networking events, and on-campus hiring opportunities.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, community organizations, and veteran-serving agencies to enhance support for veteran students.
• Provide individualized career exploration support to students and alumni through in-person, virtual, and telephone appointments.
• Assist students with rsum development, cover letter preparation, interview preparation, job search strategies, and professional networking.
• Support students in identifying and securing internships, work-based learning opportunities, and employment aligned with their academic and career goals.
• Maintain and promote the college's job and internship posting database.
• Develop and deliver career readiness workshops and presentations on topics such as rsum writing, interviewing, job searching, professionalism, and career planning.
• Track student engagement and outcomes related to career services initiatives.
• Establish and maintain relationships with local employers, industry representatives, workforce development partners, and community organizations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Considerations:

• Experience working in higher education, workforce development, career services, student affairs, or veteran services.
• Experience developing and maintaining employer partnerships and facilitating career-related events, workshops, or job fairs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of career development theories, workforce trends, and employment resources for college students and graduates.
• Be a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces or a spouse, dependent, or family member of a veteran.
• Experience planning student engagement programs and outreach initiatives to support student success
• Familiarity with career management platforms, applicant tracking systems, internship/job posting databases, and customer relationship management systems.

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

Virginia Department of Human Resource Management