Career Readiness Specialist - Akron

Career Readiness Specialist - Akron

Salary

$43,914.00 - $57,089.00 Annually

Location

Stark State College - Akron

Job Type

Full-time Staff (Non-exempt)

Job Number

202600154

Division

Strategy & Engagement

Department

Workforce and Career Readiness

Opening Date

10/16/2026

Closing Date

11/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

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.

Salary Range: $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.

Location: Stark State College Akron

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

Please note: 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.

Who We Are:

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.

Youll be a Great Fit If:

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.

Typical Responsibilities Include:

• 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, LinkedIn 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 with student interests, academic programs, and workforce needs.
• Coordinate Career Programming and Events: Plan and facilitate career-readiness workshops, employer panels, career fairs, recruiting events, occupational information sessions, classroom presentations, and other programming that prepares students for the transition from college to employment.
• Support Career Coaching Initiatives: Participate in implementing and continuously improving the College's Career Coaching Ecosystem, collaborating with College staff to strengthen career development services and incorporate career readiness throughout the student experience.
• Use Technology and Data to Support Student Success: Utilize Career Services platforms and College systems, including Handshake, Coach, Career Coach, Big Interview, Starfish, and other applicable technologies, to support coaching, employer engagement, work-based learning, student participation, and career outcomes. Maintain accurate records and contribute to assessment and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support Grant Initiatives and Institutional Priorities: Contribute to assigned Title III/SPARC grant activities, including career-readiness initiatives, employer engagement, work-based learning, implementation of the Career Coaching Ecosystem, data collection, documentation, reporting, and performance outcomes.
• Collaborate Across the College and Community: Participate in enrollment, retention, student success, and workforce development initiatives. Represent Workforce and Career Readiness with employers, community organizations, workforce partners, and other stakeholders while supporting consistent Career Services practices across College locations and academic divisions.

To Be Considered, You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Business Management, Human Resources, Education, or a related field.
• Valid Ohio driver's license.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal communication, presentation, and customer service skills.
• Ability to develop productive relationships with students, faculty, academic leaders, employers, and community partners.
• Strong organizational, project coordination, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications, spreadsheets, reporting tools, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, protect confidential information, and work effectively with diverse student populations and stakeholders.

Click Here to View the Full Job Description

Preferred Qualifications (although not required):

Master's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Business Management, Human Resources, Education, or related field.

Six months of experience (may be intern/practicum student experience) providing career planning assistance in a college or university related setting.

Click Here to View Outstanding Benefits You Can Expect from Stark State College:

Full-time employees can expect excellent medical, dental & vision coverage; paid life and AD&D insurance; state pension/retirement (OPERS/STRS); paid time off, sick leave and paid holidays; paid Stark State tuition, tuition reimbursement and employee assistance program

The work you do at Stark State will matter to the thousands of students who walk through our doors, and eventually across the commencement stage, on their journey to a better tomorrow. Come join us and learn how your aspirations can be part of a better future for them - and you.

We love meeting stellar candidates, so please don't hesitate to apply.

In order to improve hiring efficiency, be more responsive, and help us find the best candidates, Stark State has implemented the use of a few recruiting tools, such as Humanly (formerly Qualifi) and Skill Survey. You may hear from us through one of these platforms during the recruitment process.

Humanly (formerly Qualifi) is a cloud-based phone interviewing platform. Think of this like traditional phone interviews, but faster - allowing us to be more responsive to you, the applicant.

Checking candidates' references for multiple top candidates provides a valuable means of verifying skills and experience represented in resumes and interviews. SkillSurvey Reference, a cloud-based, data-driven solution allows us to access relevant feedback from references provided by our candidates. The chosen references receive job-specific surveys on at least 26 critical behaviors and skills. These behavioral competencies have been scientifically studied and have been shown to correlate with work outcomes.

Stark State College utilizes E-Verify to ensure compliance with applicable employment eligibility laws. E-Verify is an electronic system used to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires. This process will be conducted in accordance with I-9 verification and will be done promptly upon hire for all incoming employees. To understand what E-Verify is and how it works please visit E-Verify.

Please note: Candidates selected for employment must either reside in Ohio or be willing to relocate to Ohio.

Should you have any questions regarding your application or our recruiting and hiring process, please reach out to HR@starkstate.edu.

Medical Benefits

In-Network Deductible Amount:

Individual $350

Family $700

Co-insurance (PPO - in network) 90%

Maximum Out-of-Pocket Amount for In-Network Providers:

Individual $1,400

Family $2,800

Flexible Spending Account Program (FSA)Optional - Health & Dependent Care

Dental Benefits

Calendar Year Maximum Benefit $3,000 per person

Orthodontic Lifetime Maximum Benefit $2,000 per person

Calendar Year Deductible Amount:

Individual $25

Family $75

Co-Payment (after the deductible amount is satisfied):

• Preventative & Diagnostic Services 100% of R & C

Basic Restorative Services 80% of R & C

Major Restorative Services 80% of R & C

Orthodontic Services. 60% of R & C

Vision Benefits

Eye Exams One regular eye exam in a rolling 12-month period, covered at 100%

Lenses One pair in a rolling 12 month period

Single Vision $75 allowance per pair

Bifocal $100 allowance per pair

Trifocal $125 allowance per pair

Lenticular $200 allowance per pair

Frames

Frames frequency limit 1 every rolling 24 months, $170 allowance

Retirement Benefits

Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), was established to provide a secure retirement for Ohios public employees and their families. OPERS is available to all staff Members. The College contributes 14% of the employees wages for the retirement benefit and the employee contributes 10%.

State Teachers Retirement System

The State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), was established to provide a secure retirement for Ohios public educators. STRS is available to all faculty members. The College contributes 14% of the employees wages for the retirement benefit and the employee contributes 14% of their wages toward the retirement benefit.

Alternative Retirement Plan

Faculty and staff may elect the Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP) in lieu of one of the state plans.

Voluntary Supplemental Retirement Accounts

Stark State College offers supplemental, voluntary savings options to help faculty and staff plan for retirement. Most employees are eligible to participate in the 403(b) and 457(b). These plans allow you to enhance your retirement savings through voluntary pre-tax (state and federal only) contributions to a Tax-Deferred Account (403(b) plan) and Deferred Compensation Program (457(b) plan).

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

$50,000 (PAID by College)

Voluntary Supplemental Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Up to $60,000 (optional - employee paid)

Time Off

Sick Days 1.25 days/month

Holidays 13 paid days per fiscal year

Personal Days 3 paid days per fiscal year

Educational Assistance

Tuition Assistance Employee (after 1-year of service)

Instructional Fees (Stark State tuition) Employee & Dependents

Reciprocal Enrollment Agreement (KSU Stark) Employee

Wellness

Employee Assistance Program Employee & Family

Fitness Center Privileges (KSU Stark) Employee

01

Do you currently hold a bachelors degree (or higher) from an accredited institution in Higher Education, Counseling, Business Management, Human Resources, Education, or related field?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer Stark State College (OH)

Address 6200 Frank Ave NW

North Canton, Ohio, 44720

Phone 330-494-6170

Website http://www.starkstate.edu