Career Development Coordinator, Hartford Public High School - ReadyCT

Career Development Coordinator, Hartford Public High School

Location: 350 Church Street, 10th Floor / Hartford, CT 06103 

Website:readyCT.org

Salary: Starting at $50k - commensurate with experience

Who We Are:

ReadyCT is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to advance academic excellence and career-connected learning for all public school students in Connecticut through collaboration with business, civic, and education leaders. ReadyCT accomplishes its mission by offering dynamic career readiness programming in school buildings that, with intention, bridges the gap between public education and the employers who will, ultimately, hire their future workforce from our public schools. Businesses continue to respond well to the programming; last year, over 100 Connecticut businesses of all sizes and across all sectors worked alongside ReadyCT to inform our programming efforts.

ReadyCT also maintains a presence in legislative circles, advocating for policies that systematically improve Connecticut public education, with an emphasis on advancing access and equity. 

ReadyCT has a formal affiliation with CBIA, the CT Business & Industry Association, which is the largest, most representative business organization in the state. CBIA members include businesses of all sizes from nearly all industries in Connecticut. ReadyCT partners with CBIA business members to bring career-connected learning to students across the state.

What We’re Looking For: 

The career development coordinator works with key partners, including the school district, educators, students, and families, community-based partners, and employers to advance work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for K-12 students with a focus on grades 9-12. The career development coordinator works with these stakeholders to plan, develop, and implement WBL relationships and systems; coordinate student WBL opportunities at the school and within the community; and bolster public-private partnerships in ways that ensure students have access to high-quality career-connected learning experiences.

Location note: This position will work primarily at Hartford Public High School. The career development coordinator will, as circumstances dictate, also report to ReadyCT’s office space.

What You’ll Do: 

Recruitment, Support, and Retention of Program Participants

• Support student recruitment, enrollment, retention, hiring, and payment, all of which requires engagement with multiple stakeholders/partners.
• Draft, collect, and manage all student paperwork including interest forms, applications, research forms, parent permission forms, etc.
• Coordinate intern selection process with school leadership/faculty and participating employers.
• Plan and distribute work readiness training schedules during the school year.
• Design and deliver (in-person and through online platforms, as appropriate) work readiness curriculum with participating students in grades 9-12.
• Create job descriptions and recruitment materials in collaboration with ReadyCT staff to reflect program details, project value, and key deliverables.
• Coordinate student interview schedules with school leadership/faculty and employers.
• Work throughout the summer internship period to support students, often by conducting workplace site visits at employer sites located within and near the school district. 
• Collect data to track participant outcomes; update and maintain relevant databases.
• Secure necessary technology for interns leveraging key partners.

Serving as a Program-School Liaison

• Facilitate school staff understanding of and support for WBL, promoting tutoring, mentoring, and internships as enablers of academic development.
• Facilitate WBL opportunities such as job shadowing, mentorship, student internships, support the program manager with educator externships, guest speakers, field trips, etc. that support students’ academic learning and provide awareness of and engagement with career opportunities.
• Work with identified teachers, school counselors, and others supporting career-connected learning efforts to obtain necessary enrollment documentation and data for each student.
• Attend standing weekly check-ins with school-based faculty/staff.

Engaging Employers & Community Partners

• Maintain relationships with existing internship hosts and recruit new companies in order to grow the WBL/internship program.
• Follow up with the identified employers and community organizations on complementary WBL opportunities for students.
• Coordinate with ReadyCT colleagues and any established industry advisory boards (IABs) on managing and measurably expanding the paid internship program.
• Work with employers to ensure development of projects and learning plans for students.
• Work with school sites and employers to ensure that students and employers complete evaluations of WBL experiences.
• Conduct site visits and schedule meetings, as needed, with students to advise them on appropriate workplace behavior, performance standards, and academic information.
• Support a Youth Employability Skills (YES) Academy program during winter and/or spring break, as appropriate.
• Use data management tools that can help gauge employer and community partners for continued growth.

Collaborating with ReadyCT Staff

• Assist in the promotion of programs and/or activities that complement career pathway programming supported by ReadyCT.
• Take part in career pathway team meeting days and contribute to brainstorming and troubleshooting conversations that help to increase student and employer engagement and retention.
• Actively support the design and delivery of summer programming with the school district and/or other initiatives sponsored by ReadyCT.

ReadyCT team members are charged with other duties as may be required. In-state travel required (generally within the region of the school district served).

The ideal candidate has:

• A passion for education and developing the potential of ALL students.
• An associate’s degree is required and a bachelor’s degree is desired.
• Bilingual Spanish-English skills (preferred)
• Two years of experience connecting business and education.
• Professional experience within an urban school district (preferred).
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Active listening and strong facilitation skills.
• Ability to build new relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• The ability to both work independently and collaborate with a team.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Aptitude for learning new technology systems.
• Experience with digital tools, inclusive of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
• The ability to adapt to new situations and remain customer-focused.

What’s next:

The ReadyCT interview process consists of four steps, with candidates advancing through each stage:

• Apply: Submit your application to be considered for the position.
• SparkHire Invitation: Selected candidates will be invited to complete a one way video interview via SparkHire.
• Performance Task Invitation: Successful candidates from the SparkHire interview will be invited to complete a performance task aligned to the position.
• Onsite Interview Invitation: Final candidates will be invited for an onsite interview. During this interview you may be required to complete an onsite task or a presentation.

ReadyCT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Requirements: