Seattle Public Schools

Overview of Position

The job of Career Center Specialist is done for the purpose(s) of providing students with information on career and/or post-high school educational opportunities, administering and interpreting career assessment tools, planning on-site presentations by college and/or career representatives, and managing ongoing department programs.

Essential Functions

• Assists students in all aspects of career process, (e.g. financial aid, college materials, applications, on line registration, scholarships, etc.) for the purpose of providing information on activities, career and/or educational opportunities.
• Conducts classroom presentations, after school workshops and presentations and presentations to parents, for the purpose of providing student recognition and/or information regarding occupational programs, the Career Center's services, and other post-high school opportunities.
• Coordinates on-campus site visits by college and university recruiters, business leaders, military recruiters etc. for the purpose of ensuring accredited organizations provide students with access to educational and career technical opportunities.
• Coordinates visits to colleges for the purpose of informing students about college campuses and the variety of programs offered at colleges and career technical schools.
• Delete Acts as a building coordinator for the District Work Experience Program and all Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), and other grant funded Vocational and Work Experience programs for the purpose of ensuring opportunities for students.
• Interfaces with students, parents, teachers and counselors for the purpose of evaluating interests working with them on opportunities that match up with student interests and skills.
• Maintains a wide variety of college and career-related materials (e.g. inventory of college catalogs, applications and web site locations, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the availability of materials for internal use and distribution as required.
• Participates in a variety of functions, as assigned, (e.g. university/college conferences, class visits, community service group meetings, etc.) for the purpose of obtaining information about employment opportunities, college information, etc.
• Performs a variety of clerical activities (e.g. copying, filing, collating, answering phones, etc.) for the purpose of supporting the students and staff.
• Prepares a variety of records and documents (e.g. individual awards, invitations, event programs, bulletins, reports, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information to students, school and District personnel.
• Presents information to Junior and Senior classes (e.g. assessing curriculum, discussing preparation for SATs, etc.) for the purpose of preparing students to be meet eligibility requirements to apply to colleges.
• Researches educational and/or career opportunities for the purpose of providing students with information on educational and/or career opportunities.
• Solicits information and/or materials from colleges and other organizations (e.g. college, trade/technical schools, college videos, etc.) for the purpose of enhancing the Career Center reference collection and providing additional resource for students and parents.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Performs related duties consistent with the scope of the position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

• Reports to the School Principal with direction from the Work Training Program Supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Required to perform basic math, including calculations using fractions, percents, and/or ratios
• Read a variety of manuals, write documents following prescribed formats, and/or present information to others
• Solve practical problems
• Specific knowledge required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job includes: college entry requirements; programs available; SAT requirements; and scholarship and grants
• Required to perform multiple, non-technical tasks with a potential need to upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions
• Specific skills required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: operating standard office equipment including utilizing pertinent software applications; preparing and maintaining accurate records; and planning and managing projects.
• Knowledge of current career education materials and resources; pre-employment training techniques. 
• Required to schedule a significant number of activities, meetings, and/or events
• Gather, collate, and/or classify data
• Use job-related equipment such as a personal computer
• Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances
• Work with data utilizing defined and similar processes
• Operate equipment using defined methods 
• Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups
• Work with similar types of data
• Utilize specific, job-related equipment
• In working with others, problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans
• Problem solving with data may require independent interpretation
• Problem solving with equipment is limited
• Specific abilities required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: being attentive to detail; communicating with diverse groups; maintaining confidentiality; and working with frequent interruptions.

RESPONSIBILITY: 

Responsibilities include: working under limited supervision following standardized practices and/or methods; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; and operating within a defined budget. Utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform the job's functions. There is some opportunity to affect the Organization's services.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and some fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 60% sitting, 20% walking, and 20% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.

CONDITIONS:

The preceding list of essential functions is not exhaustive and may be supplanted as necessary.

District employees, other than personnel in the District's Employment Services Department (at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence), are not authorized to make promises of employment, promises of employment for a particular period of time, or promises of a particular level of compensation or benefits to job applicants for certified or classified positions. Any verbal or written statements to that effect by District employees other than Employment services personnel are null and void.

Typical Qualifications

EDUCATION: 

Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work or related field.

EXPERIENCE:

One (1) year work experience in a related educational program that included career education activities for secondary students.

SUBSTITUTION:

1) Associate's degree OR 2) completion of two years of college, not a degree but seventy-two (72) quarter hours or forty-eight (48) semester hours of college credit plus two additional years of related work experience OR 3) demonstrated knowledge of reading, writing and math and the ability to assist in instructing these subjects (this demonstration may be either an assessment or portfolio development) plus an additional four (4) years of related work experience.

CERTIFICATES & LICENSES:

Valid State of Washington Driver's License or evidence of equivalent mobility

CLEARANCES:

Criminal Justice Fingerprint Background Check

Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click HERE for an overview of available benefit options.

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits. 

Salary Schedule

Please find the salary schedule associated with this role and others like it HERE.