Career Connections (Education Program Specialist)

Serves as an unclassified employee pursuant to O.R.C. Section 3301.13 and performs the following educational and/or research duties:

On behalf of the Office of Workforce Readiness and Graduate Success, serves as a subject matter expert for career exploration and planning:

Develops and deploys tools and resources for key stakeholders aligned with identified priorities:

• Oversees implementation, maintains necessary updates and makes policy recommendations regarding Student Success, Business Engagement and Career Advising;
• Assists with development and deployment of a comprehensive career connections framework aligned with intentional K-12 school counseling and high-quality career education delivery models.
• Assists with ensuring alignment of career advising materials with in-demand occupations;
• Assists with identifying and promoting career-infused learning models and innovative delivery strategies that are scalable and replicable statewide;
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop and deploy tools and resources that integrate career advising with high-quality career education delivery models.

Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Assistance

• Cultivates partnerships with workforce and education stakeholders, including Business Advisory Councils, Career-Technical Planning Districts (CTPDs), Career Pathway Support Networks, and professional associations.
• Provides technical assistance and guidance to regional education entities, districts, and educators on implementing career connections strategies and CTE integration.
• Supports the expansion of middle school CTE programming by advising on access, parity, and program quality.

Develops and facilitates professional learning experiences for key stakeholders:

• Develop model implementation resources and lead workshops, seminars, and institutes to support local adaptation of state-level frameworks.
• Design and facilitate professional development experiences for educators, administrators, and pre-service programs, emphasizing integrated academics, career awareness, and exploration.
• Serve as a liaison to regional centers and professional associations to promote consistent implementation of career readiness initiatives.
• Supports the implementation and use of career connection learning strategies in classrooms;

Develops and sustains partnerships among key stakeholders:

• Coordinates with workforce partners to cultivate relationships between education and business (e.g., Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation);
• Collaborates with stakeholders across secondary and post-secondary
• Collaborates with Job and Family Services and provides guidance on the development, maintenance, professional learning, and technical assistance of the OhioMeansJobs K-12 platform and integrated tools. Provides leadership and advisement to state-level organizations (e.g., Ohio School Counselor Association, Ohio Association for Career Technical Education);
• Partners with professional associations and education agencies and promotes career connection programs through public awareness activities;
• Communicates with constituents regarding educational issues.

Research, Evaluation, and Communication

• Analyze program and regional-level data to inform continuous improvement and policy recommendations.
• Conduct research on emerging trends in career readiness and CTE to develop guidance and resources.

Performs other related duties as assigned:

• Represent the administrator at meetings and conferences; draft reports and correspondence to communicate progress and impact.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

• Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

6 years of professional experience in any combination of the following areas:

• Career advising or exploration within K-12 or postsecondary education
• Workforce development or business engagement
• Education program development, implementation, or evaluation
• Stakeholder collaboration involving schools, workforce agencies, or professional associations
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement tools, resources, and professional learning experiences aligned with career readiness initiatives.
• Experience providing technical assistance or guidance to educators, administrators, or regional education entities.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a track record of engaging diverse stakeholders.

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check as well as other investigative reviews. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position, unless restricted under state or federal law or federal restrictions. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

The final applicant for this position will be required to submit urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to an appointment. The State will decline to extend a final offer of employment to any applicant with a verified positive test result. Also, an applicant with a positive test result will not be considered for any position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year.The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that values diversity and seeks talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Office of Human Resources ([email protected]).

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.