Career Development Coordinator, Greater Hartford Region - ReadyCT

Career Development Coordinator, Greater Hartford Region

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

Website:readyCT.org

Salary: 50-65K

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 230 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 (1) systematically improve Connecticut public education, with an emphasis on advancing access and equity, and (2) advance workforce shortage solutions (from a K-12 perspective) that aid in providing Connecticut employers with the talent they need to sustain and grow their businesses. 

ReadyCT is an affiliate of CBIA, the CT Business & Industry Association, which is the largest, most representative business organization in the state. The affiliation is leveraged in support of all ReadyCT efforts.

What We’re Looking For:

The ReadyCT career development coordinator (CDC) for the Greater Hartford region works with key partners, including school districts/schools, 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 CDC works with these stakeholders to plan, develop, and implement WBL relationships and activities; coordinate student WBL opportunities at schools and within the community; and bolster public-private partnerships in ways that ensure students have access to high-quality career-connected learning experiences.

What You’ll Do: 



Recruitment, Support, and Retention of Program Participants

• Support student recruitment, enrollment, engagement and retention (inclusive of internship placements), all of which requires engagement with multiple stakeholders and key partners.
• Draft, collect, and manage student paperwork including interest forms, applications, research forms, parent permission forms, payroll documents, etc.
• Coordinate intern selection process with school leadership, faculty, and participating employers.
• Plan and distribute work readiness training schedules throughout the school year.
• Design and deliver (in-person and through online platforms, as appropriate) ReadyCT’s work readiness curriculum with participating students in grades 9-12.
• Create 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 and employers, 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 by 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 growth and development.
• Facilitate WBL opportunities such as job shadowing, educator externships, guest speakers, field trips, paid internships, etc. that enhance students’ academic learning and provide awareness of and engagement with career opportunities.
• Work with identified teachers, school counselors, and other staff members who support career-connected learning efforts to obtain necessary enrollment documentation and data for each participating student.
• Attend standing weekly check-ins with school-based faculty and staff, as appropriate.

Engaging Employers & Community Partners

• Maintain relationships with existing internship hosts and recruit new employer partners in order to grow WBL and internship offerings.
• Follow up with the identified employers and community-based organizations on complementary WBL opportunities for students.
• Coordinate with ReadyCT colleagues and established industry advisory boards (IABs) on managing and expanding the paid internship program.
• Work with employers to ensure development of projects and final deliverables for students.
• Work with school sites and employers to ensure that students and employers complete evaluations of their 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 needed.
• Use data management tools that can help gauge employer and community partner satisfaction in order to support continuous improvement.

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 recruitment, engagement, and retention.
• Actively support the design and delivery of summer programming with the school district and/or other initiatives sponsored by ReadyCT.
• Assist in the scheduling, coordination, and logistical support for pilot programs and high-impact projects.
• Support data collection, progress monitoring, and reporting efforts for special projects.
• Provide administrative assistance for resource development, such as preparing draft curriculum, formatting materials/resources, and managing project timelines.

This job description is intended to be a comprehensive overview of the CDC role. All ReadyCT team members are charged with other duties as may be required.

Desired Skills:

• A combination equivalent to: two years of experience working in business and industry in the areas of human resource development, business and economic development, or connecting business and education. 
• An associate’s degree is required and a bachelor’s degree is preferred. 
• Bilingual Spanish-English skills (preferred). 
• Professional experience working within an urban school district (preferred).
• A passion for education and developing the potential of ALL students.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and district policies and mandates.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Active listening and strong facilitation skills.
• Ability to build and sustain 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.
• Comfort with and aptitude for learning new technology systems.
• Comfort with digital tools, inclusive of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

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 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: Finalists will be invited for an onsite interview.

Location note: The CDC will work primarily within schools located within the Greater Hartford area. The CDC will, as circumstances dictate, also report to ReadyCT’s office space located at 350 Church Street, Hartford, CT.

ReadyCT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Requirements: