Career Exploration Specialist

The Career Exploration Specialist will support the mentoring team in planning, organizing, communicating, and monitoring evidence-based services with project partners and ensure they align with specified project outcomes. The incumbent will oversee project management, participant management, and development of high-quality career exploration resources supporting the mentoring team's services.

Essential Job Duties & Functions

Community Learning Facilitation. The incumbent will design, organize, and deliver career exploration opportunities for cohort students. This professional will play a key role in enhancing the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of the students. Key responsibilities include:

• Facilitation and Instruction: Deliver engaging community learning sessions, workshops, and seminars that fully address the instructional learning goals. Utilize various instructional methods and adult learning principles to cater to diverse learning styles.
• Technology Integration: Utilize instructional technology tools to support online and blended learning opportunities. Stay current with e-learning trends and best practices.
• Communication and Promotion: Promote community learning opportunities to community members, primarily parents and guardians of cohort students, and encourage participation. Use various communication channels to raise awareness and generate interest in the sponsored project's offerings.  

Communications. The incumbent will manage and facilitate effective communications within and outside the organization by ensuring that information flows efficiently and accurately while fostering collaboration. Key responsibilities include:

• Internal Communication: Engage in established internal communication strategies to stay informed about organizational updates, policies, and relevant news. The professional will actively use the organization’s various channels, such as email, Microsoft Teams, and team meetings, to keep staff informed.
• External Communication: Manage external communications, including interactions with students, families, educators, school leaders, and partners. Create and maintain a positive working relationship and ensure all external messages align with the organization's mission and values.
• Content Creation: Develop and distribute content, including written materials, graphics, presentations, and multimedia, to convey key messages and information. Ensure content is clear, consistent, and engaging.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including students, families, educators, school leaders, and partners. Keep them informed and engaged in the sponsored project's activities and initiatives.
• Communication Strategy Development: Collaborate with the management team to develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that support the sponsored project's objectives and goals.
  

Evidence-Based Design. The incumbent will support the mentoring team’s adaptation of evidence-based career exploration practices through the systematic search, review, and synthesis of existing literature to inform project-based services. Key responsibilities include:

·     Identification of Research Objectives: Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to define question(s) that need to be addressed through a literature review.

·    Search Strategy: Develop a comprehensive search strategy to identify relevant literature sources.

·     Literature Search: Collect, organize, and catalog literature sources and evaluate the quality, relevance, and credibility of the literature sources.

·     Synthesis and Analysis: Summarize key findings and insights from the reviewed literature. Identify common themes, trends, and gaps in existing knowledge and research.

·     Evidence-Based Recommendations: Offer evidence-based recommendations and insights based on the literature review to guide decision-making and project services.

Instructional Design. The incumbent will engage in the creation, development, and implementation of effective career-based exploration services and activities. The professional ensures that learning initiatives are well-structured, engaging, and aligned with the sponsored project's goals and objectives. Key responsibilities include:

• Needs Analysis: Collaborate with stakeholders to identify learning needs and performance gaps. Determine the knowledge and skills community members require to meet the sponsored project’s goals.
• Learning Objectives: Define clear and measurable learning objectives for each instructional program.
• Curriculum Development: Design comprehensive curriculum or community learning programs that cover the identified learning objectives. Organize content logically and in a sequential manner.
• Content Creation: Develop instructional content, including written materials, multimedia presentations, videos, e-learning modules, and assessments. Ensure that content is engaging, informative, and interactive.
• Instructional Strategies: Select appropriate instructional methods and strategies, considering the needs of the learners. Incorporate a variety of pedagogical techniques to cater to diverse learning styles.
• Technology Integration: Utilize instructional technology to enhance the learning experience.
• Compliance and Accessibility: Ensure that instructional materials are compliant with relevant laws and accessibility standards and are accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities.
• Facilitation Development: Prepare and support community learning facilitators in implementing instructional programs. Provide guidance and resources to ensure effective instruction.
• Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate with subject matter experts, instructional designers, artists, writers/editors, and community learning facilitators to ensure that instructional design aligns with project goals and requirements. Communicate progress and results effectively.

Evaluation and Reporting. The incumbent will measure and assess the team's implementation of services, ensuring that project objectives are met and providing valuable insights to guide decision-making and improvement. Key responsibilities include:

• Data Collection: Collect data from field services and participant feedback.
• Reporting Systems: Utilize the sponsored project's reporting systems to document and communicate evaluation findings to stakeholders.
• Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of services, partner interactions, and evaluation processes and methodologies.
• Performance Metrics: Implement key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned to the team's sponsored research goals.

Project Management. The incumbent will support the planning and implementation of the team's projects and initiatives. Key responsibilities include:

• Task Execution: Engage in executing assigned project tasks, ensuring they are completed in accordance with the project plan and within the specified time.
• Communication and Reporting: Engage in established communication channels to inform stakeholders about the progress of assigned tasks. Fully participate in regular updates, reports, and status meetings.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster positive relationships with project stakeholders, including community members, partners, and team members. Address their needs and concerns while keeping them informed about project developments.

  As Needed. The incumbent will perform various additional duties as needed to successfully fulfill the position's function.

Required Education/Experience:  Bachelor's degree in education, social work, counseling, or related field, AND:

• • 48 months of experience in education, social work, or counseling

Skills

•  Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
•  Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
•  Ability to work with diverse groups in planning, developing, and evaluating products.
•  Active listening skills.
•  Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive)
•  Knowledge of trends and developments in process innovation and project management.
•  Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive)
•  Microsoft Teams
•  Project management practices.
•  Scheduling & coordination.
•  Skilled in facilitated grant-funded learning activities.
•  Teamwork and collaboration skills.
•  Zoom.

Working Conditions

•  Classrooms or professional learning venues.
•  Communicate effectively and listen.
•  Manual dexterity.
•  Present in front of large groups of stakeholders.
•  Sit for prolonged periods.
•  Standard office environment.
•  Use of a computer.
•  The incumbent will provide services to 28 cohort schools spread throughout Oklahoma and will be expected to travel to each site 3 to 4 times per year with occasional overnight stays.

 Departmental Preference

• 60 months of experience in education, social work, or counseling, which includes 48 months of managing/leading multiple projects and 36 months of planning, developing, and facilitating a learning activity. 

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing .

Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma fosters an inclusive culture of respect and civility, belonging, and access, which are essential to our collective pursuit of excellence and our determination to change lives. The unique talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community enrich the learning, and working environment at OU, inspiring us to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures.  This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, and health care services that the University operates or provides.