Organization
Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas has a rich, 130+ year history, serving the community in Kansas City and the surrounding areas since 1894. Many people know Goodwill for our thrift stores, but few know the impact of the mission behind those stores. Generously donated items that are sold in our stores help fund the work we do supporting thousands of local job seekers overcome barriers to employment. We believe in the Power of Work and are proud to be a nonprofit organization committed to helping people obtain and keep employment through training, education, and other wraparound services.
Summary/Objective
The Excel Center Kansas City is an accredited, free high school serving Missouri residents age 21+ in the Kansas City area who want to earn a high school diploma. The school will eventually be located at Bannister Rd & Hwy 435 and provides students with transcript assistance, coaching and life/learning barrier assistance, and drop-in childcare with five terms per year. Opening in Fall 2025.
The College and Career Readiness Specialist (CCR) is an energetic, self-motivated professional that supports our adult high school students by facilitating their path through employment opportunities to enable a successful transition into work and/or college engagement. This includes advancing them through exposure to the world of work, on-the-job opportunities, and career pathways through their education journey and beyond. This also includes following up with graduates/alumni to assure sustained success along their career pathways. This role demonstrates behaviors consistent with our Mission, Vision and Values, on behalf of Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- As directed, lead the school culture toward the development and design of career pathways for targeted, industry-driven programs with sequential options including dual-enrollment, noncredit, and credit certificate programs.
- Work with Life Coaches and industry advisory networks to develop more student exposure to the world of work, including on-the-job opportunities, internships or job shadowing, and other experiential learning for career pathways.
- Support student employment and career pathways, including:
- Make sound recommendations on student placement into internships and job opportunities.
- Oversee and support students in all certification and dual-credit classes they attend.
- Coordinate college preparation testing for all students (ACT and SAT).
- Develop innovative, career-focused marketing and recruitment strategies for promoting career pathway opportunities to students.
- Conduct, gather and coordinate the development of research and performance measures for credential completion, educational attainment and efforts that bridge educational systems for career path employment.
- Align job training and education programs to jobs that are in demand or likely to grow in the immediate future in the local market.
- Attend and participate in meetings of key stakeholders in education and training, workforce and economic development to develop and strengthen information and resources related to the creation of career pathways.
- Create and maintain outreach efforts to Excel Center alums. Stay in contact with and track graduates as they pursue their post-secondary options in order to maintain up-to-date employment, career and college attainment.
- Participates in student recruitment, enrollment, and outreach efforts.
- Maintain detailed, comprehensive records as needed.
- May serve as substitute for school positions such as teacher or daycare.
- May be required to work a varied schedule such as working at least one day per week on a shifted schedule to be available for students in evening classes.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The role will be a proven leader with the following:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited Educational Institution in one of the following areas: Education, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or related field. Masters Degree in Education is preferred.
- One or more years of experience providing career counseling and job placement is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of Missouri Community Colleges, technical schools, and adult trainings and ability to navigate each.
- Must have strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Must have Technical Proficiency and demonstrated working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint), and the internet is required.
- Experience and/or demonstrated ability working with a diverse population including people who have experienced barriers to their education.
- Demonstrated ability to perform the role with a positive attitude, leadership and effective, appropriate and professional communication and demeanor.
- Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.
- Knowledge of Missouri's educational requirements to receive a high school diploma.
- Commitment to mission of the organization.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strong customer service with an effective unbiased, can-do, professional attitude.
- Ability to work with regular, predictable, reliable attendance and occasionally work a flexible schedule as business demands, including some scheduled evening and/or weekend work.
- Ability to travel within the MoKan region as needed.
- Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, good driving record, current automobile insurance with reliable transportation and ability to travel within the MoKan region.
- Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/Travel
- This is a full-time position.
- Work hours are generally Monday - Friday 8:00am-5:00pm, however work schedule will vary as based on the needs of the business.
- Some evening or weekend work is expected to meet the needs of the role; the school hours may include evening classes as well as meetings and events.
- Day-time travel within the MoKan region will be required.
- Overnight travel is not expected but will be limited by need and/or approval.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment. This job also may operate in varied environments which may include store, warehouse, mobile workforce unit, and office. May work with diverse cultures and ethnicities, as well as justice involved individuals.
Physical Demand
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This is an active role. The employee must have the ability to communicate verbally and apply active listening skills, lift up to 25 pounds, bend and possibly stand for prolonged periods of time as necessary.
Competencies and Values
Every leader must demonstrate these competencies:
Achieves:
Leads:
- Accountability * Adaptability/Leading Change
- Initiative * Communication
- Mission Focused and Financially Aware * Innovation/Strategic Vision
- Functional Expertise * Problem Analysis/ Decision Making
Develops:
Character:
- Collaboration/Builds Relationships * Integrity
- Organizational Sills/Planning/Project Management * Interpersonal/ Emotional Intelligence
- Develop Self and Others
We allow our values to guide our actions:
- Lead: Everyone has value - Help them find it and celebrate it
- Grow: Learn constantly and strive continually to better ourselves
- Partner: Be good citizens, maximize the value of donations, and support sustainability
- Innovate: Always seek new and better ways to accomplish our mission
- One Agency: Work collaboratively to build a legacy from which future generations will benefit
AAP/EEO Statement
Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas is an equal opportunity employer.
Receipt of this job description does not imply an employment contract. We are an at-will employer. Job duties, work schedules and work conditions may be altered without notice at any time.
Goodwill Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas
Jun 10, 2025