About the Opportunity:

At Polk State, our amazing faculty and staff create an inspiring workplace. This professional position reports to the Principal of the Gateway to College program and is an excellent opportunity within one of the College’s high school programs. We offer a collaborative, creative and culturally diverse work environment. If you want to be supported in your efforts to grow professionally and to be recognized for your contributions, then come work for Polk State.

SOAR, EAGLES!

About the Position:

The Student Resource Specialist is responsible for providing a broad range of services and support to 16-20 year old at-risk students enrolled in Gateway to College High School completion program. The Student Resource Specialist provides academic advising, encourages consistent attendance, teaches CG classes and facilitates students getting connected to community services. The position works independently at an assigned campus and collaborates with other alternative programs staff and other instructors within the college.

Essential Functions/Duties:

• Works collaboratively with other departments to facilitate and address student and program needs. Provides support for students experiencing family, personal, or economic crises, which may impact school performance. Helps students locate and access needed counseling services, support networks, community health, and/or housing services in the community and on campus. Advises students on program requirements.
• Evaluates student's academic history and education, including transcript evaluation.
• Assist students in career exploration. Works collaboratively with program faculty and department chair to develop strategies for keeping at-risk students in class with the ability to balance compassion and accountability.
• Develops, facilitates, and delivers classroom instruction on various topics such as time management, study strategies, goal setting, learning styles, career planning, and communication skills.
• Consults with a variety of social service agencies in the community to explain program requirements or address individual student progress or needs. Develops, implements, and maintains marketing, recruitment, and retention strategies for assigned programs.
• Creates brochures, orientation materials, forms, and documents for distribution and presentation.
• Facilitates orientation meetings. Makes presentations to schools, community organizations, churches, and other groups to explain programs.
• Maintains an active case file on each enrolled student including accurate case notes and documentation.
• Maintains statistical information and summary information in reports as needed and submits required paperwork according to specified timelines.

This position is a **P13 **level. To determine starting salary, Polk State College takes into consideration the pay level minimum, the candidate's qualifications and internal equity factors.

Required Skills

• Experience working with students or clients through advising, counseling, coaching, and developing goals.

• Experience assessing student needs and coordinating educational and community-based services to address those needs.

• Experience managing caseload and case files or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

• Demonstrated skills in making public presentations and teaching or training diverse groups.

• Must be able to travel within the community using personal transportation.

Required Education:

Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Social Science, Counseling, or related field.

Required Experience

Requires at least two years professional level, exempt experience working in an educational or social service environment with at-risk and diverse populations (cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, gender, sexual orientation, religious, etc.)

We offer an excellent employer-paid benefits package including the following: Medical, Dental, Life, Long-Term Disability, Vacation (except faculty), Holiday and Sick Leave, Retirement (if eligible) and college fee waivers. Other employee-paid, voluntary benefits (vision, short-term disability, etc.) are also available.

Important Information:

• Application Requirements: A completed online application consists of:
  • a resume, and
  • an electronic job application (all sections completed).

Submissions that do not include all required information will not be considered.

• Background Screening: Reference checks, successful completion of a Level II background check (fingerprinting), and third-party Education Verification for all stated degrees will be required prior to employment.

• Non-Instructional/Staff Transcripts: For professional/salaried positions, uploading of unofficial transcript(s) ( with confidential information redacted ) during the application process is welcomed, but not required. However, please note that education verification will be completed, for all stated degrees, on or before an interview. Submission of official transcripts for Administrator positions (P17 and above), for all stated degrees, is required as a condition of employment, following receipt of a job offer.

• Foreign Transcripts : All international degrees must have their coursework evaluated in terms of U.S. "equivalency." Polk State College requires that all international credential evaluations be conducted by one of the companies affiliated with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES®). More information about NACES® affiliates can be obtained at the NACES® website.

• Relocation: Polk State College does NOT provide relocation assistance for this position.

• This position will close at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 5, 2023.

NOTE: We encourage applicants to provide feedback of their experience or request help at Careers@polk.edu.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with State of Florida agency like Polk State College. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement and the date of your re-employment.

As a rule, Polk State College does not provide H1-B visa sponsorship. Exceptions may be made based on the College's need for a candidate with unique skills and expertise and where the College cannot otherwise recruit and hire qualified non-sponsored candidates.

Polk State College is a drug-free workplace and participates in E-Verify.

Polk State College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education and employment. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to students, employees, and applicants for employment or admission to the College. Polk State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or pregnancy in its programs, activities, or employment. For questions or concerns, please contact: Lonnie Thompson, Chief Diversity Officer, Title IX Coordinator, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; 999 Avenue H, NE; Winter Haven, FL 33881; Office: WAD 227; 863.2 97.1000 Ext. 5378; lthompson@polk.edu

Polk State College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you feel you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position with Polk State, please call 863-297-1070 or e-mail Careers@polk.edu and let us know the nature of your request, along with your contact information. Reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will receive a response.

• Experience working with students or clients through advising, counseling, coaching, and developing goals.

• Experience assessing student needs and coordinating educational and community-based services to address those needs.

• Experience managing caseload and case files or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

• Demonstrated skills in making public presentations and teaching or training diverse groups.

• Must be able to travel within the community using personal transportation.

Required Education:

Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Social Science, Counseling, or related field.