Military Recruitment Specialist for VALOR (Veterans Accelerated Licensure Occupational Recruitment)

Reports To: Executive Director of VALOR

KSTC:

Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation (KSTC) (www.kstc.com), a statewide independent and innovative 501(c)(3) non-profit leader in developing and managing creative initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, disruptive R&D, and economic competitiveness, seeks a Military Recruitment Specialist for the VALOR program.

** VALOR Overview:**

Utilizing the accelerated occupational pathways achieved by the preceding program KYVALLO, VALOR will assist veterans & transitioning service members and, where applicable, their spouses (“job-seekers”) from around the country gain meaningful employment in Kentucky. The program will concurrently work to establish workforce partnerships and fulfill career openings throughout the Commonwealth. The most critical metric of the program is the number of job-seekers placed into employment in Kentucky. The VALOR team is a tightknit team of four people so while each role has specific responsibilities, the nature of a small team is that occasionally covering assignments across the program is critical to success.

** Responsibilities and Duties:**

To successfully place job-seekers into post-military employment in Kentucky takes a strong pipeline of job-seekers (veterans, transitioning service members and spouses), a broad portfolio of open positions and strong career management services tying the candidates to the open positions. The role of Military Recruitment Specialist has the primary responsibility to build that robust pipeline of candidates, while assisting in the other elements of the program. As such, the Military Recruitment Specialist will spend the bulk of their time at or working with military installations to build that pipeline.

Military/SFL-Tap Partnerships:

• Develop, maintain and implement a strategy of strategic partnerships and contacts across all of the Armed Forces who may have the interest and ability to support VALOR's mission. These partnerships should include but are not limited to individuals/agencies at military bases, career centers, SFL-TAP offices, veteran resource partnerships, career/talent acquisition centers, and military career fairs.
• Leveraging those partnerships, pursue hiring/career fair opportunities, employment days, veteran-focused events, and military base visits **across the country. **This will occur primarily in a face-to-face fashion with some videoconference/remote event opportunities.
• Maintain travel schedule for the program, working with the Executive Director (ED) to assign responsibility for out-of-state travel. The Military Recruitment Specialist will be responsible for approximately 75% of out-of-state travel and events.
• Maintain a weekly presence at Fort Knox employment days, including maintaining a good relationship with Fort Knox TAP and Family/Career services on base as well as planning and implementation. VALOR involvement in Fort Knox events and opportunities throughout the year.

Management of Client Pipeline:

• Through the partnerships and activities outlined above, build relationships with job-seekers and formally capturing their interest in employment opportunities in Kentucky. Collect and manage all intake information of clients entering the talent pipeline. Ensure the data is accurately represented in the database and that a career management plan has been established.
• Educate job-seekers across the country on Kentucky workforce opportunities, Kentucky accelerated pathways, and opportunities associated with living in Kentucky. Must have a thorough understanding of the lived experiences/culture of military members and their families. In such, utilize this knowledge to personalize discussions to the unique needs/wants of the job-seekers and their family.
• Assist in the career management of job-seekers throughout their experience within the VALOR program. Ensure that our team is effectively addressing the unique occupational and familial needs of the service member and their spouse.

Marketing, Branding, & PR:

• As part of the VALOR team, participate in creating and implementing a sales and marketing strategy (including traditional, digital and social media methods) with unique consideration to the military/military spouse population. The position will require representation of the following VALOR categories:
  • VALOR purpose and mission
  • VALLO accelerated pathways
  • Kentucky as a relocation destination
  • Careers/business opportunities for veterans via VALOR workforce partnerships
• Utilizing the sales and marketing strategy, assist in promoting the public identity and image for VALOR to specifically appeal to military/veteran populations, including “selling” VALOR goals and objectives, and the strengths of Kentucky and its employers.
• Assist in the development of creative, qualitative storytelling and data-driven, quantitative reporting as methods for communicating VALOR successes, including military-specific news, and job-seeker success stories.
  • Create similar deliverables in efforts to market/highlight successful VALOR job-seeker testimonials and case stories.
• Assist in the education of Kentucky employers on how to effectively meet the career/financial/familial needs of military applicants.
• Stay abreast of emerging workforce needs, relevant public policies, and industry-specific requirements and opportunities.

** Skills & Experience:**

To be successful, the Military Recruitment Specialist must have a strong understanding of military service and the challenges of transitioning out of the military. A candidate with established relationships in these spaces, within Kentucky and/or across the nation, is a plus. This position will require frequent travel across the country for sales/marketing/ and talent acquisition.

The Military Recruitment Specialist must have strong skills in recruitment, sales, traditional and digital marketing, and relationship building and development. The individual must have the ability to understand, represent, and market a diverse set of accelerated career pathways for service members and effectively communicate their benefits. This individual should excel in their ability to speak to military populations, creatively partner/career manage, regularly follow-up and close. The Specialist must have strong abilities in building and managing a network of outside contacts, referral sources, and TSM/Veteran clients of the VALOR program. A combination of creative abilities and technical prowess will be important. The Specialist must be comfortable with using databases, with career management and simple coaching, and with good program management skills.

• Required: Bachelor’s degree
• Required: Minimum three years of relevant experience
• Required: Ability to work in the United States
• Required: Ability to gain access to US Military installations
• Required: Strong knowledge of Excel and database use
• Preferred: Strong understanding of the lived experiences/culture of military members and their families.

Salary: $60K to 70K/year + full benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, eyecare and life insurance, and retirement benefits.

Location: The position will be based within the State of Kentucky, spending approximately one day per week at Fort Knox military base. Due to the nationwide nature of the job, the position will require regular travel to stakeholder locations or job fair opportunities throughout the country.

KSTC is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Applications are now being accepted and will be processed as they are received, with screening for interviews beginning immediately.