What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2025-26 Next Step Adviser (Multiple Vacancies) position at Appalachian State University?
Posting Details
Work experience or education that is NOT included on the application will NOT be considered when screening your application. Please include ALL work experience and education on the application to ensure that you receive the appropriate credit toward qualification for this position.
Request to Recruit
Working Title
2025-26 Next Step Adviser (Multiple Vacancies)
Location
High school(s) located throughout Western NC (please see Essential Job Functions for possible locations)
Position Number
N57011/N52301
Department
Office of Rural Promise - 240105
Position Summary Information
Minimum Qualifications
- Earned or will earn a bachelors degree between May 2021 and June 2025; Candidates must have received a bachelor’s degree within four years of applying to serve as an adviser
- Ability to work well with various population groups
- Strong desire to serve
- Strong interest in learning and professional growth
- High level of professionalism in all communications and interactions
- Must be able to relocate to the service area and be involved in the surrounding community
License/Certification Required
Essential Job Functions
Working Locations: High school(s) located within one of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, McDowell, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.
Advise NC at Appalachian State (AppANC) seeks to hire recent graduates to serve as Next Step Advisers in high schools throughout western North Carolina. As members of a statewide movement, Advise NC at Appalachian State advisers will help students in rural, under-served Appalachian communities realize their dreams of achieving post-secondary education.
Regular responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Assist students with the development of post-graduation plans, including workforce entry, trade or technical school enrollment, 2-year or 4-year college enrollment, or military enlistment
- Provide one-on-one admissions and financial aid advisement to any student or family seeking assistance
- Encourage students to consider a broad range of appropriate post-secondary choices and assist them in developing a comprehensive list of good fit and match options
- Help students and families complete and submit admissions and financial aid applications
- Offer a variety of workshops, presentations, and events to promote a college-going culture and inform students and families about important college access information
- Engage families and mentors in support of their students’ post-secondary process, including calling all seniors’ families/guardians via phone
- Participate in activities, attending events, and interacting with the school and community in an effort to build trust and relationships
- Collaborate with the AppANC Program Staff and partner school personnel to fuel a school-wide college-going culture
- Record up-to-date service activity data using a web-based database system (training provided)
- Submit weekly progress reports to the AppANC Program Staff documenting progress and outputs
- Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, teachers, and other student support staff in partner high school(s)
- Actively seek the advice and counsel of the on-site liaison at partner high school and the AppANC Program Staff in order to provide student and family services most effectively
- Develop expertise in admissions and financial aid advising
- Participate fully in pre- and in-service training
- In consultation with the AppANC Program Staff, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development
- Create resources for the larger advising team, including (but not limited to): social media templates, graphics & videos, advising resources, financial aid resources, scholarship guides, newsletters, event planning guides, etc.
- Assist AppANC Program Staff with the development and facilitation of adviser pre-service and in-service trainings
- Represent the Advise NC at Appalachian State program appropriately at all times
Next Step Advisers:
- Report to Appalachian State-based program staff, as well as high school-based on-site facilitator
- Participate in 4-week training during the summer and ongoing professional development throughout the school year
- Commit to one academic year (11 months) of service with preferred two-year commitment if mutually agreed upon by the program staff and the adviser
The Office of Rural Promise (ORP) housed in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) builds partnerships to solve big challenges in rural communities; designs and implements services that impact rural students, families and educators; conducts evaluation and research on its programs to share with the field and recommends strategies and policy. Our team brings together rural leaders and leverages the existing strengths and innovations in our communities.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with high school aged youth
- Experience managing large projects and working in teams
- Background in community service
- Leadership experience
- Priority given to graduates of Appalachian State University during the initial application review process
- Proficiency in languages other than English
Work Schedule/Hours
- Monday-Friday.
- Daily hours follow the partner high school’s expected schedule for faculty and staff; some nights and weekends required
- Advisers work towards a set number of service hours as AmeriCorps members. Advisers are provided resources to track and plan for service hour completion.
Number of Hours Per Week
40 hours/week for 11 month period. Advisers typically serve for 2 years.
Number of Months Per Year
11
Mandatory Staff
No
Physical Demands of Position
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Hiring Range
$30,000-$38,000 (11-month living allowance)
Pay will be commensurate with applicant competencies, budget, equity and market considerations.
Posting Details Information
Posting Date
11/17/2025
Closing Date
06/30/2026
Open Until Filled
No
Applicant Pool Preference
Internal (Campus-Wide-Does not go out on Web)
Special Instructions to Applicants
- Proposed Hire Date: ongoing
- Appalachian State seniors and alumni who meet the qualifications and are interested in a "gap year(s)” experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please attach required documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Provide a minimum of 3 professional references in the application or attach a List of References with Contact Information
Optional document to attach:
- Unofficial Undergraduate Transcripts
Quick Link
https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/52626
Posting Number
201500742P
Salary : $30,000 - $38,000