Demo

College and Career Specialist

MERS / Goodwill
Columbia, MO Full Time
POSTED ON 7/9/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 8/6/2026
Required Travel: 25%

Position Type: Hourly Full-Time

Salary Range: $47,000 - $58,000

MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries is looking for an energetic, self-motivated, and professional College and Career Specialist to join our Columbia Excel Center team! The ideal candidate will support our mission, "Changing Lives Through the Power of Work!" and embody our core values of diversity, integrity, passion, professionalism, respect, and responsibility.

If you're seeking an opportunity that empowers you to achieve new goals while pursuing a mission-driven career, then this is the perfect fit for you.

Qualifications

  • Bachelors Degree in Education, Social Work or Psychology required; Masters Degree in Education is preferred.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills is required. Must be able to work with a diverse group of students, staff and co-workers between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
  • Knowledge of Missouri Community Colleges, technical schools and adult training schools and ability to navigate each.
  • Experience providing career counseling and job placement.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities

  • As directed, lead the school culture toward development and design of career pathways for targeted, industry-driven programs with sequential options including dual-enrollment, noncredit and credit certificate programs.
  • Work with the center 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.
  • Make sound recommendations to the school administrator on student placement into internships and job opportunities.
  • Develop innovative, career focused marketing and recruitment strategy 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.
  • Oversee and support students in all certification and dual-credit classes they attend.
  • 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.

Benefits

  • Individual and family medical benefits for full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week.
  • Individual and family dental and vision benefits on the first of the month following the hire date for employees working 20 or more hours week.
  • Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance on the first of the month following the hire date for employees working 20 or more hours per week.
  • 403(B) Retirement on date of hire for employees working 20 or more hours per week.
  • 403(B) Retirement Employer Match after one year of employment for employees working 20 or more hours per week.
  • 401(A) Retirement on date of hire for employees working 20 or more hours per week.
  • PTO Accrual up to 12 days based on hours worked.
  • Employee store discount
  • Paid holidays
  • Flexible Schedules
  • Career Growth Opportunities

MERS Missouri Goodwill is an equal-opportunity employer. MERS Goodwill does not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or any other non-merit factor.

MERS Missouri Goodwill requires various background and records checks upon employment.

Salary : $47,000 - $58,000

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