CAVA - Career Resource Specialist, High School in Simi Valley, California at CAVA

Application Deadline: Tuesday, June 23rd at 4:00pm

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA VIRTUAL ACADEMIES:

The California Virtual Academies (a network of 9 public charter schools) delivers online/virtual home based instruction to students in grades TK-12 in California. We use K12, inc. as our curriculum provider for the basis of instruction and teachers provide live instruction via the Engageli platform. While our schools do offer some scheduling flexibility, students are still required to log into the online school daily, complete coursework, and attend instructional sessions.

The Career Resource Specialist plays a key role in supporting Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways by preparing students for postsecondary success through career exploration, job readiness training, and access to career-connected learning experiences. This position connects students with internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and employment experiences aligned to their academic and career goals and reducing barriers to participation. Serving as a liaison among students, educators, employers, and community partners, the Career Resource Specialist ensures equitable access to career development resources and supports successful transitions to career, college, and the workforce.

HOURS AND SALARY INFORMATION:

Full Time: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm. You are not allowed to have another job during these contracted hours.
Salary Range: $68,640 - $109,731

We do participate in CalPERS. Please contact your CalPERS counselor about how employment with California Virtual Academies may affect your personal PERS account. Only full time employees are offered health, dental, and vision benefits. Benefits information is only given out upon offer. We do provide training for all programs and we have a great staff to serve as your support system.

Job Description

Job Title: Career Resource Specialist, High School

Reports To: High School CTE Principal

FLSA Status: Exempt, 12-month contract

Department: High School

The Career Resource Specialist plays a key role in supporting Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways by preparing students for postsecondary success through career exploration, job readiness training, and access to career-connected learning experiences. This position connects students with internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and employment experiences aligned to their academic and career goals and reducing barriers to participation. Serving as a liaison among students, educators, employers, and community partners, the Career Resource Specialist ensures equitable access to career development resources and supports successful transitions to career, college, and the workforce.

This position is funded through LCFF Supplemental and Concentration funds and supports the implementation of supplemental services and programs aligned with the school’s Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) to improve student engagement, college and career readiness, postsecondary outcomes, and access to career exploration and work-based learning opportunities, particularly for unduplicated pupils.

• Coordinate and facilitate career-connected learning experiences for CTE students that align with allowable uses of federal and state categorical funding sources. This includes internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, mentorships, industry tours, military career exploration activities, and the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), with an emphasis on improving college and career readiness outcomes for unduplicated and special population students.

• Deliver job-readiness and employability skills instruction aligned to California College/Career Indicator (CCI) measures and workforce development priorities, including resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, workplace professionalism, digital literacy, and professional communication skills.

• Provide individualized and group-based career guidance to support student career goal setting and post-secondary planning, particularly for CTE students identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged, English learners, foster youth, homeless youth, students with disabilities, and other historically underserved student populations.

• Build, develop, and sustain partnerships with local businesses, industry leaders, workforce development boards, apprenticeship programs, community organizations, military branches, and postsecondary institutions to expand equitable access to high-quality career-connected learning opportunities for students.

• Serve as a liaison among CTE students and families, educators, counselors, employers, and community partners to ensure successful implementation, communication, and follow-through of career-connected learning experiences and federally funded program activities.

• Coordinate and manage operational logistics related to career-connected learning and work-based learning experiences, including student scheduling, transportation coordination (if applicable), safety training, liability documentation, work permits, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and compliance documentation required by state and federal funding sources.

• Monitor student participation, attendance, engagement, and progress during career-connected learning placements and provide ongoing support and intervention strategies to improve student success, retention, and completion outcomes.

• Maintain accurate and compliant records of student participation, industry-recognized certifications, credentials, work-based learning hours, placement outcomes, and College/Career Indicator (CCI) data to support California Dashboard accountability measures, state and federal reporting requirements, program evaluation, and grant compliance.

• Ensure compliance with district policies, California Department of Education (CDE) requirements, federal program guidelines, labor laws, industry standards, and all applicable regulations governing categorical funding and Career Technical Education programming.

• Collaborate with teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff to integrate career readiness, employability skills, financial literacy, and career exploration into academic and CTE coursework in alignment with Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals and schoolwide improvement priorities.

• Collaborate with the CTE Administrative Team, Work-Based Learning Specialist, and categorical program staff to plan, coordinate, and support career fairs, hiring events, advisory board meetings, employer panels, military outreach opportunities, and other experiential learning activities designed to increase student engagement and workforce readiness outcomes.

• Assist CTE students and families in accessing career, college, military, and workforce development resources, including job boards, career assessments, FAFSA/CADAA support, financial aid resources, scholarship opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and postsecondary application systems.

• Coordinate and facilitate career readiness workshops, college and career planning activities, and employability skill development sessions in classroom, small group, and individual settings while maintaining confidentiality and providing positive, culturally responsive support to CTE students and families.

• Support student recruitment, outreach, and program marketing efforts through presentations, community engagement activities, informational campaigns, and targeted outreach strategies that increase participation of underrepresented student groups in CTE pathways and career-connected learning opportunities.

• Participate in local, regional, state, and national professional development related to Career Technical Education to remain current with workforce trends, labor market data, and best practices in career & technical education for best serving special populations and improving student outcomes.

• Promote and support the integration of career research, labor market information, and career-connected learning opportunities into CTE and academic instruction to strengthen student engagement, relevance, and postsecondary readiness.

• Assist the CTE Program Coordinator in scheduling, facilitating, administering, and tracking student certification and industry-recognized credential testing processes, including documentation required for accountability reporting and grant compliance.

• Assist with the collection, validation, analysis, and maintenance of CTE pathway completer data and related accountability metrics to support California Dashboard indicators, grant evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts.

• Collaborate with the CTE Program Coordinator and CTE administrative staff to track and analyze student outcomes related to industry certifications, dual enrollment/dual credit attainment, A-G completion, College/Career Indicator (CCI) performance, and postsecondary transition outcomes to support data-driven program improvement.

• Assist with implementation, monitoring, documentation, and reporting requirements associated with federal, state, and local grants supporting Career Technical Education, workforce development, college and career readiness, and student support services.

• Promote equitable access to career-connected learning opportunities by identifying and addressing barriers to participation for special populations and historically underserved student groups, consistent with federal and state equity requirements and district goals.

• Support the implementation of schoolwide and targeted intervention strategies that align with Title program goals, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), LCAP priorities, and comprehensive student support initiatives designed to improve student engagement, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness.

• Participate in meetings and professional development aligned to the implementation of LCAP goals, college and career readiness initiatives, and student engagement strategies.

• Support program activities aligned to the school’s LCAP goals and initiatives designed to improve student engagement, college and career readiness, and access to meaningful career exploration opportunities.

• Perform additional duties, as assigned, to support the overall success, compliance, sustainability, and continuous improvement of Career Technical Education programs and federally/state-funded student support initiatives.

• Perform other program-related duties, as assigned, that are consistent with the approved grant application, schoolwide program plan, Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), and the allowable and intended uses of categorical funding sources supporting the position.

• Experience in CTE or related field

• Experience working with students in career readiness, college and career advising, workforce development, counseling, or CTE

• Experience developing and maintaining partnership with employers, community organization, workforce agencies and postsecondary institutions

• Experience supporting students with resume writing, interview preparation, professional communication, and employability skill development

• Superior organizational skills/detail oriented

• Able to balance and complete multiple projects within given deadlines

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Canvas

• Self-directed but comfortable working as part of a team through collaboration

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Bachelor’s Degree

N/A

Competencies:

Business Ethics:

Inspires the trust of others; Keeps commitments; Treats people with respect; Upholds organizational values; Works with integrity and ethically

Communications:

Exhibits good listening and comprehension; Expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; Keeps others adequately informed; Selects and uses appropriate communication methods

Leadership:

Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires respect and trust; Motivates others to perform well; Reacts well under pressure; Shows courage to act

Managing People:

Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Includes subordinates in planning; Makes self-available to subordinates; Provides direction and gains compliance; Provides regular performance feedback; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities

Planning & Organization:

Integrate changes smoothly; Plans for additional resources; Prioritizes and plans work activities; Sets goals and objectives; Uses time efficiently; Works in an organized manner

Quality Management:

Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services; Measures key outcomes; Sets clear quality requirements; Solicits and applies customer feedback

Team Leadership:

Acknowledges team accomplishments; Defines team roles and responsibilities; Ensures progress toward goals; Fosters team cooperation; Supports group problem solving

Use of Technology:

Adapts to new technologies; Demonstrates required skills; Keeps technical skills up to date; Troubleshoots technological problems; Uses technology to increase productivity

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. A flexible schedule is required.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

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. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.

Restrictions on Time Off:

TBD based on the school calendar

* Use of sick time under the California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 may be approved during the above restricted dates

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.