Career Counselor,

The Career Counselor reports to the NAMC Executive Director and is responsible for managing high school outreach and employer engagement activities to promote manufacturing career pathways. The Career Counselor plays a vital role in guiding high school students towards fulfilling and rewarding careers in the manufacturing industry. This position involves providing comprehensive career counseling services to students, facilitating their exploration of manufacturing-related career pathways, and supporting their transition into post-secondary education or the workforce. The counselor collaborates closely with students, teachers, parents, and industry partners to ensure that students are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to pursue successful careers in manufacturing. This position will also require the coordination of manufacturing events and advancing the work of NAMC’s manufacturing programming.

The NAMC Manufacturing Career Counselor will work full-time beginning the summer of 2024, with one day a week during the school year at each school: Salem High School, Peabody High School, and Reading High School.

The NAMC Career Counselor will participate in various events in the MassHire Metro North and North Shore regions and will focus on promoting manufacturing careers and training to K-12 students, parents, and partners in those regions.

This is a hybrid position with three days a week in the schools. This position must have regular, in-person presence in the MassHire North Shore and Metro North regions. This includes:

• Regular in-office days during onboarding.
• Two in-person collaboration days per month at MNWB’s office in Davis Square, Somerville.
• In-person meetings with community organizations, partners, and employers.
• In-person site visits of internal and external training programs.
• In-person job fairs and events at schools in the region.
• Any other meetings, events, etc. that the supervisor deems necessary for in-person presence.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:

Career Counseling

• Conduct both individual and group counseling sessions with high school students to assess their interests, skills, and goals related to manufacturing careers. These sessions could include workshops and activities on manufacturing career awareness and career planning skills.
• Provide information and guidance on various manufacturing career pathways, including but not limited to engineering, welding, advanced manufacturing, robotics, electromechanical, and quality control.
• In collaboration with the schools’ counseling staff, assist students in developing personalized career plans and academic pathways that align with their interests and career goals in the manufacturing sector.

Educational Planning:

• Collaborate with school faculty and administrators to integrate manufacturing-related curriculum and activities into the academic program.
• Facilitate workshops, seminars, and career exploration events to educate students about the diverse opportunities available in the manufacturing industry.
• In collaboration with the schools’ counselors, assist students in selecting relevant courses, internships, and extracurricular activities to enhance their skills and knowledge in preparation for careers in manufacturing.
• Design, develop, and implement curriculum for career planning and awareness as it relates to manufacturing career pathways.
• Maintain ongoing case management with program participants and monitor progress toward completion of program requirements, providing individualized support as needed, including resource and referrals.

• Organize and/or participate in conferences, workshops, and events, in collaboration with school and community partners.
• Facilitate workshops for various audiences including K-12 personnel, parents, partners, and youth groups.
• Coordinate with school personnel to develop schedules for student meetings, workshops, classroom presentations, and employer engagement activities (internships, guest speakers and manufacturing tours).

Industry Engagement:

• Build and maintain partnerships with local manufacturing companies, industry associations, and workforce development organizations.
• In collaboration with NAMC staff and school personnel, arrange site visits, guest speaker sessions, and internship opportunities to expose students to real-world manufacturing environments and career experiences.
• Coordinate NAMC’s Youth Leadership program and networking opportunities to connect students with professionals working in the manufacturing sector.

• Develop relationships with manufacturing-related training partners to promote, place, and retain high school graduates in their training programs.
• Attend MassHire youth team meetings with MassHire partners at Metro North and North Shore Workforce Boards. Identify opportunities, such as internships, career fairs, and other events aligned to manufacturing careers.

Career Readiness:

• Guide students through the application process for manufacturing training programs available at NAMC’s partnered training sites.
• Provide assistance with resume writing, interview preparation, and job search strategies tailored to manufacturing careers.
• Monitor and track students' progress towards their career goals, providing ongoing support and encouragement as they transition into post-secondary education or the workforce.

Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of student interactions, career assessments, and progress towards career goals.
• Generate reports and analyze data to assess the effectiveness of career counseling interventions and inform program improvement efforts.
• Prepare periodic reports for NAMC, school administration, funding agencies, and other stakeholders to demonstrate the impact of the manufacturing career counseling program.

• Maintain timely and accurate records, case files and database entries.
• Attend all meetings deemed necessary by the Executive Director.
• Assist with grant writing and management to expand program, resource development, and initiatives.
• Assist with other manufacturing programming as needed.
• The ability to travel, mostly within the northeast region of the State.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• A highly organized person with a degree in counseling, education, industrial engineering, or a related field who is passionate about youth and connecting them to career pathways in manufacturing with:
  1. Knowledge of manufacturing industry trends, career pathways, and job opportunities.
  2. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with students, parents, educators, and industry professionals.
  3. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  4. Flexibility, creativity, and a passion for helping students achieve their academic and career goals in manufacturing.
  5. A deep personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  6. Ability to travel to visit manufacturers and schools in the northeast region of Massachusetts.
• The most qualified candidates might have experience with:
  1. Previous experience in career counseling, academic advising, or workforce development, preferably in a high school setting.
  2. Proficiency in using counseling software, databases, and other technology tools.
  3. Project management
  4. Adeptness in a variety of technology and social media skills.
  5. Program planning and implementation experience.
  6. Partnership building and development.
  7. Experience working in manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Career Counselor plays a crucial role in inspiring and empowering the next generation of manufacturing professionals, equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed in this dynamic and rewarding industry.

Applicants are encouraged to apply even if you don’t meet 100% of the above listed requirements.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Starting salary $70,000 per year. Excellent benefits including health care, dental, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, 403(b) retirement plan, holiday, sick and vacation time, parental leave, and flexible work arrangements. This is a one-year position and could extend to a second year pending grant funding.

TO APPLY:

Submit application via ADP:

No telephone calls please. Open until filled.

The MassHire Metro North Workforce Board values equity, justice, and opportunity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As an organization which serves many communities of job seekers and employers, we are a diverse and inclusive workplace committed to reflecting these communities. We encourage culturally competent, qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply.

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