Mountain Empire Community College
Talent Search Advisor
🇺🇸 Wise, VA
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $44K - $117K
💻 Other
🗓️ August 5th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
Mountain Empire Community College is hiring a Talent Search Advisor to support the federally grant-funded Talent Search Program aimed at assisting disadvantaged students in pursuing higher education. The advisor independently establishes contacts, assesses student needs, conducts meetings, makes referrals, provides guidance on career planning and college admissions, and maintains records in compliance with federal regulations.
Highlights
- Plan, administer, and evaluate services fostering high school completion and post-secondary enrollment.
- Independently establish contacts with students, schools, sites, and parents.
- Provide assistance on career planning, leadership, financial aid, and college admission assessments.
- Maintain meticulous records in accordance with federal guidelines.
- Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, social work, or related field; minimum three years’ experience in TRIO or similar programs.
- Knowledge of interventions for low-income and potential first-generation students, financial aid, college admissions, and educational standards.
- Strong skills in participant tracking, referrals, communication, and organization.
- Experience with disadvantaged middle and high school students and making presentations.
- Position requires operation of a state vehicle and involves local daily and intermittent overnight state travel.
- Full-time position with a salary range of $44,192 to $117,360 and state benefits.
Talent Search Advisor Full Description
Talent Search Advisor
Working Title | Talent Search Advisor
Role Title | Education Support Spec III
Role Code | 29144-SW
FLSA | Nonexempt
Pay Band | 04
Position Number | 299R0083
Agency | Mountain Empire Community Coll
Division | Mountain Empire Community Coll (Div)
Work Location | Wise - 195
Hiring Range | $44,192 - $117,360
Emergency/Essential Personnel | No
EEO Category | E-Paraprofessional
Full Time or Part Time | Full Time
Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- | No
Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? | No
Work Schedule | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Special event staffing outside of regular work hours may occur from time to time.
Sensitive Position | No
Job Description
Mountain Empire Community College is a comprehensive two-year college serving residents of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson counties, and the City of Norton. MECC is one of twenty-three colleges in the Virginia Community College System and operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Local Advisory Board. The College is financed primarily with state funds, supplemented by contributions from the local jurisdictions.
Mountain Empire Community College invites applications for a Talent Search Advisor to support the federally grant-funded Talent Search Program which targets students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a college education. This position enjoys full classified, full-time, state benefits.
The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to plan, administer, and evaluate programs and services which encourage and/or facilitate high school completion and enrollment in a post-secondary institution. This is accomplished through some of all of the following activities: 1) independently establish individual, school, site, and parent contacts; 2) determine student need for services and complete appropriate forms, 3) plan, schedule, and conduct meetings with students, school personnel, and/or parents, 4) independently make referrals to other agencies or college personnel, 5) provide assistance to students and/or parents on career planning, high school course of study, leadership, college admissions, financial aid, college admission assessments, etc., 6) maintain accurate participant records in accordance with federal regulations.
Special Assignments | May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
KSA's/Required Qualifications | Knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be successful in the position:
Knowledge of interventions designed to improve persistence and completion rates for middle and high school students who are low-income and potential first –generation. Knowledge of strategies and services to increase high school graduation rates, with specific emphasis on attaining a rigorous program of study Knowledge of financial aid, pre-college testing, and college admissions Ability to conduct tracking and monitoring of participants to ensure timely delivery of services. Ability to maintain a caseload of participants with meticulous documentation of all services provided. Exceptional interpersonal, communication, organization, and facilitation skills desired. Knowledge of state and local educational standards. Ability to show enthusiasm for the project Knowledge of barriers to secondary school completion and post-secondary enrollment faced by low-income and potential first – generation students. Professional or personal experiences in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting participants
Minimum required qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, social work, higher education administration, or other related fields from an accredited college or university. Minimum of three years of experience working in a federal TRIO program or similar related program for disadvantaged and at-risk middle and high school students. Experience in making individual and group presentations in a variety of modalities. Considerable knowledge of college admissions and financial aid procedures Knowledge of procedures and policies for working with economically and educationally disadvantaged students, parents, and public school personnel.
Additional Considerations | Experience working with middle and high school aged students. Preference to those who have succeeded in overcoming disadvantaged circumstances similar to those of the population served by the program. Experience in a rural community setting.
Operation of a State Vehicle | Yes
Supervises Employees | No
Required Travel | Daily local travel.
Overnight travel statewide intermittently.
Role Title | Education Support Spec III
Role Code | 29144-SW
FLSA | Nonexempt
Pay Band | 04
Position Number | 299R0083
Agency | Mountain Empire Community Coll
Division | Mountain Empire Community Coll (Div)
Work Location | Wise - 195
Hiring Range | $44,192 - $117,360
Emergency/Essential Personnel | No
EEO Category | E-Paraprofessional
Full Time or Part Time | Full Time
Does this position have telework options? -Telework options are subject to change based on business needs- | No
Does this position have a bilingual or multilingual skill requirement or preference? | No
Work Schedule | Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Special event staffing outside of regular work hours may occur from time to time.
Sensitive Position | No
Job Description
Mountain Empire Community College is a comprehensive two-year college serving residents of Lee, Scott, Wise, and Dickenson counties, and the City of Norton. MECC is one of twenty-three colleges in the Virginia Community College System and operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Local Advisory Board. The College is financed primarily with state funds, supplemented by contributions from the local jurisdictions.
Mountain Empire Community College invites applications for a Talent Search Advisor to support the federally grant-funded Talent Search Program which targets students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a college education. This position enjoys full classified, full-time, state benefits.
The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to plan, administer, and evaluate programs and services which encourage and/or facilitate high school completion and enrollment in a post-secondary institution. This is accomplished through some of all of the following activities: 1) independently establish individual, school, site, and parent contacts; 2) determine student need for services and complete appropriate forms, 3) plan, schedule, and conduct meetings with students, school personnel, and/or parents, 4) independently make referrals to other agencies or college personnel, 5) provide assistance to students and/or parents on career planning, high school course of study, leadership, college admissions, financial aid, college admission assessments, etc., 6) maintain accurate participant records in accordance with federal regulations.
Special Assignments | May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
KSA's/Required Qualifications | Knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to be successful in the position:
Knowledge of interventions designed to improve persistence and completion rates for middle and high school students who are low-income and potential first –generation. Knowledge of strategies and services to increase high school graduation rates, with specific emphasis on attaining a rigorous program of study Knowledge of financial aid, pre-college testing, and college admissions Ability to conduct tracking and monitoring of participants to ensure timely delivery of services. Ability to maintain a caseload of participants with meticulous documentation of all services provided. Exceptional interpersonal, communication, organization, and facilitation skills desired. Knowledge of state and local educational standards. Ability to show enthusiasm for the project Knowledge of barriers to secondary school completion and post-secondary enrollment faced by low-income and potential first – generation students. Professional or personal experiences in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting participants
Minimum required qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, social work, higher education administration, or other related fields from an accredited college or university. Minimum of three years of experience working in a federal TRIO program or similar related program for disadvantaged and at-risk middle and high school students. Experience in making individual and group presentations in a variety of modalities. Considerable knowledge of college admissions and financial aid procedures Knowledge of procedures and policies for working with economically and educationally disadvantaged students, parents, and public school personnel.
Additional Considerations | Experience working with middle and high school aged students. Preference to those who have succeeded in overcoming disadvantaged circumstances similar to those of the population served by the program. Experience in a rural community setting.
Operation of a State Vehicle | Yes
Supervises Employees | No
Required Travel | Daily local travel.
Overnight travel statewide intermittently.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number | CLS_3907P
Recruitment Type | General Public - G
Number of Vacancies | 1
Position End Date (if temporary) | 09/30/2028
Job Open Date | 08/01/2025
Job Close Date | 08/14/2025
Open Until Filled | No
Agency Website | www.mecc.edu
Contact Name | Cory Darnell
Email | hr@mecc.edu
Phone Number | 276-523-9081
Special Instructions to Applicants | Apply at https://jobs.vccs.edu/
Additional Information |
Background Check Statement Disclaimer | The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
EEO Statement | The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.
ADA Statement | The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.
E-Verify Statement | VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
Quicklink for Posting | https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/87232
Recruitment Type | General Public - G
Number of Vacancies | 1
Position End Date (if temporary) | 09/30/2028
Job Open Date | 08/01/2025
Job Close Date | 08/14/2025
Open Until Filled | No
Agency Website | www.mecc.edu
Contact Name | Cory Darnell
Email | hr@mecc.edu
Phone Number | 276-523-9081
Special Instructions to Applicants | Apply at https://jobs.vccs.edu/
Additional Information |
Background Check Statement Disclaimer | The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
EEO Statement | The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.
ADA Statement | The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.
E-Verify Statement | VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
Quicklink for Posting | https://jobs.vccs.edu/postings/87232
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- What is the highest level of education attained?
- GED
- High School Diploma
- Associates Degree
- Bachelors Degree
- Masters Degree
- PHD
- Do you have considerable knowledge of college admissions and financial aid procedures.
- Yes
- No
- Do you have knowledge of procedures and policies for working with economically and educationally disadvantaged students, parents, and public school personnel?
- Yes
- No
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
- Unofficial Transcripts
Optional Documents
- Other Document
- Unofficial Transcript 2
- Unofficial Transcript 3
- Alternative Hiring Process Letter
- (877) 340-5577
- ats@ssc.vccs.edu
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