Position Function:
The Workforce Advisor will serve as the primary student support resource for participants of the Skilled Workers Empowerment Program (STEP), a federally funded workforce development initiative housed within Mississippi State University's College of Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS). Funded through a 4-year U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant (Award No. P116J250140), STEP is a 10-week non-credit certificate program designed to prepare early- to mid-career skilled trades workers for supervisory advancement. The Workforce Advisor will provide individualized advising, coordinate wraparound support services, monitor participant progress, and serve as a liaison between learners, faculty, employer partners, and program staff. This position reports directly to the Project Director/Principal Investigator.
Salary Grade: 14
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Provides one-on-one advising to STEP participants on program requirements, credential pathways, credit articulation opportunities, and career planning related to supervisory advancement in skilled trades industries.
2. Coordinates wraparound support services for participants, including stipend distribution, childcare referrals, technology access, and transportation assistance, to reduce barriers to program completion.
3. Monitors participant satisfaction, engagement, and academic progress throughout each cohort, identifying at-risk individuals and initiating proactive outreach within 48 hours when completion risk falls below program targets.
4. Serves as a liaison between participants, faculty facilitators, employer mentors, and program staff, facilitating communication and resolving issues that may affect participant success.
5. Supports participant enrollment and orientation processes, ensuring all cohort members understand program expectations, schedules, credential requirements, and available support resources.
6. Assists participants in navigating the credit articulation process, providing guidance on enrollment in bachelor's degree programs in Industrial Technology or Organizational Leadership following program completion.
7. Maintains accurate and up-to-date participant records, including advising notes, support service utilization, progress data, and post-completion outcomes, in accordance with institutional and federal data requirements.
8. Conducts alumni tracking and re-engagement efforts, following up with program graduates at 3, 6, and 12 months post-completion to document supervisory advancement, wage gains, and degree enrollment.
9. Collects participant feedback through surveys, interviews, and informal check-ins; contributes findings to program evaluation and continuous improvement processes.
10. Coordinates with Mississippi Works and other state workforce agencies to connect participants with additional wraparound resources such as job placement assistance, childcare subsidies, and transportation support.
11. Participates in weekly operations meetings with the Program Coordinator and Faculty Facilitator, contributing participant progress updates and support service reports.
12. Assists with participant recruitment efforts, including outreach to employer partners, community colleges, and workforce development organizations to identify prospective STEP participants.
13. Supports the preparation of federal performance reports by providing timely and accurate participant outcome data to the Program Coordinator and Evaluation Specialist.
14. May supervise graduate assistants supporting student services functions and assist with their onboarding and training.
15. Performs other duties as assigned by the Project Director.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Bachelor's degree in counseling, education, social work, human services, workforce development, or a closely related field.
2. Two years of experience in academic advising, student support services, case management, or a related field.
3. Knowledge of skilled trades industries (construction, manufacturing, energy) and associated career pathways.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Master's degree in counseling, higher education, workforce development, or a closely related field.
2. Experience working with adult learners, non-traditional students, or working professionals in a workforce or continuing education context.
3. Familiarity with wraparound support service coordination, including community referral networks and state workforce agency resources such as Mississippi Works.
4. Experience working within federally funded grant programs and familiarity with associated reporting and compliance requirements.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse adult learners, employer partners, and university stakeholders.
2. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate program information clearly and sensitively to participants from varied educational and professional backgrounds.
3. Demonstrated ability to monitor multiple participants across concurrent cohorts, maintain detailed records, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
4. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and experience with student information systems or learning management platforms such as Canvas.
5. Knowledge of career development principles, credit articulation processes, and degree pathways relevant to adult learners in skilled trades fields.
6. Ability to identify participant barriers to completion and coordinate timely, appropriate support interventions.
7. Commitment to student success, equity, and access, with demonstrated experience serving first-generation, working adult, or underrepresented student populations.
8. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive participant information in compliance with FERPA and institutional data policies.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
1. No unusual physical requirements. Requires limited lifting of files and records; nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor setting.
2. Position frequently requires sitting, walking, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling of materials and office equipment.
3. Vision requirements: ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
4. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support program intensive sessions and cohort activities.
5. Work is primarily conducted on the main campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS; ability to work remotely when required by the University may be needed.
Instructions for Applying:
Apply online at msujobs.msstate.edu and submit a cover letter and resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Restricted Clause:
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
