Working Title: Educational Talent Search Advisor

State Role Title: Education Support Specialist III

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Access and Enrollment

Department: 520117 - Talent Search Year 3

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $44,192 - $45,500

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? Yes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 7/04/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The position reports to the Director of TRIO Programs and supports the strategic vision and implementation of the area to ensure alignment with Student Affairs and JMU's mission, vision, and values.

Talent Search is a federally funded program providing opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Talent Search serves middle school and high school students from low-income families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. Talent Search aims to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from postsecondary education institutions.

The Talent Search Advisor partners with campus and community colleagues to identify and assist first-generation income-eligible 6th through 12th grade students who attend local middle and high schools and want to continue with post-secondary education. The advisor will also work with students who have dropped out of school and have not started post-secondary enrollment. The advisor works directly with the students, assisting them with academic class scheduling, implementing workshops, and providing college application, career searches, and financial aid assistance. The advisor also works with the director in data reporting to the US Department of Education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Identify and recruit eligible participants.
• Provide case management, academic support, curriculum development, and advising
services for students related to admissions and financial aid.
• Execute activities, programs, and direct student services designed for middle school,
high school, and students who have dropped out of school or who have not applied to
post-secondary institutions in partnership with school divisions, such as test
preparation, goal setting, and related skills. Assist program.
• Assist Project Director with the development of promotional materials, educational
materials, training manuals, newsletters, and brochures as appropriate to the
program.
• Assist Project Director with efficient and effective data collection and management to
inform continuous program improvement.
• Maintain accurate program project records and scheduling of activities at the schools.
• Ensure and maintain the confidentiality of all project records and other sensitive
information.
• Prepare special or one-time report summaries or replies to inquiries, selecting data
from a variety of sources.
• Execute school day advising.
• Plan, organize, and co-supervise student field trips (including the supervision of
students), college visits, and cultural activities.
• Assist the TRIO director with hiring and onboarding student workers.
• Attend workshops and conferences as deemed necessary.
• Manage a caseload of students at the schools.
• Some weekend and evening hours may be required.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in education, social science field, or related area.
• Demonstrated experience advising students on college and career preparation.
college and scholarship applications, and financial aid processes in a K-12 or college
setting.
• Demonstrated previous professional experience working with disadvantaged students.
• Familiarity with online resources for college admissions, FAFSA, scholarship
applications, and career planning.
• Experience with event planning and coordination.
• Experience with outreach and recruitment
• Experience maintaining filing systems, data entry, and reports.
• A valid driver’s license is required, as the advisor may be responsible for driving JMU
vans.

Additional Considerations
• Previous student service experience in college opportunity programs such as Upward
Bound, Talent Search, or GEAR UP.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of economically and educationally
disadvantaged youth and an ability to establish a partnership with low-income first-
generation students or parents.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.