Academic Career Education (ACE) Specialist
Vacancy Notice:Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Application Deadline:Wednesday, July 8, 2026 by 11:59 PM CST
Position Type:Professional
Hours:Full Time
Reports To:Manager of AEL Enrollment and Assessment Services
Job Summary
Hawkeye Community College's Van G. Miller Learning Adult Center is looking for a full-timeAcademic Career Education (ACE) Specialistto join their team.
The Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center serves adult students who are earning their High School Equivalency Diploma, learning the English language, and/or receiving workforce training as Adult Education and Literacy students. We make a real-life impact as we empower students to get the education and skills they need to thrive at work, school, home, and the community.
Specifically, as our Academic Career Education (ACE) Specialist, you will be helping empower our students to succeed. You will work directly with adult learners enrolled in the following programs: English Language Learning (ELL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Completion (HSC), and Integrated Education and Training (IET) classes. This will be done by helping adult learners identify educational and career goals, create personalized success plans, and connect their coursework to future opportunities. Additionally, you will provide one-on-one advising, lead career and educational workshops, and offer ongoing support to help students overcome barriers and stay on track toward their education and employment goals. If you want to be part of a team where you will build connections between students and college/community organization while providing individualized support for academic and career planning, this position is for you. It is rewarding and offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference in students' lives while collaborating with partners to promote student success.
Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a wide array of students through our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs. Hawkeye Community College's mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.
Essential Job Functions
Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Advises students regarding career pathways, goal setting and clarification, and employment preparation and readiness.
Collaborates with staff to identify and create processes necessary to provide comprehensive intake, advising, career exploration, and case management for students.
Assists with collection of intake information and provides one-on-one assistance to students throughout the intake process.
Works with a wide array of adult students, including non-native speakers of English.
Collaborates with the team to develop, deliver, and modify program orientation for all students.
Jointly develops educational/vocational plans with students and modifies plans as appropriate.
Manages student progress through individual appointments and in group settings.
Provides career exploration opportunities for students individually and in group settings.
Develops, organizes, and conducts group workshops, presentations, and skills assessments.
Stays current, conveys, and ensures compliance with the AEL program, college, state and federal requirements, policies, and procedures.
Ensures student connection to supportive wrap-around services both onsite and through community resources and agencies.
Maintains necessary records and documentation and prepares statistical reports.
Collects, records and maintains career exploration and goal setting records in applicable databases.
Attends professional development to stay current on research involving adult education, student success, and retention.
Analyzes assessments for student advising.
Register ELL/HSC students when needed.
Assists students with career planning and resume building.
Assists students through process for classroom and testing accommodations.
Serves on Advisory boards as well as external and internal committees including the Student Care Team.
Remains actively involved in recruitment and retention committees.
Coordinates and maintains student food pantry.
Serves as a positive voice to community groups about AEL students.
Attends meetings with community and college groups as needed.
Participates in campus committees as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Unless otherwise approved under Hawkeye's remote work policy, regular on campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in education, human services, social work, or closely related field.
One (1) year applicable work experience in education, educational counseling, human services, or career counseling.
Demonstrated working knowledge of guidance/counseling skills.
Demonstrated ability to work innovatively, individually as well as in teams.
Demonstrated effective organizational skills to manage multiple and shifting tasks/demands to meet timely deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to work a flexible schedule that includes Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Demonstrated ability to work with a wide array of students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal communication.
Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, Google applications, and video conferencing technology.
Demonstrated ability to execute organization and department policies and procedures.
Demonstrated ability to handle confidential/sensitive information with discretion.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working in a community college setting.
Experience advising adults.
Experience working with non-traditional students.
Experience coordinating events.
Working Conditions
This position works Monday - Friday with occasional weekend hours due to business need.
The anticipated schedule is as follows: Monday and Wednesday from 8am - 4:30 pm. On Tuesday and Thursdays this position works evenings when classes are in session to serve the evening student population, which typically has higher enrollment then the daytime classes. At times, staff are expected to work beyond 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to support events hosted by this position, presenting orientation sessions, or meeting increased student demand for one-on-one appointments. Fridays are used as a flex day to offset the additional hours worked earlier in the week.
Work is performed either in or a combination of an office setting and/or classroom setting using technology. Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp. Sit, stand, bend, lift and move frequently during working hours. During course of day, interact with students, faculty and staff in person, by telephone and computers.
Employment Status
Full-time, exempt position with comprehensive or competitive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick, and vacation leave; tuition reimbursement / tuition remission; and a choice of retirement programs-IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution).
Salary will be determined based on the candidate's education and experience and internal equity.
The salary/wage range for this position begins at $47,500
Application Procedure
Complete an online application at www.hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
Submit/upload a cover letter addressing the following:
Describe your experience(s) coordinating events.
Describe your experience working with adults.
Describe your knowledge of community resources that would benefit students who have barriers to employment and education opportunities.
Submit/upload a resume.
Submit/upload 3 professional references with a minimum of 1 being from a current/past supervisor.
Application deadline:Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Priority screening is set to begin on: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Completed applications received after the priority screening date will be considered at the discretion of the college.
All application materials must be submitted by Wednesday, July 8, 2026 by 11:59 PM CST.
Apply Online
Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices. It is the policy of Hawkeye Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact the Equity and Title IX Coordinator, Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015,319-296-4405 (tel:3192964405) , emailequity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.eduor the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone:303-844-5695 (tel:3038445695) FAX: 303-844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339, emailOCR.Denver@ed.gov.3.
If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.
