Position Type: Part-time (Up to 20 hours/week)

Duration: 2/14/2025- 8/14/2025

Salary: $30–$40/hour, depending on experience

Job Overview

The College and Career Pathways Fellow will play a vital role in supporting students and graduates as they transition from academic programs into meaningful college and career pathways. Partnering with the San José Public Library Foundation and the Library’s College and Careers Pathways team, the Fellow will work to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of educational and workforce programs like Career Online High School (COHS) and mentorship initiatives. This position focuses on creating sustainable systems, such as alumni networks, and developing strategies to connect graduates with critical resources, including college counselors, career mentors, and professional development opportunities. The Fellow will collaborate closely with staff and community partners to design innovative solutions that help program participants pursue and achieve their post-graduation goals. Additionally, these efforts will aim to enhance support services, expand outreach, and build a replicable framework for similar programs within the community.

Essential Duties 

• Engage in community outreach to build partnerships with stakeholders in areas aligned with COHS alumni and student interests.

• Collaborate with community members and staff to design strategies that enhance program access.

• Develop tools such as surveys and focus group protocols to collect feedback from participants.

• Conduct interviews and support structures for students, fostering meaningful relationships.

• Identify and troubleshoot barriers to program accessibility, recommending innovative solutions.

• Research best practices and propose new services or program improvements.

• Work closely with Library, Foundation, and community stakeholders to strengthen program delivery.

Minimal Qualifications:

• Lived experience navigating education and workforce systems in San José.

• Experience in community outreach or engagement with adults.

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Excellent communication and professional writing skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel).

• Familiarity with collaboration tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

• Spanish-speaking skills are a plus, but not required.

• Current student or graduate from an accredited college. 

Scope of Work

• Build community feedback loops by collaborating with various stakeholders.

• Support COHS students and alumni in achieving post-graduation goals, including conducting interviews, providing guidance, and connecting them to resources and mentors.

• Map available services within postsecondary education and workforce development sectors.

• Expand the reach and impact of the COHS program in alignment with San José’s Children and Youth Services Master Plan.

• Superior computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office. Working knowledge of website, graphics, and publishing software desirable.

• Ability to be accurate, with attention to detail, while still meeting deadlines to complete multiple projects simultaneously.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with diverse volunteers, staff, and partners

• High level of integrity, diplomacy, and initiative. 

• Ability to travel as needed to perform job duties.

Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The position requires the ability to sit for sustained periods of time and to sometimes travel throughout the city of San José.  The vision requirement includes close vision.  The employee is occasionally required to lift 20 pounds.  

About the Organization

Do you love the library and want to work at one of the most well-known buildings in San José?  The San José Public Library is proud to be one of the nation’s best public library systems.  Part of its success is owed to the dynamic and committed Library Foundation, which is a separate 501(c)3 established in 1987 by a group of community volunteers who understood that a great library system needed more than public funding.

The San José Public Library Foundation (SJPLF) has raised more than $35 million so far to enhance the library above and beyond what tax-based funding provides for buildings, programs, collections, and services.  Our work will result in more students being prepared for success from kindergarten to college and career; more adults being fully informed and able to participate in civic life; greater access to information in print and digital forms; and for everyone to find the spark that ignites their curiosity, imagination, and wonder. 

The San José Public Library Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a workplace without discrimination and harassment of any kind.  All candidates will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, or protected veteran or disabled status.  For more information about SJPLF, visit www.sjplf.org. 

How to Apply

Please address a personal, specific, and thoughtful cover letter to the “SJPLF Hiring Committee” and submit along with a resume. Your resume tells us what you can do; your cover letter should tell us who you are and why you want to work with SJPLF.