Job Details

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Hawai'i Community College - Palamanui Kailua-Kona, HI
Job Type: Full-Time Temporary
Job Number: 2025-02395
Department: Hawai'i Community College - Palamanui
Opening Date: 11/18/2025
Closing Date: 11/20/2025 11:59 PM Hawaii
Position Number:: ***** Casual Hire
Description
**** Applicants seeking short-term or part-time work with the University of Hawai'i may apply for Casual Hire appointments, which include administrative, professional, and technical (APT) or instructional-type positions. Because of the temporary nature of these appointments, Casual Hire employees are not eligible for most benefits provided to regular Board of Regents or Civil Service employees. Casual Hire appointments may last for up to 89 days for full-time employees, and up to 1 calendar year for part-time employees.
Title: (Casual Hire) First Year Experience/13th Year - Transition Support Specialist

Position Number: ***** Casual Hire

Hiring Unit: Hawaii Community College - Palamanui

Location: Kailua-Kona, HI

Date Posted: November 18, 2025

Closing Date: November 20, 2025

Salary: $31.35/hour

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Temporary/Permanent: Temporary
Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Develop and maintain a strong referral network with local high schools, community-based organizations, and public and private social service agencies to identify and support first-time college students.
2. Oversee the program application process, including committee review, scoring, and ranking of student referrals and application forms, ensuring fairness and transparency throughout.
3. Coordinate success activities that align with and enhance the first-year experience (FYE) initiatives, providing additional support and resources as needed to ensure student success.
4. Collaborate with the Financial Aid Office to facilitate scholarship awards and assist students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and accessing other financial aid opportunities.
5. Foster supportive relationships with students by organizing and participating in coordinated events and activities designed to promote engagement and retention.
6. Provide insights and recommendations to the Student Services team based on lessons learned and identified areas for improvement, contributing to the ongoing enhancement of program effectiveness and alignment with established objectives.
7. Recruit, hire, and supervise peer mentors to provide additional support and guidance to first-time college students, fostering a sense of community and collaboration among participants.
8. Develop, collect, and maintain student, service, and program data for program assessments, reporting, and continuous improvement effort.
9. Engage with potential and existing donors to cultivate relationships, secure funding, and promote the continued growth and sustainability of the First Year Experience/13th Year Programs.
10. Assignments may include evening and weekend work; and travel between Hilo, West Hawai'i, and other off-site locations.
11. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Communications, or related field and 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for post-secondary student services and/or academic advising; or equivalent education/training or experience.
2. Or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the developmental needs of first-year students and how to facilitate first year students' success.
2. Knowledge of barriers to college-going ambition entry and success.
3. Ability to establish and maintain relationships within networks of local high school counselors, community-based organization leaders, and public and private social service agency professionals.
4. Ability to develop and work in a team environment.
5. Delivering content in classes and other formats concerning academic skills and success in a manner which is meaningful to nontraditional college students.
6. Knowledge of policies and procedures of the higher education system: Knowledge of methods, practices, and procedures of student admissions, registration, records management, financial aid and other student support services.
7. Experience working with culturally diverse populations.

Application Submission: Click on the "Apply" button to complete an application and attach the following required documents.

1. A Copy of your academic transcript(s) appropriate to the position are required to be attached in order to verify all courses completed and/or degree conferred (unofficial transcripts are acceptable; copies of diplomas will NOT be accepted). Official transcripts are required at the time of hire. Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA will be required before date of hire. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant.
2. Statement outlining how you meet minimum (and desirable, if applicable) qualification.
3. Names and contact information of three (3) references familiar with your job performance.
4. Resume.

Letters of recommendation are welcome. Applications lacking copies of academic transcript(s) will be reviewed based on work experience equivalency to meet minimum qualifications (MQs). All minimum qualifications must be met by the closing date. The application will be considered incomplete if material is unreadable. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If multiple applications are submitted, only the last application received will be considered.
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EEO, Clery Act, ADA
The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit:
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: , or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: