Setting: Full-time, three-year role
Application Deadline: June 9, 2026
Reports To: Director of Viable Pathways to Prosperity
Compensation: $55,000 to $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience, with competitive benefits
OVERVIEW OF ROLE
Chattanooga 2.0 is leading the Viable Pathways to Prosperity initiative to connect the youth of Hamilton County–Chattanooga to high-demand, thriving-wage careers in our region. Through strong cross-sector partnerships, this initiative is working to bridge systemic gaps between K–12 education, postsecondary training and education, and the workforce by creating clear, supported pathways into meaningful careers. The initiative prioritizes expanding opportunity and access for underserved and underrepresented youth by providing practical steps, career-connected learning experiences, industry-aligned training, and direct access to local jobs that place young people on a path toward long-term economic mobility.
The Viable Pathways Advisor represents a new role through the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Prep initiative, a new strategic national effort under Viable Pathways. Through this initiative, Chattanooga 2.0, Hamilton County Schools, local labor unions, industry associations, and employers will collaborate to build high-quality pathways from high school into skilled trades careers through career-connected learning, pre-apprenticeships, and Registered Apprenticeships.
The Viable Pathways Advisor serves as a trusted mentor, coach, and connector for pathway participants. Working closely with Hamilton County Schools, employers, labor unions, training providers, and community partners, this role helps young adults navigate opportunities, overcome barriers, and stay connected to skilled trades apprenticeship pathways that lead to long-term success. The Advisor plays a critical role in ensuring students not only access opportunities, but persist and thrive through education, training, and early employment.
This is an ideal role for someone who is highly relational, proactive, organized, and passionate about helping young people build meaningful futures.
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA 2.0
Chattanooga 2.0 is a nonprofit organization established in 2015 to drive systemic change that improves educational attainment, economic opportunity, and quality of life across Chattanooga and Hamilton County. From early childhood education through thriving-wage careers, Chattanooga 2.0 convenes and aligns partners across education, workforce, government, nonprofit, and business sectors to help strengthen systems, remove barriers and create better outcomes for children, students, and families. Through collaborative partnerships, shared data, and cross-sector coordination, Chattanooga 2.0 supports community-wide efforts that strengthen economic mobility for all.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
As the Viable Pathways Advisor, you will provide student advising and mentorship, recruitment support, and career readiness guidance for Viable Pathways to Prosperity’s Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Prep initiative. Your responsibilities will include:
- Provide individualized advising, mentoring, and coaching to pathway participants to support their success in navigating education to employment through apprenticeships.
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with students and young adults across skilled trades pathways.
- Facilitate workforce readiness skills development in partnership with education, training, and community partners, including resume and cover letter development, interview preparation, and networking skills.
- Identify wraparound supports needed by students and coordinate referrals and connections as needed.
- Develop and implement pathway recruitment and outreach strategies in collaboration with K–12 school champions, postsecondary partners, and community organizations.
- Support accurate data tracking and reporting related to participant enrollment, persistence, credential attainment, and employment outcomes.
- Provide regular reporting to the Director of Viable Pathways on student engagement and outcomes.
- Collaborate with school counselors, teachers, employers, and other relevant partners to ensure student success.
- Contribute to communications and outreach materials that highlight pathway opportunities and participant success stories.
- Represent Chattanooga 2.0 at meetings and community events to support the organization’s mission and goals.
- Collaborate with partners to identify opportunities for program improvement and systems alignment.
- Perform other duties as assigned related to the Viable Pathways to Prosperity initiative.
WHAT YOU BRING:
The strongest candidates will have:
- Minimum of three to five years of relevant professional experience in mentoring, advising, youth development, workforce development, education, counseling, program coordination, community engagement, or related fields.
- Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust and maintain meaningful connections with young adults, families, educators, and community partners.
- Experience mentoring, coaching, advising, or supporting youth and young adults in education, training, or employment, including through transitions across the education-to-workforce pathway.
- Strong organizational and follow-through skills, including the ability to manage multiple participants, priorities, and partnerships simultaneously.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated commitment to educational equity, economic mobility, and expanding opportunity for underserved and underrepresented populations.
- Ability to work collaboratively across organizations and with diverse stakeholders while also working independently and proactively.
- Comfort with outreach, recruitment, and relationship management across schools, training providers, employers, and community organizations.
- Experience supporting student recruitment, persistence, retention, or workforce readiness efforts preferred.
- Familiarity with workforce development, postsecondary pathways, career-connected learning, or skilled trades preferred.
- Comfort with data tracking, documentation, and digital communication and project management tools preferred.
- Familiarity with the Hamilton County–Chattanooga community and regional workforce landscape preferred.
Details:
- Fully funded position through June 2029 as part of a three-year national initiative.
- Hybrid work environment with regular in-person engagement across the community.
- Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off.
To apply, email your resume and cover letter to Jessica Friedman at jessica@chatt2.org by June 9, 2026. Tell us what excites you about this role and this organization, and how you can help us achieve our goals for the Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Prep initiative.
