The online education sector is getting a jobs boost in Chandler, Arizona, where Penn Foster Group has kicked off operations at a new call center dubbed the Arizona Center of Excellence. The Scranton, Pennsylvania-based e-learning company has confirmed it will bring 100 new positions to the area, as reported by ABC15 News.
Located at 3133 W. Frye Road, the 9,000-square-foot facility started hiring already for various roles that include "learner success advocates", team leaders, and service desk technicians. In the mix, the advocate positions stand out, acting as customer service aces who leverage the latest in digital tools to shepherd students through high school, career, and college programs. Terri Runyon Walker, chief people officer for Penn Foster Group, told Phoenix Business Journal, the roles command an hourly wage in the ballpark of $18 to $20, contingent upon applicants holding at least a high school diploma.
Among those spearheading the teams are the team leaders, who keep an eye on the advocate group, while service desk technicians tackle computer and technical problems. Since opening the doors of the new space in April, the company has taken on about 35 staff members. "We will be hiring a total of 100, training people as we go," Walker elaborated on the hiring spree. With roots in metro Phoenix already established, this expansion is seen as a strategic choice by the firm. Chandler's growing reputation as an education hub, coupled with access to a bilingual labor force, were cited as incentives for the selection of this particular locality.
Penn Foster's strategic moves include a fresh partnership with EnGen, a Bethesda, Maryland-based English learning program tailored to non-native speakers. This tie-up aims to facilitate English proficiency alongside a high school diploma. Presently, the education outfit boasts a workforce numbering 900 across all its sites which encompass Penn Foster College, Penn Foster Career School, and several other educational entities. The company's legacy traces back to 1890 when Thomas Foster provided training by mail for coal miners looking to attain safer job skills. According to Phoenix Business Journal, as for future hiring beyond the imminent 100 in Chandler, Walker remains prudent, stating, "I don't have that big-picture number," noting that additional recruitment will be influenced by various factors that require time to assess.
