Career Counselor (Core Success Coach) - Augustana College

Job Description:

Status: Exempt, Full-time position, 12-month work schedule

Wage Grade: 740

Reports To: Executive Director, Career and Professional Development

Overview:

Augustana's distinctive model for experiential learning, first-year advising, and career and professional development, called CORE (Careers, Opportunities, Research, Exploration), takes a traditional career center to the next level. Using a student development approach, Career Development & Vocation supports and partners with students in achieving outstanding career outcomes, as well as finding meaning and purpose in life after graduation.

The Specialist, Career Coaching & Student Employment has two key responsibility areas: career coaching and student employment. They will work to design and implement on-campus student employment programs, operations, and services that effectively balance the needs of students, on campus supervisors, and targeted off-campus employers in a multi-dimensional program. As a career coach, they will provide career development, job search, and continuing education support to students seeking opportunities within the fields of Business and Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Key Responsibility Areas:

Career Coaching (50%)

• Provides career coaching to students on all aspects of the career development process including exploration, preparation, experiential learning, and career readiness with students seeking opportunities within 1) Business and 2) Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

• Advises students about job search strategies, identification of employment needs and demonstrated skills, resume and application preparation, interview preparation, effective behavior on the job, and other information which will assist students in obtaining employment that supports their educational, financial, and career goals.

• Serve as a first-year advisor to a small cohort of first year students regarding academic programs; teach section of First Year Inquiry Course (FYI 100); complete activities associated with instruction

• Serves as an expert in designated career communities by having knowledge of career options, hiring practices, graduate/professional school application practices, and trends; assisting students with tailoring search materials.

• Introduces and connects students to experiential learning opportunities that are relevant and support their career exploration, skill development, and career goals

• Researches and develops career-related resources for students seeking opportunities within designated career communities

• Develops connections with alumni, professionals, and experts within designated career communities; facilitate connections with current students

• Collaborate with admissions and other departments to present the value of CORE to prospective families; represent CORE at admission events on designated weekends and throughout the summer

Student Employment (50%)

• Manages on-campus student employment programs for student employees and student employment supervisors. Educates and provides training/coaching to campus supervisors on their role as coach, mentor and professional role model.

• Supports students on resolving problems arising in employment situations. Facilitates resolution of employers' concerns about performance. Advises employers about resources for students in academic, financial, or other difficulty.

• Makes strategy, initiative, and policy recommendations to department leaders and keeps them informed of trends, strategic issues, and concerns.

• Develops, implements, and maintains program practices to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, and college policies and to ensure efficient program operation and excellent service.

• Serves as liaison between students and supervisors. Consults with students, department heads, and supervisors regarding job-related issues, position development, allocation of student employees, and financial aid matters.

• Devises and ensures systems and activities to support efficient, accurate payroll, including creating solutions to time-sensitive non-routine pay situations. Ensures and verifies payroll-related issues are solved.

• Assists Business and Financial Aid Offices with the collection of required employment forms and authorizations for student employees. Maintains current knowledge of relevant regulations, and regularly reviews and recommends procedures to ensure compliance. In consultation with institutional partners, advises leadership regarding records retention policies.

• Assists in systems development to ensure data systems most effectively utilize available technology to meet program goals. Defines reporting needs to support program analysis. Ensures data integrity, currency, and accuracy. Regularly documents procedures in a constantly evolving electronic environment.

• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

Education: Master's degree in a college student personnel or counseling-related field preferred; Bachelor's required with at least three years of increasingly responsible experience in student employment, human resources, career development, financial aid, or related field. Five additional years of experience within a student services role will be considered in lieu of the Master's degree.

Experience & Skills:

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with a wide variety of constituents in innovative program advancement; ability to deliver public presentations and facilitate group work.

• Experience working with young adults or in a higher education setting as well as an understanding of the Liberal Arts setting.

• Ability to build rapport with students, alumni, faculty, and employers

• Possess strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills

• Excellent communication skills with a focus on meeting the needs of 18-22-year-old students and those from diverse cultural backgrounds

• Proficient with of Microsoft Office Products, social media and web applications; knowledge of Google Suite

• Self-motivated with the ability to work with limited supervision and oversight

• Ability to think creatively and develop programs to meet the changing needs of a diverse student base.

• Represent department at admission events in evenings and on designated weekends

Travel: This position is located on the Augustana campus (Rock Island, Illinois) involves limited travel. Must have a current valid driver's license and pass MVR check.

Special Requirements: As key personnel representing the College to students, this position requires excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to a diverse student body, and the ability and willingness to model the mission and high standard of behavior of Augustana College. This position has occasional work obligations that involve evening and weekend work. All potential employees must pass a criminal background check.

Physical Requirements: 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. Must be able to use a computer to accomplish a variety of job tasks. Must be able to communicate through speaking and presenting content to students, employers, and colleagues.

Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Additional Information:

Note: This job description is subject to change and is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Augustana College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Augustana College provides equal opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume for consideration along with contact information for three professional references. Review of applications will begin June 14.