Career Specialist
Alfred, NY
Full Time
Career Development Center
Entry Level
Reporting to the director of the Career Development Center, the career specialist is instrumental in providing holistic career readiness services for Alfred University students that embody our core values of mentorship, intersections, and inclusion. Through individualized and group-based approaches, the career specialist supports undergraduate and graduate students navigate career pathways to find their professional purpose while embracing diversity and equity.
Salary Range: $40,000-$43,000, 35 hours per week
Essential Functions:
Alfred University (AU) was founded on principles of social justice in 1836 by liberal, independent thinkers who placed high value on education for all citizens. The University has retained and built upon the strong values of its founders, developing as an institution of national and international renown that is responsive to the needs of contemporary society while remaining consistent with the spirit of its origins. Alfred University is the second oldest coeducational college in the United States and one of the earliest nineteenth-century colleges to have enrolled African American and Native American students. It has a long-standing history of educating socially conscious students who make a difference in their professions and communities.
Over the course of the twentieth century, Alfred University evolved into a complex institution offering a full range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, art and design, engineering, business, education, counseling, and school psychology to its nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students that live, learn, and play on a 232-acre campus located in an idyllic, creative valley in Western New York.
Salary Range: $40,000-$43,000, 35 hours per week
Essential Functions:
- Foster Mentorship Relationships: Cultivate mentorship relationships with students and guide them through their career exploration journey. Provide personalized career counseling, advising, and coaching to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed for success (e.g., résumé and cover letter writing, interview preparation, networking assistance, etc.).
- Recognize Intersections: Acknowledge and address the diverse intersections of identity, background, and experiences that shape students' career aspirations. Offer inclusive and culturally responsive support tailored to meet the unique needs of each student.
- Lead Inclusive Group Sessions: Facilitate inclusive group sessions that celebrate diversity and promote equity in career development. Create safe and welcoming spaces where students from all backgrounds can share experiences, learn from one another, and build supportive networks.
- Design Intersectional Career Education Programs: Collaborate with the Career Development Center team to develop and implement intersectional career education programs. Use a multidimensional approach that considers students' intersecting identities and incorporates diverse perspectives into program design and delivery.
- Assess and Promote Inclusive Practices: Evaluate existing career services practices to ensure they are inclusive and accessible to all students. Identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within career services programming.
Other Duties & Responsibilities:
- Supports and assists in creating intersections for faculty, staff, and students that will transform people’s lives.
- Supports and assists in creating an evolving culture of mentoring and rich engagement opportunities for faculty, staff, and students.
- Maintains a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a high degree of cultural competence and respect for a wide range of identities and experiences. Therefore, it welcomes and supports all faculty, staff, and students, expanding access to the AU experience.
- Maintains a safe working environment within and around their facilities and associated equipment and supplies, including, but not limited to, obtaining Safety Data Sheets (SDS) regarding any hazards associated with their work environment.
- Participates in all required assigned training, including safety training, and will comply with safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
- Effective written and oral communication skills.
- Contributes to the University's overall success by performing other duties as assigned.
Qualifications – Education & Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Bachelor’s Degree in higher education, counseling, or related field.
- A minimum of one year's experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds is preferred.
- Genuine interest in working with college students, as well as the ability to work well with and relate to a diverse population of students.
- The selected candidate must have an energetic, engaging personality and character to encourage students to seek guidance and participate in the program.
Additional Knowledge/Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills required.
- Must have the ability to work effectively and collegially in a fast-paced environment and successfully manage multiple demands and priorities.
- Previous experience in career services advising across a diverse population of students is highly desirable.
- A high capacity to meet deadlines, well-developed time management and organizational skills, follow- through, and discretion in handling confidential information are required.
- Project management skills required.
- Ability and eagerness to learn new technologies are desired. Intermediate-level technology skills in Excel, database management, and online platforms are required.
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends (career fairs, employer visits, events) and travel for student events and conferences.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
Personal Protective Equipment must be worn when required. A respiratory function test and the ability to use respirators may be required. Stairs and uneven surfaces may be present; artificial lifts, etc., may or may not be available. The position may require the incumbent to walk outdoors in all types of weather to other buildings or offices located on the campus. The Campus is located in an area that contains numerous hills and slopes and may not always be fully accessible for mobility-impaired individuals.
About Alfred University:
Since 1836, we have been lighting the way for students. "We've always been a place for makers, especially those who make the future. Our commitment to independent thinking, creativity, academic rigor, and community has made us a unique kind of leader.”
Personal Protective Equipment must be worn when required. A respiratory function test and the ability to use respirators may be required. Stairs and uneven surfaces may be present; artificial lifts, etc., may or may not be available. The position may require the incumbent to walk outdoors in all types of weather to other buildings or offices located on the campus. The Campus is located in an area that contains numerous hills and slopes and may not always be fully accessible for mobility-impaired individuals.
About Alfred University:
Since 1836, we have been lighting the way for students. "We've always been a place for makers, especially those who make the future. Our commitment to independent thinking, creativity, academic rigor, and community has made us a unique kind of leader.”
Alfred University (AU) was founded on principles of social justice in 1836 by liberal, independent thinkers who placed high value on education for all citizens. The University has retained and built upon the strong values of its founders, developing as an institution of national and international renown that is responsive to the needs of contemporary society while remaining consistent with the spirit of its origins. Alfred University is the second oldest coeducational college in the United States and one of the earliest nineteenth-century colleges to have enrolled African American and Native American students. It has a long-standing history of educating socially conscious students who make a difference in their professions and communities.
Over the course of the twentieth century, Alfred University evolved into a complex institution offering a full range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, art and design, engineering, business, education, counseling, and school psychology to its nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students that live, learn, and play on a 232-acre campus located in an idyllic, creative valley in Western New York.
Alfred University actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee, student or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Protected veterans, minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
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