Summary

The Assistant Director of Early Career Engagement reports to the Director of the Center for Career Excellence. This individual works with Career Excellence colleagues, academic departments, and key University partners to implement the Center’s early career engagement and exploration strategy. The Assistant Director of Early Career Engagement maintains a heavy career coaching load of one-on-one appointments and offers developmentally appropriate career programming to engage first- and second-year students in the career readiness journey. The Assistant Director consults with colleagues in the First-Year Program, Sophomore Success Initiative, and Student Life and supervises CCE’s marketing interns. Salary $60,405.80 annually.

Coaching

• Maintain heavy career coaching load of one-on-one appointments and drop-in hours, assisting students of all career interests and majors with special focus on first year and sophomore students.
• Use holistic career coaching and the Challenge Mindset to assist students with exploration of career possibilities and interests; engage students in conversation around values, interests, strengths, skills, purpose and meaning.
• Coach students on appropriate use of AI in career preparation and search process, skill development, document creation/refinement, internship search, interview preparation, networking, and other career readiness topics.
• Actively assist students in building individualized career plans and modifying as needed.
• Advise students on CCE offerings to enhance connections between college, career, and Laurentian Network.

Programming

• Create career exploration programming for first year and sophomore students incorporating the Challenge Mindset and NACE Career Readiness Competencies.
• Work directly with faculty/staff in the First Year Program and Sophomore Success Initiative to share information on CCE’s early engagement and exploration strategy; provide programming to classes and large groups.
• Serve as point person for THRIVE lecture series, faculty, staff, and coach requests for classroom visits/presentations.
• Manage CCE’s Student Development Fund, market, review applications, budget and award funds.
• Oversee student marketing, recruitment, and education initiatives for LINC Mentoring Program; serve on LINC Program Management Team.
• Collaborate with campus colleagues/departments on ways to engage students in career readiness activities early in time at St. Lawrence.
• Engage with student clubs and organizations to build relationships and provide career programming.

Internal & External Relations

• Supervise two CCE Marketing Interns and provide guidance in creating bold, fun marketing initiatives for social media and print to attract students and provide awareness of student career outcomes.
• Design additional career programs for student exploration and skill development to increase readiness.
• Engage volunteers to assist students in the career exploration and preparation process.
• Actively participate in the Center’s evaluation, assessment, and reporting practices.
• Assist with University events that may include Orientation, Laurentian Weekend, Alumni Executive Council Weekends, Board of Trustee Weekends, and Reunion Weekend; attend Laurentian/Alumni Events as requested.

Other duties as assigned or requested to meet departmental goals and objectives.

Professional Development

• Actively seek out resources and information to stay up to date on industry’s best practices, shifts in career coaching/career development, inclusion & belonging practices, employer hiring trends, and job market.
• Participate in relevant professional development meetups, webinars, and conferences as budget allows.

Interested applicants must apply online at http://employment.stlawu.edu uploading all required materials which are defined in the “special instructions to applicant” section.  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position may be directed to Jillian McKernan-Walley, Director of the Center for Career Excellence, jmckwall@stlawu.edu.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the finalist successfully passing a background (including criminal records) check.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of experience in a student-facing education setting. Exposure to career development/collegiate career services a plus.
• Strong interest in working in college career services at a liberal arts institution.
• A commitment to inclusion and belonging and experience interacting with individuals from diverse populations.
• Knowledge of career exploration, skill development, document creation.
• Able to provide developmentally appropriate individual and group career coaching and programming.
• Capacity to infuse skill/competency development into programs and services to increase students’ career readiness.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of professionalism and provide exceptional customer service.
• Skills necessary to assess, organize, and prioritize multiple tasks with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills needed for communicating with small and large audiences.
• Strong time management, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Aptitude for making decisions using independent discretion and judgment.
• Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of internal and external constituents including students, faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and parents.
• Some knowledge of best practices in collegiate career development and workplace trends.
• Familiarity with experiential learning/internships, job search, interviewing, and professional development.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel; Zoom.
• Ability to travel for work related needs and work non-standards hours including evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with platforms like Handshake, SparkPath, Qualtrics, Vault, Focus2, LinkedIn, LinkedIn Learning.
• Knowledge of the Challenge Mindset and NACE Career Readiness Competencies.
• Understanding social media platforms and marketing strategies that attract Gen Z.
• Experience supervising student staff.

About St. Lawrence University

Located at 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY, St. Lawrence University is a coeducational, private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,400 students from more than 40 states and 40 nations. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity, and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. The University is committed to and seeks diversity among its faculty, staff, and students. Such a commitment ensures an atmosphere that is diverse and complex in ways that are intellectually and socially enriching for the entire campus community. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups, as well as from individuals with experience teaching or working in a multicultural environment, are encouraged. St. Lawrence University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For additional information about St. Lawrence, please visit http://www.stlawu.edu.

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