"Assistant Director for Career and Professional Development (SUA 2, Mansfield)"

Position Purpose

Assigned to the Mansfield Campus of Commonwealth University, the incumbent provides career coaching services and programming to students by meeting with individual students and delivering group presentations relative to career and professional development topics in academic classes and student organizations. Incumbent engages students in educational programs, job shadowing, internship, and employment opportunities. Incumbent is assigned to serve as a liaison for one of the five University Colleges, college-related employers, and 1-2 other university programs such as Admissions, New Student Orientation, or Athletics. The incumbent serves as a student success partner by collaborating with faculty teaching first-year seminar and academic advisors in support of student retention and completion. The incumbent also supports strategic enrollment goals through new student recruitment activities, documentation of coaching notes in student success software, and through the administration of aptitude and personality tests to assist students in evaluating strengths and areas of improvement to provide direction in selecting major and career options. Incumbent provides customer service and responds to inquiries from employers, alumni, and students and documents these contacts in department/university/Foundation databases. Incumbent works collaboratively with department colleagues, faculty, staff, alumni, and employer partners, student organizations, and the Bloomsburg University Foundation to advance the strategic goals of the University, Department, and Professional U. This position will coordinate social media and marketing to promote student engagement in career and professional development activities, events, and experiences.

Note: This position works alternative work hours 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., two days per week. Many activities, meetings, and programs take place throughout the day and evening hours, including weekends. Employees are expected to keep flexible hours.

Description of Duties

Career Coaching (35%)

Coach students and alumni on a one-to-one basis to identify career goals, explore and recommend relevant career experiences, evaluate skills and interests, and determine appropriate steps to create a personalized Career MAP (Managed Action Plan). Administer and interpret FOCUS 2 and other aptitude and personality tests to assist students in evaluating strengths and areas of improvement to provide direction in selecting a major and career options. Refer students to appropriate academic departments/advisors for specific academic information regarding major. Assist students with locating and reviewing electronic and printed resources in support of informational interviews, job shadowing, internship, job and graduate/professional school search. Connect students with alumni and employer partners to secure professional experience and/or employment. Provide guidance in personal branding, writing resumes, creating a professional portfolio, and practicing interview and networking skills. Review resumes, portfolios, and applications and offer feedback specific to established professional/career standards and industry/employer expectations.

Career and Professional Development Education (35%)

Research, develop, and deliver professional and career development seminars for diverse audiences. Coordinate professional development activities for specific majors and student organizations. Assist in promotion and preparation of students for Career Connections Expos. Write, compile, and edit student job search guides and professional development printed and electronic resources. Collect data for accurate record keeping in support of strategic goals and participation targets.

Professional Responsibilities (30%)

Coordinate social media and marketing content to promote student engagement. Serve as departmental liaison for administration, faculty, and staff in assigned college and programs. Recruit and engage employer partners and alumni in support of strategic programs, job shadowing, internship, and employment opportunities. Assist in supervision of student workers and graduate assistants/interns. Serve as professional advisor for Peer Coaches. Actively participate in professional organizations, serve regional professional planning committees, and seek professional knowledge of trends, benchmarks, and best practices in the field of career and professional development in higher education. Develop knowledge and skills to effectively work with and educate diverse populations such as BIPOC, various abilities, LGBTQA, veterans and military backgrounds, and adult learners to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Keep up to date and effectively utilize technology platforms such as Handshake, CU Succeed, Bright Space, and other related technology applications to perform duties. Establish and maintain positive relationships with department team, Advancement Division colleagues, the BU Foundation team, faculty, campus administrators, alumni, and employer partners to assist students and alumni in achieving their career goals and achieve departmental engagement goals. Attend and participate in department, division, and university events. Assist directors and perform other duties as assigned.

These duties and responsibilities summarized above provide a representative listing only and should not be regarded as a complete statement of tasks performed by incumbents of this position. It should be recognized that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties in addition to those outlined above. Many activities, meetings, and programs take place throughout the day and evening hours, including weekends. Employees are expected to keep flexible hours.

Decision Making

Makes independent decisions specific to the operation of the individual programs and activities assigned to the incumbent. Uses professional skills and training to create new initiatives, solve problems, and provide services to students and alumni.

Fiscal Responsibility

Make recommendations for expenditures in support of assigned programs and activities. Ensures prudent and appropriate use of funds.

Supervisory Responsibility

Assist with the supervision of student workers, interns, and graduate assistants.

Minimum Requirements Profile

Bachelor's degree required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Appreciation for, and commitment to, diversity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability with problem solving and collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse individuals.
• Strong multi-tasker, time-manager, scheduler, and active listener.
• Motivator and initiator.
• Strong computer skills to achieve strategic outcomes.
• Knowledge of professional/career development best practices and career coaching techniques.
• Understanding of human resources and employer relations.
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams and collaborate with diverse individuals.
• Must periodically travel and work weekends.
• Must work evening hours.

Essential Functions

• Able to act independently to achieve departmental goals and outcomes.
• Possess high-level critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Able to communicate well, both orally and in written form to present information in an easily understood manner to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word software and CRM software.
• Able to lift/move materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Frequent lifting of objects weighing less than 5 pounds.
• Able to reach for objects at or above shoulder level and occasionally twist at waist and stretch to reach objects.
• Keyboarding skills.
• Ability to travel.
• Able to research and utilize best practices adhering to professional standards.
• Sensory skills, i.e., visual, hearing, and speaking.

Special Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, applications must be received by July 22, 2025. This position works alternative work hours 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., two days per week. Finalists for this position must communicate well and successfully complete an interview process. Completing this search is contingent upon available funding.