Career Coach

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Career Coach supports students throughout their educational and career journey by providing individualized and group-based guidance in self-discovery, academic and career exploration, decision-making, goal setting, and career planning. The position helps students connect their interests, strengths, skills, and educational experiences to meaningful academic programs, transfer pathways, and career opportunities. The Career Coach collaborates with faculty, employers, alumni, and campus and community partners to provide career exploration, networking, experiential learning, and workforce preparation opportunities. The position assists students in developing career readiness skills and successfully transitioning to employment or continued education through support with résumés, job search strategies, interviewing, networking, and professional communication. Through workshops, classroom presentations, outreach, partnerships, and the use of labor market information, the Career Coach integrates career development throughout the student experience and empowers students to make informed decisions and successfully pursue their educational and career goals.

The typical work schedule will be Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

UNIVERSAL CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Advocate for Continual Improvement- empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability- working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service- anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance- commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead- regardless of title, through positive influence.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Guide students through a process of self-discovery, helping them identify their interests, strengths, values, skills, and goals to make informed decisions about academic programs and career pathways.
• Facilitate meaningful connections between students and faculty, industry professionals, and alumni to support program exploration, career learning, professional networking, mentorship, and informed decision-making about educational and career pathways
• Support students in successfully launching their careers by providing individualized guidance throughout the job search process, including résumé development, job search strategies, application support, interview preparation, and development of effective job-search and professional communication skills.
• Help students translate classroom learning, projects, internships, clinical experiences, and other experiences into marketable skills and accomplishments.
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers, industry professionals, faculty, and community partners to expand career opportunities for students.
• Serve as the administrator for one or two assigned Career Services platforms (e.g., Focus 2, Handshake, Jobscan, YouScience), overseeing platform management and efforts to increase student awareness and utilization.
• Partner with faculty, advisors, student support services, and other campus departments to provide coordinated career development support throughout the student journey.
• Deliver classroom presentations, workshops, and career programming on topics such as career exploration, decision-making, résumé writing, interviewing, networking, and job searching.
• Assist students in connecting their educational goals with long-term career aspirations, including exploring how associate degree programs and transfer pathways can lead to a variety of career opportunities.
• Perform other related work duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Provide outstanding customer service and serve as a positive representative of the department and the student services division to improve student learning and success.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Welcome, value, and nurture people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, as well as support and promote an environment that accepts differences.
• An ability to establish and maintain strong professional relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Possess a solid working knowledge of college student development, including the needs of diverse learners, and student services in general.
• Functional knowledge of the Colleague student database, Word, Excel, Power Point, and other commonly used computer programs.
• An ability to work efficiently, effectively, and independently in an environment with regular interruption.
• Demonstrate a commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential job duties/responsibilities and performance expectations of the job, which should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES WITH/WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, psychology, sociology, business, human resources or other related field is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong interpersonal skills required.
• Possesses the ability to establish new relationships while intentionally strengthening and deepening existing partnerships.
• A demonstrated ability to work as a member of team is also required.
• Basic computer skills in word processing, data base management, mainframe usage and Internet usage also required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:

• Master's degree in college or university student services, communications, educational leadership, or related field is preferred.
• Experience in career services in a college or university is also preferred.
• Experience in job placement or human resources preferred.

WHY KIRKWOOD:

Kirkwood Community College prides itself on fostering a diverse workforce and values unique perspectives throughout its campus community. The college is a convenient, innovative, visionary educational leader striving to remain affordable and accessible. With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.