Senior Career Advisor

Department: Education & Social Policy
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Target hiring range for this position will be between $70,000 -$75,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Job Summary:

The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) is seeking a Sr Career Advisor to work with our master's and professional program students. The Sr Career Advisor works with the Director of Student Services and Advising and Associate Director for Career Services to implement a data-informed career services strategy, creating an integrated program of services, resources, programs, and advising empowering master's students and alumni in making decisions associated with their career goals and objectives.

Advises and counsels students and alumni with less than ten (10+) years of post-undergraduate professional experience to empower them to make decisions associated with their post-graduation career goals and objectives. Educate and coach students in development of career development plan, application materials (i.e. cover letter, resume, portfolio), interview strategies and job offer negotiations.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Contributes to and implements career-services related strategic plans of the division and individual master's programs.
• Completes administrative activities such as assessment, operations planning, data management, and reporting. Recommends changes and improvements to functional operations to better meet organizational needs and objectives. Assists with management of career coaches.
• Supports implementation of stakeholder (students, alumni, employers, faculty, staff) career-related services, policies, practices, and resources.
• Assists in partnering with peer NU departments and institutions to share best practices, cutting-edge delivery of career services and resources.
• Upon direction from the Director of Student Services and Advising and the Associate Director, researches best practices, peer institutions/programs, and market/economic conditions and recommends changes and enhancements to improve administrative effectiveness, services and/or resources.

Technology

• Reviews existing use of technology and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art systems and tools as appropriate into all aspects of the advising, counseling, and recruiting/employment programs. Recommends changes and enhancements to leverage technology.
• Researches peer and cutting-edge developments regarding technology and recommends changes and enhancements that will improve delivery of resources and services.
• Responsible for day-to-day and periodic data collection related to 1) student job search; 2) alumni job search and career progress; 3) alumni engagement in support of division career services efforts; and 4) partnerships with hiring organizations and managers. Updates Salesforce and related platforms.

Advising/Counseling

• Implements day-to-day career-services operations that empower students (and alumni) to take ownership of the personal career development journey and job search by offering personalized counseling and advising, which focuses on self-assessment, career planning, job search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making and negotiations. Researches, develops and implements new programs and services.
• Assists Associate Director in implementation of plan to educate and support of division team (e.g. admissions, academic advisors, MS Program Faculty) to ensure all division members have the baseline knowledge of division's career services and support to incorporate student-empowered and centered career advising into their respective roles.
• Represents careers services at individual program orientations and specialty programs (receptions, networking, lectures, etc.) to educate students (and alumni) about career services.
• Provides career advising counseling to students and alumni with less than ten (10)+ years of post-undergraduate professional work experience that focuses on self-empowerment and assessment, career advising counseling that focuses on self-empowerment and assessment, career planning, job search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making and negotiations;
• Connects students with alumni and professionals for networking, informational interviews, and employment opportunities; Manages "Meetup" programming to support student-alumni mentoring.
• Creates and maintains program/industry specific professional association database resource; educates students and alumni about power of - and how to maximize use of - professional associations.
• Maintains knowledge of job market trends and hiring practices in a range of fields. Assists with implantation of departmental job market trends and hiring practices in fields across the MS Programs. Creates resources and communications for students, alumni, and divisional collaborators (admissions, instructors, marcom, etc.).

Relationships

• Engages with professional associations, organizations, alumni, and employers to encourage experiential education and professional development.
• Collaborates with NU student affairs, Northwestern Career Advancement, academic departments, student organizations and administrative offices to develop programs and publicize opportunities of interest to SESP graduate students.
• Supports SESP initiatives to build and maintain a network of potential employers and alumni to provide opportunities for mentoring and jobs.
• Guides international students on employment matters related to Optional Practical Training (OPT).
• Marketing/pr/admissions/recruitment support
• Supports admissions recruitment by participating in select MS Program information sessions and admissions events to communicate the value of SESP career services. Ensures that all advertising and marketing materials accurately represent programs.
• Attends and presents at divisional and individual master's program recruiting events as needed.
• In collaboration with the SESP MarCom team and the guidance of the Associate Director, assists with creation and implementation of divisional and individual program brand identity, marketing, and advertising strategy regarding career services related programs and services.
• Creates and monitors career-services related activity and posts announcements/content to divisional and MS Program LinkedIn sites to: 1) promote SESP graduate career services, events, and job opportunities; 2) facilitate connections amongst students and alumni; and 3) educate SESP masters' alumni about services available to them.

Programming/events/curriculum

• Provides events and strategies to: 1) help students gain exposure to specific roles or functions within their respective field of interest (career launchers, advancers, and changers); 2) guide students on professional development skills (career launchers); 3) provide tips for translating previous work experience to a new field (career changers); and 4) effective career management (all students).
• Creates and updates career services related resources (e.g. job search guides, resume and cover letter creation) for individual program websites and Canvas pages, programs, and advising sessions. Provides career-services related announcements for departmental communications to students and alumni.
• Manages planning and arrangement of career services programs, meetings, workshops, trainings, events, etc. to provide information, promote resources and to build internal and external relationships.
• Manages - with support of department program assistant - event details including finances (expenditures and income), communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments, and technology - that events are arranged and completed effectively. Creates and serves as first reviewer of individual program assessments; makes recommendations for improvement.
• On occasion, presents individual career-services lectures/programs to individual MS program classes.
• Assists the Associate Director with recruitment, training, and assignment of faculty/instructors to teach career-services co-curricular programs.

Evaluation and compliance

• Assists with the development and maintenance of evaluation processes, including collecting associated metrics and key performance indicators. Recommends changes to improve programs and services.
• Assists Associate Director with development and implementation of processes and procedures that ensure compliance with applicable SESP and NU policies, accrediting agencies, and with governmental regulations, policies, and laws. Prepares documents as required.

Supervision

• Day-to-Day/Projects of Career Services related work of Student Services Graduate Assistants (when such positions are filled).

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 3 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or JD or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 2 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of, and ability to apply, student development theory to career development related services, policies, and resources. Working knowledge of effective use of Salesforce.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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