Assistant Director, Career Development Center

There is funding to support this position for 12 months. During the fall and spring semesters, eligible staff may request to work one (1) day per week remotely. During the winter and summer breaks, eligible staff are able to request to work two (2) days per week remotely.

The Assistant/Associate Director will support students and alumni interested in careers in healthcare and science. In addition, this individual will support programming and expand relationships with internal and external constituents in these fields.

Primary Job Duties

Manage Career Communities: Creates, delivers, and assesses Career Communities. Works closely with all potential partners to continuously improve and advocate for the cross-campus efficacy of this program. Attends partner programming. Presents students with a year-round ongoing co-curriculum of workshops, panels, job shadowing, career treks, summer and winter internships, sources full-time and graduate school opportunities, document review, practice interviews, networking, and other career preparation elements. Maintains website and online resources. Advise individual student leaders and student groups, i.e. Pre-Health Club and STEMPathy.

Connect students to opportunities for engaged liberal learning practices. Identify and cultivate relationships. Work with these contacts to increase employment, internship, volunteer, and job shadowing prospects in these professions. Communicate with graduate schools and professional associations on behalf of the College.

Advising Responsibilities

• Pre-Health Advisor: Works closely with both students and alumni considering and applying to health professions programs. Attends pre-health professional conferences and stays current with important topics, hosts admission officers for school info sessions, coordinates testing resources, reports annual enrollment statistics. Supplement the efforts of HPAC Faculty Advisors (responsibility for recommending an academic plan or coursework will remain with academic advisors as will letter writing responsibilities). Participate in HPAC interviews (interview coordination will still belong to the Administrative Assistant). Meet with all applicants applying to medical, dental, or veterinary school. Conduct individual mock interviews and provide constructive feedback to applicants in, or preparing to enter, the application process for health professions. Collaborate with committee to collect and share health related outcomes data.
• Career Communities: Schedules a daily selection of advising appointments, covers Quick Questions once per week and whenever needed, provides/hosts group advising sessions such as workshops and panels, seeks to meet with and advise relevant departments and student organizations. Delivers classroom presentations. Liaises between alumni/parents in career community and the College. Communicate with graduate schools and professional associations on behalf of the College.

Diversity and Identity Based Career Initiatives: Creates targeted and customized identity-based programming/advising relevant to the specific career needs of a diverse and inclusive community. Meets regularly with student leaders, cross-campus partners, and other relevant partners to assure all students are supported in their career aspirations irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender identification, family networks, background, financial means. Connects identity alumni and employers to students as mentors and employers.

Career Development Center and Team Responsibilities: Participates in Career Development Center and OCR activities and seeks ways to collaborate with various Career Communities, Advancement, and Alumni Affairs. Utilizes and promotes office-wide initiatives and platforms such as Career Advisor Network, Handshake, GoinGlobal, etc. Supports the overall mission and vision of the Division.

Conferences: Maintain involvement with relevant professional groups (NAAHP, NEAAHP, NY6, LACN, EACE) to follow national trends for relevant career development theories. Use conferences as an opportunity to present research and methods used at Skidmore and continue to hold Skidmore brand out as elite.

Other related duties as assigned.

Education/Experience: Master’s degree preferred in higher education, student affairs, counseling, field related to advising or career counseling, science, or health. Minimum of two to three years at the administrative level.

• Ability to interpret and operationalize professional guideline standards to inform work, including the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Professional Standards for College and University and Career Services, Section XI: Access, Diversity, and Equity
• Career coaching/advising experience - ability to interpret, compile and promote occupational, educational and economical information that will assist students in their career planning. Knowledge and experience with career assessments (MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, MyPlan)
• Demonstrated analytical and strategic thinking skills; the ability to embrace challenges
• Ability to develop strong relationships with students, college staff, faculty, and employers 
• Survey design and data analysis (including MS Excel & Qualtrics)
• Active listening, speaking, writing, and instructing; active learning
• Marketing practices and tools (including Instagram and Canva)
• Knowledge of social justice and strategies for promoting equity and inclusivity in a higher education environment
• Experience or willingness to learn technologies 
• Strong abilities in time management, event organization, and project management
• Proven ability to work independently while functioning as a team member 
• Critical thinking, complex problem solving, fluency of ideas 
• Familiarity with the health professions admissions cycle, admissions standards, and coaching strategies for students pursuing clinical careers
• Knowledge of international student exchange and visitor regulations

Typical work is in an indoor office and requires technology competence. Occasional nights and weekends required. Occasional travel to engage with alumni, employers, and working groups required. Driver’s license required.

Required Documents Needed To Apply

• Cover Letter
• List of Three References
• Resume
• On-line application

Pay Range: Commensurate with experience

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable background check result.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.