If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at
[email protected].
Are you ready for a career change? Are you someone who wants to influence the future workforce? The Lazarus Center for Career Development at Smith College is looking for a Career Specialist focused in
education, non-profit and social impact related fields to join the Career Communities Team!
In this new role:
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and alums to develop targeted programming.
- You will have the opportunity to share your knowledge and industry experience with students, and create lasting impact for Smithies.
- Advise students on how to best showcase their innovative skills with potential employers.
This is an excellent opportunity to leverage your connections and contribute your understanding to help shape the growing future of education and social impact!
Additionally, we offer exceptional benefits!
- Tuition Benefits with family offerings
- Medical, Dental and Vision insurance that starts with the date of hire.
- Generous Paid Holidays and time off
- A Retirement Plan with a 9% Employer Funded annual contribution
- Professional Development financially supported
Job Summary
Under the supervision of the Director of Career Communities, work to support the operations and management of career advising and programs in assigned industry areas. Contribute to the overall career readiness and enhanced access to career preparation activities for students. Work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to ensure the smooth implementation of programs. Liaise with campus and external service providers supporting programs and events. Supervise support staff and student staff. Knowledgeable of compliance, policies, strategies, and techniques of their functional area. Administer effective program and management-related policies and practices.
Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive and welcoming work environment.
Essential Functions
(50%) Program Development and Partnerships
Develops a sustainable strategy and infrastructure for connecting alums to students in meaningful ways to support industry-connected learning. Ensure strong student engagement with a broad range of employer partners. Coordinate program and advising flows to ensure that new team members are additive and not duplicative of advising services already occurring within the Lazarus Center. Join with the Praxis team to support experiential learning application processes, pre-departure programming, and post-experience learning reflection. Coordinate program planning and implementation of key career development initiatives, including the alum mentor program, career exploration treks, job shadow programs, skills training, and other scaled group efforts. Serve as a point of contact for the learning centers, faculty members interested in classroom outreach, student organizations, and other units. Represent Smith and the Lazarus Center in local and national professional associations and conferences in order to stay current with industry standards, revise programs to reflect trends, and increase the Center’s visibility among professionals in the field. Participate in Smith committees as requested, providing representation of the Lazarus Center on cross-campus issues.
(40%) Advising and Student Support
Counsels and advises students with regard to early career exploration, job searching, strengths/values identification, and life skills development in individual and group sessions and consultations in person, virtually, and by email. Advises on and supports students to explore issues of identity and belonging in workplace settings. Maintains membership in relevant professional associations and remains current on hiring trends in a particular area of focus, as assigned and depending on current department needs. Educates students about best practices in networking/social capital development; reviews students resumes and cover letters; teaches effective interviewing techniques. Encourages early student preparation and skill-building in the Lazarus Center, through participation in strengths-based self-assessment, mentoring connections, industry education, and experiential learning opportunities.
Other Functions
(10%) Data and Team Support
Support the Data Analyst to promote a culture of evidence-based assessment for all aspects of the Lazarus Center’s engagement, including utilization, satisfaction, equity analysis, developmental learning outcomes, first destination outcomes, and career mobility outcomes over five years. Driven by analysis of equity and access gaps, support the career communities’ team as needed by filling in advising and/or programming gaps. This may include but is not limited to increased support for global career searching and support for international job seekers.
All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.
Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licenses)
Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum five years of related experience in higher education and/or industry.Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Proven project management skills. Demonstrated competency working within a culturally diverse environment and with students representing a range of intersectional identities. Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Excellent career advising, presentation and training skills. Self-directed, outcome-oriented and detail-oriented. Success working both independently and collaboratively. Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and act with discretion.
Occasional travel and evening/weekend work as requested to meet program objectives
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a relevant field
Skills
Familiar with Google Workspace. Intermediate knowledge of Excel and basic data analysis. General knowledge of CRM platform management. Understanding of equity and inclusion issues in higher education and knowledge of best practices in higher education research. .
Please attach
BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position .
Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.
You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.
Review of applications will begin
September 11, 2023
Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position.
Position Type:
Fixed Term
About Smith College
Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.
As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.
