Career Advisor - Office of Academic Services - Penn Engineering

University of Pennsylvania

1d•$58,506 - $70,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Career Advisor supports Penn Engineering’s growing on-campus master’s community by delivering high-quality, specialized career coaching and supports building a scalable career development program. Working closely with the Associate Director and a small team, this role supports daily service delivery, contributes to programming and employer engagement, and develops relevant and innovative resources that extend career learning beyond 1:1 appointments. Penn Engineering’s master’s community is global, fast-moving, and career outcomes-focused. The Career Advisor should be comfortable in a technology-rich environment, passionate about staying current with industry and hiring trends, and bring a student-centered approach that is both warm and direct. The role may be aligned with an industry cluster (e.g., software/cybersecurity/data/AI; robotics/hardware/product; biotech/biomedical/chemical/materials/sustainability) and will collaborate with academic programs, student leaders, alumni, and career partners in Penn Engineering’s Office of Academic Innovation (online master’s community) and central Career Services (undergraduate, PhD, and postdocs) to strengthen student outcomes. This role includes occasional evening programming or employer events, and while hybrid work is possible, a strong in-person presence is expected during peak programming periods and on-campus events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 2-3 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (career advising, coaching, employer relations, student services, workforce development, or related fields).
Demonstrated ability to coach or advise students/clients on career development topics (job search strategy, résumé/LinkedIn, interviewing, networking).
Comfort operating in a fast-moving, technology-rich environment; ability to learn new tools quickly and work across platforms (scheduling systems, career platforms, CRM tools).
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a professional and engaging style.
Strong organizational skills and follow-through; ability to manage multiple priorities and keep work moving in a service environment.
Knowledge of international student hiring pathways (OPT/CPT, H-1B sponsorship landscape).
Understanding and alignment with Penn Engineering’s mission and values.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting STEM or engineering students, graduate/professional students, and/or international populations.
Familiarity with engineering and technology career pathways and recruiting cycles (including technical interviewing norms).
Self-driven and interested in innovating to creatively develop resources or short-form instructional content (videos, guides, modules, templates).
Experience initiating and supporting events and employer engagement (panels, mock interviews, recruiting sessions, alumni programs).
Familiarity with NACE competencies, outcomes reporting, or student success metrics.

Responsibilities

Provide 1:1 and small-group coaching for on-campus master’s students, with a focus on career exploration, job/internship search strategy, networking, résumé/LinkedIn development, technical and behavioral interviewing, offer negotiation, and professional communication.
Support students navigating complex professional pathways, including international students, career switchers, and those targeting specialized technical roles.
Strategically support students to translate technical experience from projects and internships into clear, employer-ready narratives for application materials and interviews.
Contribute to a consistent advising experience by using and building shared templates, coaching frameworks, industry-specialized career curricula, and service standards established by the team.
Co-design and deliver career programming aligned to an assigned industry cluster, in partnership with degree programs and cohort communities. Examples may include actionable workshops, employer spotlights, alumni panels, mock interview clinics, or technical interview practice sessions.
Plan and execute a calendar of workshops and events that balance career fundamentals with industry-specific insight.
Coordinate logistics and distribution of student communications for programs; ensure a professional experience for students and guests.
Support outreach and relationship management with employers, alumni, and professional associations connected to specific industries, with the goal of translating relationships into student-facing employment opportunities.
Work in coordination with the on-campus and online community Associate Directors and central Career Services on employer engagement, co-sponsored events, and alignment with larger campus-wide fairs and recruiting activity.
Track interactions and follow-ups in team CRM systems, helping maintain an accurate picture of outreach, engagement, and outcomes.
Develop student-facing resources (digital guides, templates, short modules, FAQs) that enhance operational efficiencies and expand students’ access to career learning.
Contribute to the team’s advising and programming operational playbooks to ensure that services stay consistent as volume grows.
Collaborate with the on-campus team and the Penn Engineering Online career team to align core content where appropriate, while keeping delivery tailored to the on-campus master’s population.
Monitor and maintain up-to-date knowledge of emerging career-related trends, industry developments, resources, platforms, and labor market insights, and create content that effectively communicates this information to students.
Support day-to-day service delivery by maintaining accurate records, using shared platforms consistently (e.g., Handshake CRM, event tools, Asana).
Collect and leverage quantitative and qualitative data (surveys, quick polls, event evaluations) to improve programming and student experience; contribute to outcomes tracking and knowledge rate improvement.
Prepare brief summaries of trends observed in coaching appointments and programs (student needs, common barriers, employer feedback) to advocate for and allow the team to make timely adjustments.
Partner effectively with colleagues across OAS, Penn Engineering Office of Academic Innovation (OAI), academic program teams, and central Career Services.
Contribute to a positive team culture, offering reliable follow-through, clear communication, and a steady presence with students and stakeholders.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of wrap-around professional development for Penn Engineering students.

Benefits

Excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families
Generous retirement benefits
A wide variety of professional development opportunities
Supportive work and family benefits
A wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children at Penn and other institutions
Retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth options
Substantial amount of time away from work (vacations, personal affairs, illness, family time)
Long-Term Care Insurance
Wellness and Work-life Resources
Professional and Personal Development resources
Access to a wide range of University resources, cultural and recreational activities
Discounts on arts and entertainment, transportation, mortgages, goods, and services
Flexible Work Hours
Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
Adoption Assistance