Career Design Advisor and Communications, Arts and Media Professional Specialist

Colby College•Colby, KS

13d

About The Position

Colby invites qualified student-centered professionals to apply for this inaugural full-time Career Design Advisor and Communications, Arts and Media Professions Specialist opportunity housed within Colby’s nationally-recognized DavisConnects Office. Reporting to the Dean of DavisConnects and an important member of Colby’s Career Design Advising team, the Career Design Advisor will lead Colby’s communications, arts and media professions advising system while also providing generalist, exploratory career development coaching to a designated portfolio of students. To perform successfully in this position, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily as well as possess education/experience, employ the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed in representative fashion. Colby College actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

A graduate degree in a relevant field, or equivalent professional experience, plus experience teaching, coaching, advising and/or mentoring individuals interested in the arts, media and/or communications professions
Exceptional interpersonal, coaching, communication and problem-solving skills
Ability to recognize strengths and clarify the interests and values of students and alumni while assisting them in making informed decisions about their life after college
Excellent strategic planning, leadership and organizational skills
Commitment to developing innovative approaches to delivering excellent service
Experience in creating partnerships with and working creatively and effectively with broad constituencies
Team-orientation with an interest in collaborating with other members of DavisConnects in preparing students and graduates for success beyond college
Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule as needed, to accommodate evening and occasional weekend programs.
Familiarity and experience using Microsoft Office and social media.

Responsibilities

Advise a designated portfolio of students on career-readiness, exposing them to potential career paths and helping them assess interests, identify and access experiential learning opportunities that translate their liberal arts education into tangible roles and responsibilities aligned with their evolving goals, interests and aspirations
Design and deliver effective career and professional development programming and resources responsive to student needs
Contribute to the content of the DavisConnects’ resource library, website, and on-demand resources
Stay informed on employment trends, industry standards, hiring practices, and career development strategies to effectively guide students
Maintain records of student advising and collaborate on metrics reflecting advising and programmatic outcomes
Collaborate with and support the efforts of the other members of DavisConnects in preparing students for success in their paths through and beyond college.
Serve as the primary DavisConnects advisor to students and alumni interested in communications, arts and media professions, helping them assess interests, explore opportunities, and refine a plan leading to post-graduate success.
Provide guidance on industry-specific and geographically specific approaches to the opportunity-seeking process, including advice on resumes, cover letters and interview technique (including behavioral, technical, and instructional) as well as key strategies and considerations appropriate for particular countries and regions of the world.
Facilitate workshops and manage programs for target populations, including domestic and international industry-focused alumni panels, industry immersion experiences (e.g. off-campus job treks and opportunities to explore career industries across the US), and topical workshops and industry forums.
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with internal partners (e.g. faculty, coaches, and professional staff) and external constituents (e.g. alumni, parents and career advising colleagues) to ensure inclusion and access to communications, arts and media pathway preparation and recruiting at Colby.
Collect and maintain data pertaining to the admission of students and alumni to legal professions and related graduate programs, and report the same to Colby stakeholders as requested.
Advise and support the efforts of Colby’s student organizations with affiliations to communications, media and the arts; teach a JanuaryPlan course to Colby students relevant to the Advisor’s subject matter expertise and pertinent in bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Develop new relationships, nationally and internationally, to expand Colby’s global network of alumni, parents, and friends of the College.
In collaboration with the Industry and Community Partnerships team, secure access to academic year, summer, and post-graduate experiences (e.g. internship, externship, research, employment, and graduate school) relevant to the arts, media and communications professions.
Engage new connections in the development of national and international programming and experiential opportunities, including January Plan courses and mentorship.
Collaborate with the Director of Fellowships and the Global Education Opportunities team to expose students and alumni to nationally and globally-competitive fellowships and other experiences aligned with their goals, interests and aspirations.