CAREER ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Ithaca College•Town of Ithaca, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Career Engagement Specialist provides comprehensive career coaching and planning services to students and alumni, with primary focus on career planning and development. This role involves creatively designing and facilitating workshops on career-related topics while coaching students and alumni from diverse backgrounds, interest areas, and abilities. The specialist guides individuals through career exploration and goal setting, assists them in creating and enhancing professional application materials, internship and job search techniques, graduate school search and application processes, professional branding and networking strategies, and interviewing and salary negotiation preparation. The position advances the professional image of students through strategic outreach, expanding visibility to alumni and employers by identifying, cultivating, and soliciting alumni and employer involvement. The specialist designs and implements professional development programs, experiential learning opportunities, and internship initiatives that enhance student professional development and learning, while coordinating industry guest presenters for career development programming. Additionally, the role provides guidance to students and faculty in developing strategies for successfully engaging in experiential learning, including internships, undergraduate research, and other learning opportunities, while developing partnerships and opportunities to support and guide student professional development.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in counseling, higher education, student personnel, career development, or related field required.
Minimum of two years of professional experience in career services, counseling, advising, or related student development role in higher education or comparable setting.
Demonstrated knowledge of career development theories, job search strategies, and current trends in the employment marketplace.
Strong understanding of experiential learning, internship development, and employer relations.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
Proven ability to design and deliver engaging workshops and presentations.
Experience with career assessment instruments and career counseling techniques.
Proficiency with career services technology platforms and student information systems, such as Handshake, LinkedIn, CareerShift and Big Interview.
Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
Commitment to equity and inclusion in career services delivery.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher ed, career counseling, or related field
Professional certification in career development (e.g., Certified Career Services Provider, National Certified Counselor, or Global Career Development Facilitator)
Experience working within one or more of the designated career communities
Familiarity with industry-specific career pathways, credentialing requirements, and employment trends within assigned community
Experience with employer partnership development, internship program coordination, and alumni engagement initiatives

Responsibilities

Provide career coaching for students and alumni through individual appointments, group sessions and classroom presentations.
Creatively design and facilitate workshops on career-related topics relevant to the assigned career community, coordinate related events and career development programs, and collaborate with stakeholders on programming needs.
Coach students and alumni from diverse backgrounds, interest areas, and abilities on career goal setting, internship and job search techniques, graduate school search and application techniques, professional branding and networking, interviewing and salary negotiations.
Provide feedback on career-related documents, conduct practice interviews, and administer career assessment instruments where applicable.
Refer students to other services and resources as appropriate.
Implement strategies to advance the professional image, expand outreach, and increase the visibility of students to alumni and employers.
Identify, cultivate, and solicit alumni and employer involvement within the assigned career community.
Develop and implement marketing and outreach strategies to engage students, alumni, employers, and faculty.
Develop opportunities and administer programs to enhance student professional development and learning.
Coordinate industry guest presenters for career development programs relevant to the career community focus area.
Provide guidance to students and faculty in developing strategies for successfully engaging in experiential learning opportunities, including internships, undergraduate research, and other professional learning experiences.
Facilitate connections between academic learning and career pathways within the designated community.
Develop strategic partnerships and opportunities to support and guide student professional development within the assigned career community.
Build and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and industry professionals aligned with community focus areas.
Collaborate with career services team members, faculty, and campus partners to deliver integrated career planning and development services.
Share best practices and contribute to continuous improvement of career services programming.
Maintain accurate records of student interactions, program participation, and outcomes using career services management systems.
Prepare reports and assessments to evaluate program effectiveness and inform strategic planning.
Stay current with trends, best practices, and emerging issues in career development, higher education, and the specific industries represented within the assigned career community.
Participate in professional development opportunities and apply learning to enhance service delivery.
Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission of the Center for Career Exploration & Development and advance career outcomes for students and alumni within the designated career community.