Program Co-ordinator & Employment Consultant

Wilfrid Laurier University•Waterloo, ON

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Career Development Centre, within the Teaching & Learning portfolio, engages students and alumni in their career development as an integral part of the Laurier experience. This includes delivering comprehensive programs and services that support experiential learning, career decision making, employment preparation, facilitating connections with the employer community, and pursuing further education opportunities. Specific programs and services include individual consultations and workshops on career planning, resume writing, job search strategies, interview skills, and further education; a Career Resource Centre; comprehensive employment services for full-time, summer, and part-time opportunities for students and alumni; volunteerism; career-integrated learning in conjunction with campus partners; online resources; numerous events such as career panels, employment recruiting sessions, Career Fair, Job Fair, and a Further Education Fair; and the Laurier Experience Record. This position has a university-wide mandate and is based at the Waterloo Campus, providing subject matter expertise to all campuses and requiring regular interpersonal interactions and collaboration with departments at the Waterloo, Brantford, Kitchener, and Milton campuses. Special attention is given to ensure equitable service delivery across all locations.

Requirements

Master’s Degree (in education, assessment, research, counselling, career development or related field) with four years of related experience
Experience with project and program coordination
Knowledge of career development and experiential learning theories and practices and the ability to articulate the importance of connecting academic experiences to career decisions.
Awareness of current issues in higher education, experiential learning, strategic enrollment management, retention and transition from post-secondary to employment or further education
Knowledge of labour market trends and employability with the ability to interpret and communicate these trends
Experience in developing and implementing career development resources and programs in a post-secondary setting, with a focus on experiential learning, community-based engagement, innovative partnerships and/or equity centered approaches.
Demonstrated knowledge, skill, and experience with curriculum/instructional design teaching, facilitation, consultation, and resource development preferably in a higher education setting.
Excellent ability to manage multiple priorities with strong organizational and time management skills, results driven.
Superior verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with students, faculty, staff and external partners.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work with faculty and other stakeholders to assess program needs, develop presentation materials, and conduct workshops at all levels.
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills to coordinate programs and establish effective relationships with students, internal and external stakeholders while obtaining feedback.
Awareness of job search resources, strategies and recruitment practices in the domestic and global context.
Excellent technical and research skills including knowledge of appropriate software programs required for the creation and delivery of online and in-person curriculum and assessment (i.e., Microsoft Office 365, MyLearningSpace, Qualtrics, Navigator).
Ability to work independently and in teams as well as the ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of stakeholders
A strong commitment to achieve challenging objectives and a willingness to be flexible in rearranging work schedule and priorities

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the use and interpretation of standardized testing procedures such as career interest surveys and personality assessments
Ongoing learning on emerging theories and practices in the field of career development and experiential learning
Training in counselling theory and practice
Knowledge of educational programs
Knowledge of labour market trends and the interpretation and communication of these to individuals making career decisions
Expertise in transitional and career preparation services
Awareness of job search resources and strategies in the global context
Extensive knowledge of diverse career-related information including, but not limited to industries, professional associations, regulations, and certifications; further education options and entrepreneurship.
Ongoing knowledge acquisition through conferences, collegial networks and professional/academic literature on emerging theories and practices in the field of career development.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of the Career-Integrated Learning (CIL) program in classrooms (undergraduate and graduate) through outreach and consultation with faculty across diverse disciplines.
Develop marketing/communication strategy for reaching out to faculty to embed career-integrated learning in the Laurier academic experience.
Assess course syllabi (course objectives outcomes, assignments, deadlines) to identify competencies and knowledge embedded in courses and its relation to career decision making.
Coordinate and schedule CIL presentations with faculty, teaching assistants, and program coordinators (Over 3000 students in 50+ academic courses annually, often outside of regular working hours).
Design competency worksheets and reflection questionnaires and rubrics for students in tracking and assessing classroom competencies.
Identify the primary delivery mode and intended student audience to create appropriate classroom activities to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to facilitate career decision making.
Collaborate with faculty to meaningfully embed career assessments and reflection in their courses to connect career development to learning outcomes.
Coordinate and train course TAs where applicable who are involved in awarding credit/marks for CIL reflection summaries as part of course evaluation.
Create Career-Integrated Learning presentation videos and resources for asynchronous courses to be posted on MyLearningSpace.
Attend and conduct presentations and consultations at faculty meetings and events to promote the CIL program and advise faculty and academic committees regarding strategies to incorporate career development into curriculum (course and/or program level).
Evaluate CIL feedback from students and faculty using Qualtrics to assess and inform future program design and delivery.
Liaise, build, and steward co-curricular relationships with university departments and academic staff to grow experiential learning and career development opportunities in the classroom.
Conduct tailored in-class sessions including career planning, transferable skills, employment preparation (resume and cover letter, job search, networking) and specialized topics related to various career areas, industries, and academic programs.
Utilize diverse instructional styles to create an engaging classroom to maximize student learning and ensure positive outcomes for students.
Develop an understanding of the industry context/careers in a variety of academic disciplines to develop a broad range of career development programs tailored to those programs.
Support students in developing a volunteer action plan identifying their volunteer interest, values, skills, and timelines for the completion of their placement.
Provide individual consultations for students in identifying and securing volunteer placements and improving their resilience strategies to support their academic growth and success.
Mediate and problem-solve tensions and/or conflicts that arise in volunteer placements between students and community partners towards meeting placement goals within contracted timelines.
Provide individualized support to students who need assistance in acquiring necessary documents in preparation for placements (i.e., international students looking to secure a vulnerable sector check).
Develop strategies and marketing resources (print, online, community events) to increase awareness of volunteer opportunities to both students and community partners.
Promote volunteerism at Laurier through coordinating a database of volunteer opportunities available to Laurier students on Navigator.
Collaborate on an ongoing basis with Community and Workplace Partnerships to identify new organizations and volunteer opportunities.
Generate and sustain partnerships with community organizations to develop volunteer and experiential learning opportunities.
Collaborate with community organizations to assess needs for direct service volunteerism and co-curricular project-based experiences and ensure these opportunities are made available to Laurier students.
Establish and maintain connections with volunteer and professional associations for networking and development of placement opportunities.
Plan and organize an annual Volunteer Fair (50 external organizations-multicampus) in collaboration with the Community and Workplace Partnerships unit for organizations to engage with students on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses.
Participate in initiatives that promote volunteerism through best practices symposiums, professional development opportunities, and development of online resources.
Continually engage in career development research to innovate and inform curriculum content, design, and implementation.
Develop resource materials, including print and multimedia resources. This could include writing articles and creating (planning) materials such as brochures and career education and professional development handouts.
Responsible for the development of competency resources to support the utilization of the Laurier Competency Framework by identifying competency levels, reflection modalities, career readiness progress, employer competency videos, and ongoing initiatives.
Research and initiate new programs to address competency development needs of undergraduate and graduate students and alumni, by strategically collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
Work independently, and collaboratively with career consultants, outreach and marketing coordinator to brainstorm and develop creative content ideas, improve and/or create written and digital materials for use in a variety of student contexts.
Conduct detailed analysis of surveys and feedback forms to create reports to inform program planning activities.
Participate in projects that support the institution-wide approach to the integration of career development.
Support students in developing their career strategy by communicating various tools and frameworks to help them develop focus in terms of career goals and a feasible action plan.
Provide one-on-one career and employment consulting consistent with the needs of undergraduate students, and with the philosophy of the career consulting unit including the administering and interpretation of personality and interest inventories and incorporate these results into career consulting and job search. This role also includes providing a drop-in service, where students and alumni can have a shorter appointment concerning a career-related question.
Assist clients in developing effective employment/job search techniques including skills identification, employer research and networking, professional brand development, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and career management strategies. This would include the ability to identify information about global employment trends and job search strategies including working/volunteering abroad.
Support clients in making meaningful career choices through assessing their values, interests, personality, and skills; and relating these to opportunities for employment, further education, and/or training. The consultant assists clients in making informed decisions, develops strategies to carry out career plans, and advises on how to present themselves effectively throughout the employment planning process.
Identification of individual client needs (including, but not limited to, students experiencing crisis, grief, potential barriers) and referral to appropriate student support services (i.e., Wellness Centre, Study Skills and Course Support, Accessible Learning, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion).
Responsible for gathering and communicating relevant professional information and acting as a resource for other staff and student volunteers in their distinct portfolio area of expertise. The incumbent will be required to prepare resource materials for students on various topics related to career planning and job search, in hardcopy and electronic formats.
Keep current with emerging developments in the profession.
Keep current with emerging theories and practices in the field of career development and experiential learning.