Career Center

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at [email protected].

Job Description

Smith College is looking for Career Specialists to be a part of the new Career Communities team in the Lazarus Center for Career Development! We currently have five openings to fill focusing on the following industry areas:

• Government, Law, and Policy

• Education, Nonprofit, and Social Impact

• Business, Finance, and Consulting

• STEM (focus in technology and data science)

• Arts, Media, and Communications

You could be a great fit for one of these openings if you are someone who enjoys developing programming and building relationships, as well as advising students on future career possibilities for life after Smith.

When you apply, please indicate in your cover letter which industry area you are interested in.

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.

Additional Information

For the care and safety of our community, Smith College requires that all employees be vaccinated as a condition of employment and as such, the incumbent will be required to be immunized against COVID-19 on or before their first day of employment. Proof of vaccination status will be required. Individuals may seek medical or religious exemption with HR, but must do so prior to their arrival.

Please attach/upload a current resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position.

Position Type:

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.

Smith College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.