Assistant Director of Career and Life Design, Arts, Communication and Marketing

Title
Assistant Director of Career and Life Design, Arts, Communication and Marketing

Department
Center for Student Success and Career Development

Regular or Temporary
Regular

Hours Per Week
40

FLSA Determination
Exempt

Weeks Per Year

52

Open Date
06/11/2021

Full or Part Time
Full Time

Position Summary

The Career & Life Design Center at Trinity College equips students and alumni with the skills and resources they need for career exploration and life design, experiential learning, and the achievement of competitive post-graduation outcomes. Reporting to the Associate Director of Career & Life Design, the Assistant Director of Career & Life Design will uphold the Center’s vision of empowering students and graduates to be active agents in designing their careers and to use their liberal arts education to adapt to and transform the future of work.

The Student Success and Enrollment Management team engages students in a cohesive, integrated, and exceptional experience from recruitment through graduation to career formation.

We seek individuals who appreciate rich complexities of diverse perspectives; who create a healthy environment that values self-challenge and growth, and who cultivate a culture of curiosity in a community of learners.

We seek those who enjoy listening to and working with students holistically, helping them navigate transitions; who appreciate the momentary foibles of college students and help them realize they can get up if/when they fall; who help bring out students’ better selves.

We seek those who strive to help students find the balance of freedom and responsibility, independence and interdependence; who see an opportunity in problems to find solutions, and to build rapport and connection. We seek those who see this realm of higher education as an individual and collective enterprise.

We seek to have our staff reflect the changing demographics of our student body. Located in Connecticut’s capital, Hartford, Trinity College is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution. With over 2100 full time undergraduate students and 91 graduate students, the College maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant and diverse co-curricular program. The College enjoys the benefit of being situated in an urban center and has strong academic, social and philanthropic connections to our home city of Hartford. Our student body is diverse, representing 48 states and 71 countries with 23% students of color and 50% women. Just over 90% of students live in campus residences. Our mission is to prepare bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Career & Life Design Coaching

• Conduct 6-7 hours of individual and group coaching sessions per week; facilitate conversations with students and recent graduates on topics related to campus involvement, major exploration, goal setting, learning strategies, internships, jobs, graduate school, interviewing and negotiating. Support students in developing written career materials and professional profiles.
• Participate in regular professional development to integrate career & life design best practices and activities into coaching; participate in internal and external trainings centered on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to enhance cultural competency skills in coaching.
• Oversee weekly shift of Career & Life Design Studio drop-ins and supervise assigned student interns on projects.
• Document advising sessions (e.g., appointments, email, Zoom, and telephone consultations) in content management system to enable reporting.

Arts, Communications, Marketing Career Community

• Will lead Arts, Communications, Marketing Career Community for programming and outreach by partnering with student clubs, alumni, and employers to provide exposure to careers in advertising, publishing, communications, design, film, journalism, marketing, media and entertainment, performing and visual arts, public relations, sales, social media, etc.
• Host community events, panels, employer treks, develop and manage virtual student resources, and facilitate connections with alumni community.
• Assess effectiveness of community programs and resources and evaluate changing needs of student population to encourage successful experiential learning and post graduate outcomes.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of, and educate students, faculty, and staff on industry trends, qualities employers seek in candidates, employer culture, and the hiring process.

Signature Programs & Center Initiatives

• Design and support career and life design programs for students transitioning into college, engaging in active and experiential learning, and preparing for life after graduation; Events may include career panels, networking events, mentoring programs, orientation sessions, student conferences, career boot camps, or conference-style events.
• Assess effectiveness of signature programs and evaluate changing needs of student population to encourage student exploration, growth, successful experiential learning and post graduate outcomes.
• Support team-wide initiatives to increase Center utilization by BIPOC, international, and first-generation student populations.

Campus Partnerships

• Serve as the liaison to designated campus partners including faculty, staff, and students to develop strategies for communication and collaborative programming and to increase utilization of the Center.
• Hold regular meetings and maintain communication with internal campus partners.
• Adopt strategy to meet mutually established goals with partners to co-host programs and co-lead initiatives.

General

• Attend recurring supervisory and department meetings and communicate with colleagues and constituents.
• Represent Trinity College to prospective students, families, organizations and educational institutions.
• Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends, required.
• Support and attend Career & Life Design Center events as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Travel, sitting at a desk or table, standing and/or walking. Light lifting or carrying of 25lbs or less. Intermittent sitting, standing, stooping.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of three years relevant professional work experience in higher education, career development, student success, counseling, or related industry.
• Experience working with diverse student and alumni populations including first generation students, international students, and adult learners.
• Demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced office setting.
• Demonstrated experience with program management and event planning.
• Strong empathy, communication, teamwork, and organizational skills required.
• Experience administering career assessments (Focus2, Gallup Strengths).
• Familiarity with career management platforms (Handshake).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Personnel, Counseling or related field.
• Familiarity with Design Thinking and Design Your Life Methodology.
• Experience with virtual career coaching delivery methods (Zoom, Skype, WebEx).

Special Instructions to Applicants

Resume and cover letter, including a statement about your work or experience with diverse communities.

Review of applications will begin July 11, 2021.

Quick Link
https://trincoll.peopleadmin.com/postings/2329

Trinity College is an independent, nonsectarian liberal arts college for men and women, with approximately 2,200 undergraduate students and 200 faculty members, located in Hartford, Connecticut. Our Mission is “Engage. Connect. Transform.” As the preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives. Trinity is an actively engaged community of students, faculty and staff who work together to develop and sustain the intellectual and creative opportunities central to a first-class liberal arts education. Hartford, the state capital, provides many opportunities for cultural and social engagement.

The College is committed to building a representative and diverse faculty, administrative staff, and student body. Trinity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities should request, in advance, any needed accommodation in order to participate in the application process.

For all faculty positions, completion of the Ph.D. or appropriate equivalent is expected. Candidates should have a strong commitment to undergraduate and interdisciplinary teaching in a liberal arts context, and a well-articulated plan for sustained research. Trinity is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their research, teaching, and service.