Director of Career Services and Student Success Advisor

Employer: Columbia College
Location: Columbia, South Carolina (US)
Salary: Based on Qualifications
Date posted: Feb 25, 2025

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Position Type: Administrative, Student Affairs, Career Services, Executive, Other Executive
Employment Level: Mid-Level
Employment Type: Full Time

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Job Details

JOB SUMMARY

As the Director of Career Services, this position is responsible for developing and facilitating the delivery of career services at Columbia College. As a student success advisor to one of the five academic divisions, this position supports a caseload of students with individualized career and academic advising to prepare students academically and professionally for success.

This position reports to the Executive Director of Student Success. The Student Success department supports the Columbia College mission by providing services and resources that empower all Columbia College students to explore and identify their academic and professional passions while acquiring the skills, experiences and connections needed to thrive academically and graduate prepared for their post-graduation goals. The department is comprised of three functional areas, with a director for each: Academic Advising, Accessibility Services, and Career Services. Staff within each of the areas serve as student success advisors, providing students on their caseloads with academic and career advising. The five student success advisors are assigned a caseload from one of the five academic divisions, and this position will work with undeclared students and students in the Division of Business, Leadership & Communication.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Direction of Career Services, which includes:
- Supervision of one professional staff member: Assistant Director of Career Services & Student Success Advisor.
- Administering, in collaboration with campus partners, the student employment process (federal work-study and workship).
- Planning, promoting, and implementing career programming and services to students, alumni, faculty, and employers (e.g., workshops, class presentations, career fairs, grad fairs, advisor training, employer visits, SpearsFest and other special events, etc.).
- Developing and maintaining career advising resources for faculty and student success advisors to consistently use campus-wide in their career advising with the students on their individual caseloads.
- Training & supporting peer mentors and student employees to provide peer support for career services.
- Representing Career Services on campus and in speaking to visiting employers, alumni, prospective students, and parents during recruiting visits, information sessions, alumni events, admissions programs, and orientation functions.
- Utilizing career-related technologies and resources, and managing online career management systems.
- Developing and managing career services communications, online & social media presence, & web page.
- Compiling and regularly distributing information on full-time employment, internships, and part-time employment (both opportunities for students/graduates and what our students/graduates are doing).
- Cultivating enduring positive relationships with employers and service agencies to connect students with appropriate internship, externship, job shadowing, employment, and other learning opportunities.
- Conducting comprehensive research to proactively identify and compile a roster of potential industry partners to curate internship, job opportunities and industry projects tailored to the needs and aspirations of our students.
- Initiating connections with potential employers and articulating the value proposition of our graduates and interns to them; strategically identify and attend relevant networking events to enhance awareness of opportunities for students and visibility of students to employers.
- Consistently monitoring, analyzing, and evaluating the scope of services offered through career services; adjusting to align with best practices and current trends or opportunities that would be of benefit to our students.
Professional Staff Advising
- Academic advising for an assigned caseload of new day college students. Services may include, but are not limited to:
  - Academic probation recovery
  - Academic success strategies
  - Change of Major/Minor
  - Course Registration
  - Course Withdrawal
  - Early alert recovery
  - General Academic Planning
  - Individual academic consultation
  - Issues in General Education Courses
  - Leave of absence/withdrawal

Career advising for an assigned caseload of day, online, graduate students, and alumni. Services may include, but are not limited to:
- Major and career exploration, guidance, and planning
- Internship and job searches
- Developing application materials, such as resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles
- Interview preparation and mock interviews
- Applying to graduate programs
- Career and academic success planning
This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned, and management retains the discretion to add or change the duties of the position at any time.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

Master’s degree in student personnel services, higher education administration or closely related field.
One to two years working in higher education career services; 3-5 years preferred.
Knowledge of career development, including career development resources, job search techniques and technologies, resume writing, interview preparation, employer relations, and professional development.
Ability to communicate effectively with others and present in-person and virtually to large and small groups.
Coachable and highly motivated with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
Experience working with learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Experience working with diverse populations and ability to articulate the value of diversity and inclusivity.
Effective project management skills with the ability to prioritize simultaneous projects to meet deadlines while multitasking and managing multiple, ongoing programs and services.
Effective customer service and relationship building skills with the ability to work collaboratively.
Ability to work independently and resourcefully with strong analytical/problem-solving skills.
Must be able to work some evening hours and occasional weekends as position may require occasional irregular office hours including after-hours and weekend work to attend student meetings and events.
Must be proficient in Microsoft Office 365, utilizing Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, as well as experience with EAB Navigate, Handshake, Canvas, Canva, and other platforms used in higher education and career services is a plus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Excellent interpersonal, leadership and communication skills.
Ability to make sound judgements and think critically about issues that arise.
Ability to work successfully wit diverse populations of students.
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent customer service skills; strong work ethic.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment with little direction.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work; attention to detail.
Ability to meet schedules and timelines.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires sedentary work that involves walking, standing, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling some of the time. Requires the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and the ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work environment risks exposure to no known environmental hazards.

EOE M/F/D/V

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Columbia College was founded in 1854 as Columbia Female College by the Methodist Conference of South Carolina. The College, located on Plain Street, now Hampton, in Columbia, SC, opened to students in October 1859.

In 1865 during the height of the Civil War, the College closed as General Sherman’s troops approached Columbia but reopened in 1873. In 1904, the College dropped “Female” from its name and moved to Eau Claire after benefactors Frederick H. Hyatt and Col. John T. Sloan donated land.

In 1964, the campus survived a fire that destroyed the Old Main classroom building and the East Wing Dormitory. What remained of the columns became a symbol for the College and has since been incorporated into the logo.

Columbia College continues to serve as an institution for higher education, with approximately 1,500 male and female students in both undergraduate and graduate courses.

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