General Description

The College of the Sequoias Community College District is seeking a Career Services Director.

Under the direction of the Dean of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Workforce Development, and the Dean of Student Services, the Career Services Director will improve and increase student success through systematic coordination of career exploration, advising, development, and placement. This position is the primary contact for industry partners and prospective employers, and offers a consistent presence in the Career Center for current and potential COS students seeking career guidance. The successful candidate will work to develop and implement strategies to enhance career and life planning efforts, career coaching, career exploration, and career placement for students enrolled at College of the Sequoias. This includes conducting one-on-one coaching sessions, workshops and seminars, as well as writing and updating handouts and brochures, and creating and maintaining career resources and websites. In addition, the person will work with staff and faculty to design and maintain activities and events that connect students with potential employers for internships and full-time employment.

Duties also include working with the Career Development Staff to develop and maintain an employer database for work-based-learning opportunities, and full- and part-time positions, organizing career events and activities, and using technology to facilitate the company-student connection. Additionally, the candidate will collect and review alumni employment data to inform continuous improvement. The Career Services Director will work to incorporate career activities with the other student development and student service efforts of the College.

The successful candidate will work with Faculty, Staff, Deans, Directors, CTE Advisory Committees, and various personnel representing Economic Development Boards, Employment Connection Centers, Sequoias Adult Education Consortium, and similar community groups and initiatives relating to work-based learning, career development, and job placement. The person will also work in cooperation with the Transfer & Career Center as well as other COS efforts for serving students including the Welcome Center, Student Success Center, Access and Ability Center, and Work Experience Office. Additionally, the Career Services Director will collaborate with similar staff at other colleges within the Central Valley Mother Lode regional consortium to arrange regional career development activities, share best practices, and develop continuous improvement strategies that increase CTE employment across the region.

The person filling the position will dually report to the Dean of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Workforce Development, and the Dean of Student Services, and will work with all Academic and Student Services Deans. The Director must excel and thrive in a team setting and possess strong organizational, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills. A strong knowledge and comfort with technology, including digital media, social media, Microsoft Office, web publishing packages and databases is a plus.

Candidates should be prepared in the interview to discuss their vision of a Career Development System at College of the Sequoias.

Grant funded through December 2021.

Job Duties

Job duties of the Career Services Director include:

Management (25%)

• Serve as primary contact for all aspects of Career Development at College of the Sequoias.
• Provide active leadership across all areas of Career Development at College of the Sequoias.
• In collaboration with the Career Development Coordinators and other career personnel, utilize, maintain, and modernize an appropriate software system that leverages placement, graduate tracking, labor market information, and job openings.
• Regularly convene and coordinate sharing and development sessions between all career support positions at COS.
• Provide supervision and leadership for Career Development System personnel as assigned. Includes hiring, evaluation and management of day-to-day activities.
• In collaboration with Academic and Students Services Deans, provide direction and development of a comprehensive Career Development System – A system that strategically coordinates and integrates all aspects of career development, career exploration, work-based-learning, job placement, and career planning.
• Oversee manage, and revise annual budget, maintain expense records, make recommendations for budget revisions and prepare reports for submission.
• Develop strategies to meet specified goals and evaluation of progress in meeting program goals.
• Collaborate with other colleges in the region to lift CTE employment across the Central Valley
• Serve on appropriate college, local, and regional committees related to career development and placement
• Represent the College at functions as directed by the supervisor
• Join professional organizations related to career development
• Represent on committees or at functions as directed by the supervisor
• Assist with other student service activities performed by staff or as directed by the Dean and/or supervisor.

Job Search Assistance/Career Coaching (30%)

• Counsel with students one-on-one about strategies for their job search including self-assessment, exploration, decision-making, job search skills (resume & cover letter writing, interviewing skills, negotiation skills, etc.) and self-directed job search strategies.
• Develop and conduct workshops, seminars or classes relevant to self-assessment, job search skills and job search strategies
• Conduct seminars and presentations in ongoing classes and through student organizations on self-assessment, job search skills and job search strategies
• Develop plans to market career planning strategies to students and alumni
• Maintain and develop a Career Resource Center including books, magazines, job postings and other career resources
• Work closely with faculty and departments to evaluate, improve and coordinate services
• Work with departments to develop services that complement current departmental activities and goals

Employer-Student Connection (20%)

• Coordinate activities designed to connect students with potential employers. Some specific activities might include:
• Coordinate on-campus interview opportunities
• Coordinate with employers and faculty for development of internship, apprenticeship, or other work-based-learning opportunities
• Organize and implement career engagement activities and events
• Maintain current employer relationships and a database for managing these contacts
• Encourage faculty and department involvement
• Perform resume referrals
• Maintain and further develop Career Services website and/or other technology used to manage on-campus interviews or facilitate the company-student connection.
• Gather placement information on graduates
• Survey companies and gather feedback on student/employee preparation

Job Development (15%)

• Develop new employer relationships (particularly of underrepresented majors)
• Maintain a database of current and potential contacts.
• Work with and solicit input from departments, faculty, staff, alumni and Career Services to develop new leads for internships, job shadowing, externships and full-time positions.
• As is feasible, directly engage with CTE program advisory committees to collect perspective and understanding of specific workforce needs
• Scan popular press magazines, the internet and other resources for potential leads and contacts.
• Promote career service opportunities through articles, newspapers and other resources used by potential employers.
• Visit prospective companies or companies currently recruiting on COS campuses.

Career Exploration (10%)

• Work with departments, faculty and staff to develop Career Exploration activities for current and prospective students
• Coach students in career planning and career understanding.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience in and/or commitment to working with students from diverse cultural, ethnic, socioeconomics, academic and disability backgrounds.
• Master's degree is required with at least two years of experience in student development, case management, career services, career technical program areas, and/or a substantive combination of the above.
• Strong relationship-building skills and cross-organizational collaboration.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience building and developing a team work environment, including collaboration with constituents outside the department.
• Relevant experience assisting students with career placement.
• Planning and implementing student and/or business-sector events
• Strong experience connecting business and industry to education
• Comfort with technology, internet resources, social media, and contemporary communication methods

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit the following materials within their online job application to be considered

• An online job application.
• Diversity Statement (included within the online application).
• Cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications for this position.
• Resume.
• Unofficial copies of transcripts of all college/university work. Official transcripts required upon employment.
• Two (2) recent letters of recommendation addressing pertinent experience or equivalent competencies.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Linda Reis at lindarei@cos.edu or (559) 730-3867.