Job no: 520779
Position Type: Staff Full Time
Campus: UMass Boston
Department: Career Services
Pay Grade: 34
Date opened: 26 Sep 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 10 Oct 2023 Eastern Daylight Time

General Summary:

The primary mission of the Academic and Career Engagement and Success (ACES) Center is to provide holistic, high quality, and culturally responsive academic and career success coaching. Success coaching engages students in an intentional process that values students’ strengths and cultural wealth. It advances their personal, academic, and professional goals, expands access to experiential learning opportunities and connects them with resources. The departments’ values promote inclusive excellence through holistic student success and equitable outcomes.

The Director for Academic and Career Advising will serve on the leadership team and participate in developing strategic goals, objectives, and initiatives for the Office of Career Services and Internships and the University Advising Center. The Director reports to the Assistant Vice Provost (AVP) for Academic and Career Advising will have the overall responsibility for coordinating and directing academic and career advising services, retention initiatives, and leading student success efforts within the unit. The incumbent will work closely with the AVP and other members of the leadership team to provide guidance for the overall operations of the both career and academic advising with the two departments, including team supervision and training, program assessment, and creative, results-driven leadership.

The incumbent will assume the primary responsibility within the office to implement and oversee an integrated academic and career advising model with a goal of providing holistic, culturally-responsive, equity-minded services and programs which includes major and career exploration, preparation, and job and internship search strategies, and academic advising, so that UMass Boston undergraduate students are able to: make thoughtful and informed academic and career decisions; communicate effectively; use campus resources and connections to pursue goals; and build and maintain networks and relationships to foster their academic and career readiness skills. The incumbent will also work with the AVP to develop an assessment plan for service delivery, student learning, and graduation outcomes.

Examples of Duties:

Work closely with the AVP in setting departmental goals; developing budget priorities; and assessing service needs, benchmarks, setting priorities, and outcome/effectiveness measures.Supervise, train, and mentor the Academic and Career Advisors by providing direction and guidance to enhance their service delivery model; deliver support and assistance in setting performance goals, reaching goals, and engaging in self-appraisal; conduct annual performance appraisals.Serve on the office’s leadership team and participate in developing strategic goals, objectives and initiatives, and in evaluating programs and services; assist with managing the office operations and represent department to the campus community, as requested.Develop, coordinate, and execute staff training programs to enhance the professional development.Establish and maintain relationships with key campus stakeholders to advance the agenda of engaging UMass Boston students in academic and career development.In collaboration Assistant Vice Provost assist with the development and implementation of a data assessment plan.In collaboration Assistant Vice Provost, write and design appropriate communications/publications, including annual and college reports, and manage the distribution; accordingly, develop handouts, packets and related materials for students and alumni; gather resources for students.Provide academic and career advising and conduct workshops on an ad hoc basis.Collaborate and participate in campus-wide initiatives, such as open houses, committees, career fairs, networking events, and programs for various constituent groups.Partner with faculty, administrators and staff across campus to promote opportunities and manage academic and career advising activities and programs to students; implement a comprehensive system that prepares students for all aspects of the academic and career development process, including self-assessment, resume preparation, interview strategies, development of internship and career goals, check-in and support during students’ academic and post-academic career, understanding academic program and degree projection requirements.Coordinate operational needs and logistics such as developing a drop-in schedule of staff coverage, collaborating with colleagues to provide coverage for advising events such as orientation.Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications:

Master’s Degree or equivalent experience in counseling, higher education, workforce development, administration or a relevant academic discipline preferred, and a minimum of five-seven (5-7) years of professional leadership positions in student services, advising, career services, and/or workforce development within a large university setting or the professional equivalent is required. An additional five years of experience in career counseling, teaching or a related field in a higher education environment is preferred. Experience in student success program planning and assessment in higher education Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, staff, and faculty is required. Demonstrated strong management skills, including extensive training and development experience, are required. Experience working with diverse student populations is a must. The incumbent may be required to work occasional nights and weekends, as needed.

Knowledge of current and professional best practices in student services, advising, and career development and demonstrated skill in creative and strategic approaches to counseling and coaching.

Knowledge of or proven aptitude to oversee the training and development of team members in the following capacity: student development, career development theory, research, and practice with a focus on critical scholarship.

Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills with supervisory skills that focus on engaging and motivating team members, establishing concrete goals and objectives, and delivering critical feedback on performance.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with proven ability to manage and manipulate data by using Excel and the aptitude to learn in-house platform technologies.

Knowledge of or proven aptitude to interpret and utilize data from institutional or external sources for the purpose of implementing equity-based programming.

Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with academic departments in the supporting student success.

Excellent human relations skills and proven ability to establish positive working relationships and networks with peers, faculty, and administrators.

Proven commitment to close academic and career related equity gaps.

Strong organizational skills.

Strong commitment to customer service, internally and externally.

Ability to embrace and drive change and to organize and manage multiple priorities, programs, and projects both independently and in a team.

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link:

Grade: 34

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the ADA/504 Coordinator Andrea Haas or 617-287-5148.

Applications close: 10 Oct 2023 Eastern Daylight Time