Assistant Director for Career Advising

Assistant Director for Career Advising

The College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University seeks an Assistant Director for Career Advising. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to ensuring access to excellent and innovation. It is committed to diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Department:

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) Office of Student Affairs (OSA) is responsible for enhancing and strengthening all aspects of the student experience in the College (pre-admission through graduation). The Office is the primary physical space to welcome current and prospective students and other visitors to the college, and provides guidance and support to students through recruitment, admissions, advising, assessment, and student engagement.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director for Career Advising in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) engages students in CHHS majors and minors in promoting their academic, professional and overall development from their orientation to graduation. The individual in this role will engage undergraduate and graduate students in planning for full-time jobs and internships in public health and other CHHS fields of study. The Assistant Director will also assist students with developing soft skills for career readiness, which may include developing resumes, networking, interview skills, and preparing for the job search. The Assistant Director for Career Advising will provide career guidance in individual and group settings, and develop resources to support career readiness, networking opportunities, and experiential learning programs.

Responsibilities:

Career Preparation

• Discuss and reinforce linkages between CHHS curriculum and skills relevant to future careers;
• Develop and conduct workshops on topics related to public health and student success;
• Develop partnerships and programs to support internship and job placements for CHHS students and alumni;
• Develop career development series in collaboration with the CHHS Advisory Board and Alumni Board;
• Develop and manage a peer and/or alumni mentoring program focused on professional development;
• Collaborate with the Health industry advisor in University Career Services and Pre-Health Advisor to develop and promote programs such as career fairs, workshops, and information sessions;
• Promote opportunities for competitive fellowships in partnership with the Office of Fellowships; and
• Engage in ongoing training and professional development related to academic advising and student success at Mason (Mason Advising Certificate, Career Influencer Network, etc.).

Student Advising and Support

• Assess students’ academic and career goals, interests, and commitments outside of their studies at Mason;
• Meet with students in one on one and group settings to provide career advice and guidance;
• Support CHHS undeclared students in exploring major and career options, in collaboration with CHHS academic advisors;
• Create programming and materials to support career readiness for specific populations of CHHS students including graduate students, first-generation students, underrepresented students, and international students; and
• Expose students to a range of options after completing their degrees, including but not limited to graduate school, fellowships, paid internships, service programs, and research.

Other Duties

• Maintain database of internship and job opportunities relevant to CHHS students;
• Develop relationships with prospective employers to support programming and cultivate opportunities for students;
• Assist CHHS faculty and staff in incorporating career topics into CHHS coursework and learning communities;
• Review and share data related to post-graduate outcomes and labor market trends in collaboration with University Career Services, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, and the CHHS Data Analyst; and
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Accredited master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, public health, social work, or other related field of study, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated academic or career advising experience at the postsecondary level;
• Demonstrated advanced oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships with students, faculty, and staff;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines;
• Demonstrated proficiencies in office IT software (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook);
• Experience developing and managing diversity outreach efforts;
• Ability to use data to assess needs and inform plans for student engagement;
• Knowledge of student information systems (e.g. Salesforce, Banner, Microstrategy); and
• Ability to effectively collaborate across multiple internal departments and offices, as well as external community partners and employers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• General knowledge of best practices and trends in the areas of career counseling, academic advising, student success, retention, and degree completion;
• Experience in career services in higher education, or other related experience in higher education;
• Knowledge of career assessment, career and educational counseling and planning; and
• Knowledge of public health careers and the local/regional public health community.

Special Instructions to Applicants  

For full consideration, applicants must complete the online application for position number FA52GZ at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ and attach a cover letter, CV, contact information for three references, and a diversity statement summarizing the extent to which you have worked with any individuals from underrepresented groups and how you helped them identify and overcome barriers to success.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.