Career & Life Design Resource Specialist

Description

The Centre for Career & Personal Development in Student and Enrolment Services is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Career & Life Design Resource Specialist.

The Career and Life Design Resource Specialist plays a key role in understanding student needs as well as understanding current and emerging trends in career, employment, and life design. This knowledge is key to producing and maintaining relevant and engaging digital resources that will support student success and meet the increasing student demand for online and virtual services. 

This position reports to the Manager, Career and Life Design and works collaboratively with other members of the Centre for Career and Personal Development (CCPD) team to provide resource support primarily to undergraduate students across all faculties. This position will provide student support through a blend of one-on-one feedback (in-person, email or virtual), facilitate related workshops and contribute to creating and maintaining digital resources using a range of media for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Calgary. This role supports the CCPD team by maintaining resources, promoting offerings, coordinating workshop schedules, facilitating workshops, and supporting weekly advising offerings. The role coordinates programs that support staff mentors, paraprofessionals and the campus peer helper program. This role may also provide in-scope supervision for a work-integrated learning student.

The Career and Life Design Resource Specialist must demonstrate strong communication, program organization and client service skills to build collaborative relationships with campus stakeholders, the Centre for Career and Personal Development team and students.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Student Advising

• Play a key role in the day-to-day delivery of services within  the Centre for Career and Personal Development.
• Provides support for weekly offerings including resume rescue and drop-in appointments; this includes coordinating the career advisor schedule for these offerings. 
• Works one-on-one with undergraduate students and recent alumni to provide job search support in resume/cover letter, interview preparation, and LinkedIn appointments.
• Following initial assessment, refer students within depth career development needs to appropriate team members or alternate student service units (Wellness, Student Success Centre).
• Deliver workshops and presentations on career development or life design, including resume/cover letter, and interview preparation).
• Participate in CCPD career fairs, information sessions, program and other industry events to promote events to students and liaise with employers; some events will require work outside of regular office hours.
• Develop presentations and share relevant information with students and career development team within the Centre for Career and Personal Development.

Digital Content and Resources

• Expand the growing list of digital career resources in order to meet the increasing student demand for online and virtual services.
• Develop digital content addressing current practices for various career development and employment related topics. Including coordinating the Career Development team involvement in production as required; script writing, audio editing, video production, and uploading.
• Update and maintain all career development resources on CCPD website (handouts, examples, degree profiles, external links, video, etc.), as well as libguides on the library site, and maintain the CCPD YouTube channel.
• Work in collaboration with team members and CJSW representatives to produce the new radio show/podcast - prepare segments, record and edit content.
• Assist with maintaining consistent social media activity on CCPD channels, sharing event and workshop details on a regular basis.
• Support development of promotional materials for workshops and events, and support promotion of these materials on electronic bulletin boards within CCPD and across campus.
• Liaise with MarCom to support development of print materials and/or promotional campaigns for career & life design offerings. 

Campus Engagement and Programming

• Develop relationships with student clubs, appropriate faculty members, and professional associations in order to support the Career Development Specialists in the design and implementation of appropriate career development and life design solutions for students and recent alumni.
• Participate in CCPD Career Fairs, Information Sessions and other industry events to promote events to students and liaise with employers.
• Act as the Lead for the volunteers, mentors and paraprofessionals including training, scheduling, meetings and personal development.
• Participate in relevant Communities of Practice and working groups in Student Services.
• Supports team planning initiatives to build on current career development services that correspond with the University of Calgary's initiatives at large and the evolving needs of the undergraduate student population.

Administrative

• Ensure surveys are updated and utilized for all relevant offerings. Collate survey results to share with team members. 
• Connect with campus offices participating in the Peer Helper program to collect relevant information.
• Ensure that web, D2L and Elevate platforms are updated to reflect offerings in order to facilitate engagement of students in peer helper program.
• Promote program and collect program statistics.
• Communicate about program with campus partners.
• Provide administrative oversight for Career Articulation Program (CAP).
• Ensure D2L shell is reviewed and updated annually.
• Promote program to engage students and mentors, and match students with mentors each semester.
• Engage students and mentors with ongoing communication and engagement opportunities. 
• Collect statistics each semester on the usage and satisfaction of career development services and administer student appointment, workshop and program surveys; contribute to the preparation of reports and surveys to make effective decisions related to the portfolio.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A minimum of an undergraduate degree and training in psychology, education or a related area required.
• Knowledge of Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Practitioners is an asset.
• A working understanding of career development theory and career planning strategies.
• 1-3 years of experience in career and employment or life design advising.
• Excellent communication skills with proven ability to deliver and facilitate effective and engaging workshops.
• Familiarity or experience with facilitating Life Design (based on Stanford University's Designing Your Life) content considered an asset.
• Experience providing services to individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Critical thinking, organization and time management skills.
• Program development and small to medium size event organization experience.
• Demonstrated writing skills through experience with content-editing and producing program materials and messages in a variety of mediums (print, web and in-person).
• A solid understanding of the employment and labor market trends.
• Computer skills: ability to work with presentation tools (specifically advanced PowerPoint, and Powtoons), databases, MS Office and web resources and appointment software (Elevate).
• Experience working with content management systems such as Drupal.
• Experience with social media channels and proven ability to develop engaging content.
• Knowledge and understanding of student services available at the University of Calgary considered an asset.

Application Deadline:  August 9, 2024

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 2.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website. 

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.