Career Coach

This position is a full-time, 4-year grant-funded role (through 2030) by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Project (FIPSE-SP) Program for the UW-Stout FUSE: Fast Upskilling for Skills and Employment Project.

About the role

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic is seeking an individual passionate about assisting student success and career readiness as a Career Coach. In this position, you will directly support students with career and employment activities through individual and group career coaching appointments, career education presentations, employer engagements, and career readiness programming. You will be the primary career coach for individuals participating in the UW-Stout FUSE Initiative (Fast Upskilling for Skills & Employment), a federally funded grant project supporting short-term, employer-aligned training programs, as well as serve as liaison to the FUSE learner support hub. You will serve as a liaison to colleges, schools, faculty, and offices within the university structure as part of the Career Education team.

Responsibilities

• Career Coaching & Program Support
  • Deliver career readiness service and support for all students, graduates, alumni, traditional, non-traditional, and FUSE initiative learners including labor market research, resume development, interview preparation, and job search strategies delivered to individuals and group/classrooms, virtually and in-person.
  • Expand access to career resources and support for FUSE participants, ensuring equitable services to diverse and non-traditional student populations engaged in short-term training pathways.
  • Serve as a Career Education team liaison to assigned academic programs or administrative offices, and part of the short-term learner support hub, providing wrap-around student support specific to FUSE participants.
  • Support students’ transition from training to employment, with attention to job attainment, onboarding, and retention outcomes aligned with FUSE grant goals.
  • Collect, verify, and develop an employment and job outcomes report for FUSE grant participants, including post-completion employment verification, in accordance with grant reporting and evaluation requirements.
  • Assist with career outcome follow-up activities, including telephone outreach and email surveys, to support the completion of the Career Services First Destination Report.
  • Lead efforts to connect FUSE participants with employer partners through Career Services recruitment events such as career conference, industry/employer spotlights, and direct employment opportunities both on and off campus.
  • Utilize career technology platforms and computer network systems to support students’ employment preparation and job market navigation.
  • Provide responsive student-centered support by adapting services and scheduling to meet the diverse needs of students, including occasional meetings outside of standard business hours.
  • Maintain knowledge of campus and community resources and refer students to appropriate university services as needed.
• Career Readiness Competency Programming
  • Research, develop, and deliver high-impact competency-based programs aligned with career services priorities to support positive career outcomes of all students.
  • Create program-based pathways for FUSE participants to actively build career skills incorporating and addressing multiple learning modalities.
  • Collaborate with FUSE grant support team to create and align programming that supports and infuses competency development tailored to short-term learners, course-based activities, and employer-aligned programs.
  • Create programming impact reports to measure skill improvement of students and grant participants.
  • Perform additional duties assigned by the supervisor to support evolving program, grant, or departmental needs.
• Applied & Experiential Learning Support
  • Support students in identifying and engaging in applied and experiential learning opportunities, including cooperative education, internships, and field experiences aligned with career interests.
  • Serve as a point of contact, in collaboration with Career Services, for student inquiries related to applied and experiential learning options.
  • Assist in the development of communication and marketing materials designed to increase student engagement in applied and experiential learning programs.
  • Support Career Services and academic programs in implementing practices, processes, and procedures related to experiential learning opportunities.
  • Assist with data collection and recordkeeping to ensure accurate reporting of experiential learning outcomes for Career Services, academic programs, and university partners.
  • Develop strategies to increase utilization of career services and applied learning opportunities among academic programs or student populations with lower engagement.
  • Connect with employers and campus partners to identify new applied learning and employment opportunities for students in the region.
• Professional Responsibilities
  • Maintain a high level of professionalism and credibility in representing UW-Stout and the Universities of Wisconsin System.
  • Cooperate with and assist staff to ensure high levels of efficiency, collaboration, and office morale.
  • Uphold ethical principles and professional standards established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
  • Promote career planning, applied learning, and employment as integral components of the educational experience.
  • Demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to the needs of diverse student populations, including multicultural students, students with disabilities, online learners, first-generation students, veterans, and non-traditional students.
  • Actively represent Career Services in professional associations and professional development activities as appropriate.
  • Acknowledge that certain times of the academic year require work beyond a traditional schedule; this is a total-effort position.

Requirements

• Minimum / Required
  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • 1+ years of relevant full-time work experience involving career and professional development in Career Services/Student Services at the college/university/K-12 levels, or in human resource, recruitment, workforce development, professional services fields OR equivalent education/training.
• Highly Desired/Preferred
  • Master’s degree.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide career coaching, including resume development, interviewing techniques, and job search strategies.
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver services to non-traditional populations.
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver effective presentations to groups of all sizes, and to provide information with clarity.
  • Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and execute programs and events.
  • Ability to navigate and utilize internet-based job search tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to initiate, build, and sustain long-lasting relationships.
  • Familiarity with recruitment practices of businesses, corporations, and agencies that offer co-op/internship and career opportunities.
  • Experience with recruitment software, such as Handshake or similar vendor.
  • Possess computer skills and proficiency working with Microsoft Office or Google Suite software.
  • Ability to contribute as an enthusiastic member of a fast-paced and team-oriented career service staff.
  • Able to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team setting.
  • Possess verbal and written communication skills.

Department Information

The Career Services office is a dynamic team of dedicated professionals actively integrating career readiness, applied learning, and professional skills across the university. Our mission is to educate, engage, and empower students and alumni in navigating career and professional development through employer and faculty/staff partnerships. UW-Stout’s Career Services Office and its team is regularly recognized for effective delivery of high-quality career programming and events. Our vision is to continue to be a leader in:

• Providing centralized career resources, programs, services, and technologies.
• Integrating applied and experiential learning.
• Providing data to support informed career decisions.
• Remaining adaptive and flexible in changing career needs for all stakeholders.
• Building and nurturing strategic relationships to enhance opportunities for students.
• Ultimately ensuring students' successful transition from college to career.

Pay

Minimum starting salary of $48,000.00, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Schedule

• Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (year-round position), however, may be adjusted to meet student needs to involve evening hours.
• Limited remote work/telecommuting may be possible (max up to 2 days per week) after completion of a significant training period, successful on-the-job performance, departmental needs assessment, and approval.