Career Development Coordinator

About the role

The Career Development Coordinator oversees all activities related to career development within the LIFE Scholars program and works as an active member of the team to contribute to the overall mission of preparing graduates for meaningful, competitive, integrated employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized employment support to LIFE Scholars students, including sourcing employment opportunities, assisting with resumes, job applications, and other employment paperwork
• Communicate and collaborate with employer supervisors to identify and implement workplace supports
• Document student skills, strengths, interests, and work experiences to contribute to career profiles and resumes
• Identify and develop internship opportunities on campus and in the community
• Facilitate the development of student career profiles that document work experiences, evaluations, skills acquired, and letters of recommendation
• Collaborate with outside job developers and community partners to support post-graduation employment
• Prepare supervisors and mentors for student onboarding and support
• Establish a systematic process for site observations, task analysis, mentor identification, and student matching that can be replicated by future staff and program personnel
• Develop and implement orientation activities that prepare second-year students for internship experiences
• Host informational meetings that connect students and families with post-graduation resources
• Develop relationships with employers across Montana

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation, Human Services, Education, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Demonstrated experience supporting employment, internships, career development, or transition services
• Demonstrated experience in building collaborative relationships with students, families, employers, faculty, staff, and community partners
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects and priorities

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Transition Services, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience providing job coaching or employment support
• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace assessments, task analyses, or vocational evaluations
• Demonstrated experience developing employer partnerships
• Demonstrated experience creating training materials or facilitating professional development
• Knowledge of employment practices and transition-to-employment programming

The Successful Candidate Will

• Demonstrate patience and consistency in teaching and supporting students
• Possess strong observation and problem-solving skills
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills
• Show commitment to student-centered decision making
• Anticipate challenges and proactively plan supports
• Be flexible and responsive when student needs arise
• Exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Take initiative in creating systems and processes that can be sustained over time
• Commit to inclusive employment and high expectations for all students

Position Special Requirements

Continuation of employment is contingent upon availability of funding. This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.