Job Description / Duties

The Advisor Career and Professional Development, supports UBC students to become career-ready graduates - able to connect their talents, interests and education to the world of work. In partnership with Faculties and Academic departments, the Advisor will use career development theories, principles, and tools to positively impact a range of professional and career development programs and services, enhance student development, and connect students to career building opportunities within and beyond the university. This position will also provide one-to-one career advising to students; foster leadership and professional skills development and grow mentorship opportunities for students. Across all programs, the incumbent will evaluate career learning and development as a result of participation in programs.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS
The Centre for Student Involvement & Careers (CSI&C) facilitates and enhances student learning through career building enriched educational experiences. Through orientation and peer mentoring, the Centre supports new students to become successful university learners, prepared to achieve their academic, personal, and career goals. The Centre is a central point for all graduate and undergraduate students and employers on the UBC Vancouver campus to meet, connect, network and build relationships; as well as to research and explore career options. CSI&C provides all UBC students access and connection to workplace learning, mentoring, volunteer and leadership opportunities; and offers career and employment-related services to students, academic departments, employers, and alumni.
Reporting to the Manager, Career and Professional Development, the Advisor, Career Development and Professional Development will work closely with colleagues in the Centre for Student Involvement & Careers, within the Vice President Students Portfolio, and within the Faculties.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
To effectively deliver services that meet the career and professional development needs of students, the incumbent initiates, develops, and maintains excellent working relationships with colleagues in the Faculties and the Centre for Student Involvement & Careers. The incumbent implements his/her work in full consideration of the needs of students and in support of articulated Faculty-specific priorities.
Externally, the Advisor develops and maintains relationships with alumni and current and prospective employers that build resources and programs to support undergraduate and graduate career development and learning. The incumbent may be required to supervise and train student staff and volunteers and assist with training and supervision of support staff and training of new advisors, coordinators and consultants within Centre for Student Involvement & Careers.

WORK PERFORMED
The Advisor, Career and Professional Development uses in-depth knowledge and understanding of student development and career and professional development to design, deliver, and evaluate programs that support the professional and career development of UBC students.
Supports career and professional development, and promotes student engagement in career building experiences:
- Advises, coaches and educates students, using a wide variety of platforms and approaches, about career development learning topics, including: career exploration, choosing a major of study, understanding labour market trends, gaining work and volunteer experience, resumes, CVs, job and professional school interviews, networking, professional skills development, mentoring and connecting to the workplace community.
- Helps students plan their participation in experiential learning opportunities and to critically reflect on their learning from these experiences and plan for the future.
- Designs, delivers and evaluates career building programs and resources, both face-to-face and online, leveraging current/leading practices within the fields of career development and student affairs.
- Develops, implements, and assesses programs and resources that develop graduating student outcomes and attributes as outlined by Faculties and Academic Departments.
- Fosters student leadership through advising, training, and professional development support for student clubs, organizations, and teams. Contributes to the success and sustainability of student-led initiatives.
- Collaborates with Faculties and Academic Departments to develop and evaluate customized events and programs for students and alumni. This includes planning and designing the program(s), promotion, coordinating faculty or industry participation, and coordinating the involvement of other members of the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers and/or other student affairs staff. These events may include career fairs, Career Expos, Speaker Series, departmental career/majors-specific events, What can I do with my major web pages, majors exploration events, student leadership development training/programs, web resources, peer mentoring groups, workshops, etc.
- Fosters an inclusive and respectful learning environment where all students have the opportunity to thrive professionally, academically, and personally. This includes work with faculty, staff, and students to support distinct populations within the Faculty and to prepare students for success after graduation.
Connects students to alumni and workplaces
- Maintains and builds relationships with employers and other members of workplace community that build resources and programs to support undergraduate and graduate career development and learning. In collaboration with the Employer Relations Team and student clubs, the Co-op Offices, and Alumni Affairs, initiates connections with visiting employers at career fairs, information sessions, mentoring events, and workshops.
- Builds and maintains opportunities for students to connect with and learn from employers and other members of workplace community. For example, invites and prepares employers (e.g. recruiters, HR managers) and professional association members, as subject matter experts, to participate in career development programs.
Promotes, manages, assesses and evaluates programs and services toward career and professional goals
- Participates in evaluation of programs and services. Collects and records statistical information and feedback using tools such as Symplicity, Vovici, and Excel. Analyzes, documents and reports results, integrates suggestions and improvements into programs and services.
- Leads and participates in projects to develop and implement a variety of career and professional development initiatives. Works in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to set project goals, timelines, scope, processes, manage communication among project participants, identify obstacles, plan and chair meetings, track timelines, evaluate outcomes, etc.
- Contributes to strategic planning processes for the unit and setting of team goals and priorities. Assists in planning, scheduling and coordinating the activities of career education and student leadership team.
- Assists in marketing and promotion of programs and events to students, alumni, faculty, academic departments, and the workplace community.
- Assists in training of professional staff, student staff and volunteers, including peer educators and coaches.
- Undertakes other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Required Skills

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Graduate degree an asset. Minimum of four years experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in career services, university/college student affairs, human resources, business or related field. Career services experience a significant asset. Four or more years experience working with faculty, students and staff in a post-secondary institution is desirable. Ability to advise and instruct students and alumni on a variety of career and professional development and work search topics such as career and major exploration; reflective learning practices and articulation of knowledge, skills, and experience; resumes, cover letters, CV, interviews; networking; labour market information, etc. Exceptional presentation and public speaking skills. Experience creating and delivering student leadership, career and professional development, and work search instructional workshops. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Proven ability to coach and advise student groups and organizations.
Experience leading and participating in projects involving multiple stakeholders. Demonstrated competence in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and special events. Experience using web-based platforms and instructional technology to teach and engage students in career development is preferred. Supervisory experience. Experience recruiting, selecting, training, and managing performance of employees or volunteers. Strong time management and organizational skills. Excellent computer skills - proficient in full suite of MS Office tools. Experience with social software and networking applications such as blogs (Wordpress and Drupal), podcasts, wiki's, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google docs, etc., are assets. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to work effectively with all levels of University personnel. Certification in MBTI, True Colours, StrengthsFinder, or other human capital assessment tools is an asset. Some evening and weekend work required. Must be able to accommodate flexible hours to attend events, deliver workshops, or provide training on evenings and weekends.

Additional Information

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR
Consequences of decisions can affect future career management and may affect employment outcomes for students. Ineffective recruitment advice would have a serious negative impact on relationships with UBC students, faculty and departments, employers, and alumni. Dissatisfied prospective and current students and/or alumni may contribute to poor public relations for the University, which in turn would have a negative effect on the University's ability to raise funds and attract and retain outstanding students.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The incumbent acts independently, often without direct supervision, but within established guidelines. Keeps the Manager, Career and Professional Development informed through informal and formal communication. The incumbent must exercise initiative and sound judgment in making decisions and planning and executing services and programs. Must demonstrate tact and diplomacy with faculty, staff, students, alumni and the public. Works in close cooperation with other career education and student leadership staff within Student Development and Services and within the Faculties.

SUPERVISION GIVEN
May train and supervise support staff, student assistants and/or volunteers. Assists in training of new management and professional staff in the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers.

Contact Information

Those interested should apply through the UBC HR web site at ttp://www.hr.ubc.ca/careers/staff-careers/ before July 24, 2016