Career Coach and Career Pathways Coordinator

Johnson C. Smith University - JCSU; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson C. Smith University is seeking a Career Coach and Career Pathways Coordinator to support students through exploration, readiness, internships, and graduate planning.

This role partners with academic departments, employers, alumni, and community partners to expand access to high‑impact experiences and career pathways. The position emphasizes data‑informed practice, student engagement, and outcomes, guiding students from coursework to meaningful employment, further study, or service

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Two to three years of experience in career services, career coaching, student affairs, workforce development, academic advising, experiential learning, employer relations, or a related field.
• Two to three years of Career Coaching and/or Student Success Coaching experience.
• Certified Career Coach, Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), or commitment to obtaining a career coaching certification within the first 12 months of employment if not currently certified.
• Demonstrated commitment to student development and success.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across campus and with external stakeholders.
• Experience utilizing Handshake and student information systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized career coaching to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Assist students with career exploration, career planning, major-to-career alignment, and career decision-making.
• Conduct résumé, cover letter, LinkedIn, and personal branding reviews.
• Facilitate mock interviews and interview preparation workshops.
• Assist students with job and internship search strategies.
• Guide students through graduate school and professional school planning processes.
• Support students in developing career readiness competencies aligned with National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards.
• Maintain accurate coaching records and student engagement documentation.

Skills

Career coaching

Student advising

Employer relations

Public speaking

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Handshake

Student information systems

Job description

The Career Coach and Career Pathways Coordinator serves as a key member of the Smith Institute and is responsible for providing holistic career coaching while coordinating experiential learning and career-connected pathways that prepare students for meaningful employment, graduate education, and lifelong success.

This position supports students throughout the career development lifecycle by facilitating career exploration, career readiness skill development, internship and experiential learning preparation, graduate school planning, and transition-to-career outcomes. The Coordinator works collaboratively with academic departments, employers, alumni, faculty, student support units, and community partners to expand access to internships, undergraduate research, service-learning, leadership development, co-ops, practicums, field experiences, and other high-impact educational practices.

The position advances Johnson C. Smith University's commitment to career readiness, student success, experiential learning, and post-graduation outcomes through data-informed practices and student-centered engagement.

Position Summary

The Career Coach and Career Pathways Coordinator serves as a key member of the Smith Institute and is responsible for providing holistic career coaching while coordinating experiential learning and career-connected pathways that prepare students for meaningful employment, graduate education, and lifelong success.

This position supports students throughout the career development lifecycle by facilitating career exploration, career readiness skill development, internship and experiential learning preparation, graduate school planning, and transition-to-career outcomes. The Coordinator works collaboratively with academic departments, employers, alumni, faculty, student support units, and community partners to expand access to internships, undergraduate research, service-learning, leadership development, co-ops, practicums, field experiences, and other high-impact educational practices.

The position advances Johnson C. Smith University's commitment to career readiness, student success, experiential learning, and post-graduation outcomes through data-informed practices and student-centered engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Career Coaching and Student Development (40%)

• Provide individualized career coaching to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Assist students with career exploration, career planning, major-to-career alignment, and career decision-making.
• Conduct résumé, cover letter, LinkedIn, and personal branding reviews.
• Facilitate mock interviews and interview preparation workshops.
• Assist students with job and internship search strategies.
• Guide students through graduate school and professional school planning processes.
• Support students in developing career readiness competencies aligned with National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards.
• Maintain accurate coaching records and student engagement documentation.

Career Pathways and Experiential Learning Coordination (25%)

• Coordinate experiential learning opportunities including internships, undergraduate research, co-ops, practicums, clinical placements, field experiences, service-learning, and leadership development experiences.
• Collaborate with academic departments to identify and expand discipline-specific career pathways.
• Develop systems for tracking student participation in experiential learning opportunities.
• Contribute to the work of the Experiential Learning Data Collaborative.
• Support faculty and campus partners in integrating experiential learning into academic and co-curricular experiences.
• Assist with the administration and assessment of internship and experiential learning programs.

Employer, Alumni, and Community Engagement (15%)

• Cultivate relationships with employers, alumni, graduate programs, and community partners.
• Identify internship, employment, and experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Assist with employer recruitment efforts and employer engagement activities.
• Coordinate employer information sessions, networking opportunities, career treks, and industry panels.
• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs to leverage alumni as career mentors and industry partners.
• Coordinate Workforce Wednesday series for each semester.

Career Education and Programming (10%)

• Develop and facilitate workshops, presentations, and career readiness programming.
• Support career fairs, graduate school fairs, networking events, and employer recruitment activities.
• Coordinate career readiness initiatives within First-Year Experience, Sophomore Success, leadership development, and identity-based student success programs.
• Promote utilization of career development technologies (i.e Handshake) and resources.

Data Management, Assessment, and Reporting (10%)

• Maintain student records and engagement data within Handshake and other career services platforms.
• Monitor career coaching utilization, internship participation, experiential learning engagement, and career outcomes.
• Assist with First Destination Survey administration and reporting.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, and assessment summaries to support institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Utilize data to inform programming, outreach, and student success interventions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Two to three years of experience in career services, career coaching, student affairs, workforce development, academic advising, experiential learning, employer relations, or a related field.
• Two to three years of Career Coaching and/or Student Success Coaching experience.
• Certified Career Coach, Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), or commitment to obtaining a career coaching certification within the first 12 months of employment if not currently certified.
• Demonstrated commitment to student development and success.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across campus and with external stakeholders.
• Experience utilizing Handshake and student information systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Human Resources, Career Development, Education, or a related field.
• Experience working in career services or experiential learning programs within higher education.
• Experience using EAB Navigate Student Success Management System or similar student success technologies.
• Knowledge of NACE Career Readiness Competencies and career development theories.
• Experience supporting diverse student populations, including first-generation and historically underserved students.
• Experience developing employer and community partnerships.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Career coaching and student development.
• Internship and experiential learning program coordination.
• Employer and alumni engagement.
• Workshop facilitation and public speaking.
• Data collection, analysis, and assessment.
• Relationship building and partnership development.
• Project management and event coordination.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success.

Success Measures (Performance Expectations)

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Number of students receiving career coaching.
• Student participation in internships and experiential learning opportunities.
• Handshake utilization and profile completion rates.
• Career readiness workshop participation.
• Employer and alumni engagement activities.
• Graduate school and employment outcomes.
• First Destination Survey response and outcome rates.
• Student satisfaction and engagement metrics.
• Contributions to institutional career readiness and post-graduation success goals.

Finalists for this position are subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history and identity check.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of a person in this position.