Career Education Coordinator

South Dakota State University; Brookings (SD); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plan

Paid holidays

Vacation leave

Relocation assistance

Tuition benefits

Job summary

South Dakota State University invites applications for a Career Education Coordinator in the Office of Career Development, Brookings. You will coach students and alumni, guide exploration and readiness, prepare professional documents, and connect learners with internships and jobs.

You’ll partner with campus colleagues to scale career education, deliver workshops, and support on-campus interviews and events, while providing outstanding service to a diverse student body.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree completed by first day of employment
• Experience in career advising or academic advising (1 year min)
• Ability to organize and evaluate programs and events
• Ability to develop collaborative partnerships
• Excellent written and verbal communication; public speaking
• Valid driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 30 days

Responsibilities

• Serve as a career coach for undergraduate and graduate students
• Assist students with career exploration, résumés/cover letters, interview prep, and job-search strategies
• Help students set career goals through self-evaluation and exploration
• Assist with graduate/professional school applications and statements
• Provide career resources through individual and group sessions and maintain records
• Create and deliver career-related presentations to classes, student groups, and workshops
• Collaborate with the Career Development team to plan, market, implement, and evaluate programs and events
• Support career fairs on- and off-campus and help identify internship and job opportunities
• Build partnerships with internal and external stakeholders for career development initiatives
• Provide exceptional customer service to all stakeholders
• Contribute to student success initiatives and events

Job description

Join the South Dakota State University's (SDSU) Office of Career Development and embark on a rewarding journey as a Career Education Coordinator! We are looking for a people-centered professional who thrives on delivering exceptional customer service and is passionate about guiding both undergraduate and graduate students toward successful careers. As the Office of Career Development seeks to grow, engage, and cultivate a career-everywhere culture, the Career Education Coordinator will collaborate with campus partners to ensure scalable best practices of career education and act as a career coach for SDSU students and alumni. This is an opportunity to be part of a vibrant community dedicated to empowering individuals on their professional paths. This position is 12-month, full-time, and benefits-eligible located in Brookings, SD.

SDState is the state’s largest, most comprehensive university with over $94 million annual research expenditures, more than 200 academic programs and an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students. The university is part of a dynamic community for families, students, young professionals, and retirees, which offers an abundance of attractions and activities. In the Office of Career Development career readiness is our passion and we focus on two main goals; facilitating the transition from student to professional and helping students and employers connect. From students exploring career options and job possibilities to employers posting jobs and conducting on-campus interviews, we provide help both online and in person.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a career coach primarily for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Assist students with career and major exploration, career readiness and development, professional document preparation (resumes/cover letters), interview preparation, internship and job search strategies, and additional career-related needs.
• Assist students in determining career goals and objectives through self-evaluation; assessment of career interests; and exploration of career paths and options.
• Assist students in assessing graduate or professional school paths; assist students with professional or personal statements needed for application to graduate or professional school.
• Provide career resources, tools and education to a varied population of students in individual and group sessions through drop-in hours and scheduled appointments. Help create career resources. Maintain records of interactions with students.
• Create and facilitate career-related presentations for constituents, including undergraduate and graduate students. Present to academic classes, student organizations and workshop audiences.
• Collaborate with the Career Development team to strategically plan, organize, market, implement, and evaluate programs, services, initiatives, and events related to career development and student success.
• Work with the Career Development team to plan, market, implement and work at several career fairs, both on- and off-campus. Help identify and market internship, job and experiential learning opportunities to students.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders for programming, services and initiatives related to career development and student success.
• With a people-centered approach, provide exceptional customer service to all stakeholders.
• Actively participate in and contribute to student success initiatives and events as identified by departmental and University leadership.
• Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends, and shifts longer than eight hours, including special events such as Meet State, Hobo Day, etc.

BENEFITS

SDState offers a wide range of excellent benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. We offer a generous retirement plan that includes 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and eleven paid holidays. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions. Relocation benefits are available per university’s guidelines.

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Personnel, Counseling, Education, Higher Education Administration, or closely related field completed by first day of employment.
• A minimum of one year of experience working in career advising, academic advising, or closely related experience. (Graduate assistantship and/or related graduate internship experience is acceptable.).
• Ability or potential to organize, implement, promote, and/or evaluate programs, events, and/or projects.
• Ability or potential to develop collaborative partnerships for programming, services, and student-success initiatives.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and/or social media platforms.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and strong interpersonal skills
• Valid driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience creating and facilitating career education curriculum, presentations and resources that can be delivered in-person or in a virtual format to a variety of constituents.
• Strong aptitude for and willingness to learn new technologies.
• Experience working with career services in higher education.
• Knowledge of career development theory.
• Knowledge of college student development theory.
• Knowledge and use of career assessment instruments (e.g., FOCUS 2 Career, Strengths Finder).
• Knowledge and use of career services technologies and software (e.g., Handshake).
• Experience teaching and/or developing curriculum.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Position closes September 14, 2026.

Any offer of employment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check.

SDState is a tobacco free environment. It is the policy of the University to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

For questions on the position, contact Stephen Miedema at [e-mail].

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant access mission. SDSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and SDSU prohibits unlawful discrimination of all legally protected classes in the offering of all educational programs and employment. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing [e-mail]. Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007. Phone: [phone].