Career Strategist

Auburn University; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn University’s Career Discovery and Success (CDS) invites applications for a Career Strategist embedded in the College of Agriculture and the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment. You will coach students on career development, connect with faculty, and help embed career readiness into curricula.

The role emphasizes collaboration with academic partners, development of experiential learning opportunities, and expanding access to diverse employers and opportunities across campus.

Qualifications

• Experience in career services or related programs.
• Ability to collaborate with faculty and staff.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of experiential education and curriculum integration.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a liaison between CDS and the academic unit, building collaboration among stakeholders.
• Advocates for assigned student populations, increasing exposure to diverse employers.
• Facilitates interaction with employers to create career-related opportunities (co-ops, internships, etc.).
• Supports integration of career readiness with faculty and academic advising.
• Assists in development, administration, and promotion of CDS programs.
• Supports student success outcomes through advising, coaching, and engagement in experiential learning.
• Delivers core career services, including teaching career development and job-search strategies.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Coaching & advising

Stakeholder engagement

Employer relations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Masters degree (preferred)

Job description

Overview

Career Discovery and Success (CDS) advances the University’s strategic goals for student achievement by strengthening post‑graduation outcomes through comprehensive, innovative, and high‑impact career services across the campus landscape, which focuses on five Career Learning Outcomes, (1) Explore and Evaluate Career Pathways (2) Engage in Career Planning and Embrace Adaptability (3) Grow My Connections and Professional Relationships and Professional Relationships (4) Gain Relevant Knowledge, Experiences, and Skills (5) Articulate My Auburn Experience.

The Career Strategist is an embedded role jointly supported by the College of Agriculture and the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment. The position is designed to expand access to career development by providing equally robust support to students and to faculty/staff. This includes direct coaching for students and strategic consultation with faculty and academic partners to integrate career learning outcomes, career readiness competencies, and experiential education into curricular and co‑curricular environments.

As an integral member of the college community, the Career Strategist builds meaningful connections among students, faculty, employers, and alumni. The role provides individualized coaching to students on career development, experiential learning pathways, and job-search strategies, while ensuring they are aware of and engaged in college‑based and CDS‑supported programs, services, and events.

Equally central to the position is its consultative partnership with faculty and staff. The Career Strategist collaborates with academic departments to embed career education into courses and programs; supports or co‑develops career‑related curriculum; and may teach career development courses within the college. The position also contributes to a coordinated student‑success ecosystem by maintaining strong referral networks and working closely with academic advisors and experiential‑learning personnel to provide holistic, wraparound support.

The Career Strategist facilitates workshops, class presentations, and employer engagement opportunities within the colleges, helping to cultivate a vibrant career‑connected learning environment. As a member of CDS team, the position reports to the Director of University Career Strategy, participates in the Auburn University Career Services Network Knowledge Groups and Consortium, and receives ongoing professional development through supervision, collaboration, and involvement in professional associations.

Because the Career Strategist is embedded within the colleges, regular communication and feedback from the College of Agriculture and the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment inform performance evaluation, identify emerging needs, and guide shared operational and strategic planning with college leadership.

About Career Discovery and Success

Our mission is to empower Auburn University’s campus community to support every student in achieving their post‑graduation goals through data‑driven career planning, robust career services and faculty support, curricular integration, and strong employer and alumni relations, further establishing our university as a leader in student success. We aim to cultivate a campus‑wide culture of career champions and dynamic career services that elevate every student’s Auburn experience and empower their lifelong career success. In doing so, we remain grounded in our values, which align with Auburn University’s. We value individual growth and development, global and societal impact, collaborative innovation, mutual respect, integrity, and stewardship. These values guide us in the strategic pursuit to live our mission and envisioned purpose every day.

About the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment

The College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment (CFWE) prepares students of all ages and backgrounds to become leaders in the sustainable management, utilization, and stewardship of natural resources. The mission of CFWE is to improve the social, economic, and environmental well‑being of Alabama’s citizens through the production of science‑based information, materials, and programs that help foster the sustainable use of our natural resources. CFWE’s research is advancing sustainable solutions to many of the grand challenges facing our society and the environment.

About the College of Agriculture

The mission of the College of Agriculture (COA) is to prepare and mentor students to meet their full potential through discovery, innovation, and high‑impact experiences. COA fosters an environment and community of innovation and self‑improvement in which faculty, staff, and students are continually challenged to grow personally and develop new solutions. The College works to encourage, equip, and enable faculty, staff, and students to develop innovative, sustainable solutions to agricultural, food, natural resource, and environmental challenges that benefit stakeholders. We deliver education, research, and Extension programs that advance science, develop disciplinary leaders, stimulate economic development, and improve quality of life and well‑being. And COA’s “out‑of‑the‑classroom” experiential activities prepare students to apply invaluable hands‑on learning experiences to real‑world scenarios, giving them the potential to achieve greater success in their education and careers.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a liaison between Career Discovery and Success and the designated academic unit and is responsible for working closely with strategic partners creating a culture of collaboration among a variety of stakeholders.
• Serves as an advocate for the assigned student populations increasing exposure and access to more diverse employers and employment opportunities.
• Assists in facilitating, promoting, and expanding interaction with business and industry, government, and non‑profit employers to create and increase career‑related work experience opportunities, e.g., co‑ops, internships, volunteer, and summer employment.
• Facilitates the integration of career readiness and articulation by working directly with faculty and staff at the college and program level, collaborating and communicating between career services and academic advising.
• Supports and assists in development, direction, administration, and promotion of university‑wide Career Strategist and CDS service programs.
• Supports student success outcomes and key QEP success factors through career advising and coaching, instruction, and opportunities to scale engagement at the college level while maximizing support around engagement in experiential learning, job search strategies, graduate and professional school preparation, and career competency articulation.
• Assists in delivering other core career services programs including teaching career development courses, career coaching, and employer education related to academic unit and student population.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with at least 18 hours of graduate level coursework completed in the discipline.
• 4 years of experience in career services or programs to include program development and project management, career assessment instruments, resume‑writing, job search correspondence or interviewing, and the summer job and internship search.

Substitutions allowed for Experience: When a candidate has the required education, but lacks the required experience, they may normally apply additional appropriate education toward the experience requirement, at a rate of one (1) year relevant education per year of required experience.

Preferred Education: Masters Degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Social Work, Human Services or related field.

Contract Type

Continuing

Why Work at Auburn

• Life‑Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top‑ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
• Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit their website to learn more.