Experiential Program Coordinator, Gateway Career Center

Lafayette College; College Hill (PA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lafayette College is seeking an Experiential Program Coordinator to manage day-to-day recruitment systems, coordinate campus recruiting events, and support experiential learning programs.

You will track student outcomes, collaborate with campus partners, and help ensure equity and engagement across opportunities for liberal arts students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 1–3 years of professional experience in career services, student affairs, human resources, event coordination, or operations management.
• Proficiency with Handshake and CRM software.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day recruitment systems and Handshake postings.
• Execute major campus recruiting events and career fairs.
• Support development of experiential learning programs and cohorts.
• Track student application, completion, and performance data.
• Coordinate outreach to students and staff to drive engagement and equity.
• Oversee the Federal Work Study (FWS) campus employment workflow.
• Coordinate event logistics with campus departments for large-scale events.
• Collaborate with Financial Aid on FWS information dissemination.

Skills

Data integrity

Logistical excellence

Relationship management

Student-centered mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Handshake

CRM software

Job description

The Experiential Program Coordinator, Gateway Career Center manages the operations, logistics, and data tracking that connect Lafayette College students with experiential learning and employment opportunities.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Employer Relations and Experiential Learning, the Experiential Program Coordinator manages day-to-day recruitment systems, executes major campus recruiting events, supports the development, administration, and execution of experiential learning programs, manages specialized experiential cohorts, and oversees the Federal Work Study (FWS) campus employment workflow.

• Program Logistics & Delivery: Support the operational execution, cohort registration, and scheduling for high-impact external programs, including Training the Street and Podium.
• New Program Vetting: Review and research incoming proposals for new experiential learning opportunities and vendor partnerships to verify legitimacy, rigor, and strategic relevance to liberal arts student interests.
• Development Collaboration: Support the development of new experiential learning initiatives by collaborating with internal campus stakeholders, alumni, and external partners to establish program workflows and application timelines.
• Student Tracking & Reporting: Systematically track student application, completion, and performance data across all specialized experiential programs, updating tracking fields within Handshake and generating outcome summaries for leadership.
• Cohort Outreach: Coordinate marketing campaigns and informational outreach to students and staff to drive engagement, equity, and diverse participation in both new and existing experiential opportunities.

Recruiting Operations & Data Management

• Application & Data Integrity: Manage the student application process for positions posted in Handshake, ensuring the data integrity, completeness, and accuracy of required tracking fields.
• Employer Tracking & Reporting: Track all employer contacts, utilized services, and recruitment actions; systematically collect student performance and job-offer data to generate opportunity and outcomes reports for leadership.
• CRM Management: Maintain and monitor recruiting operational data and alumni, parent, and employer contact information utilizing Handshake and CRM system.
• Vetting & Curation: Review and research incoming employer inquiries, full-time positions, internships, and interview schedules within Handshake to verify validity, legitimacy, accuracy, and relevance to student interests.
• Communication: Frequently communicate with Associate Director and Sr. Associate Director regarding incoming employer and alumni inquiries and assign to team members for follow-up and relationship development based on industry areas of expertise.

Event & Career Fair Logistics

• Career Fair Coordination: Coordinate full career fair logistics under the direction of the Associate Director, Employer Relations and Experiential Learning: process registrations, track payments, issue confirmation emails, design table layouts, build student programs, and establish staff schedules.
• Campus Event Liaison: Serve as the central operational liaison with campus departments (Catering, Facilities, Public Safety) to coordinate room setups, food and beverage needs, and parking logistics for large-scale events.
• Recruitment Scheduling: Coordinate the primary calendar and schedule for all fall and spring on-campus and virtual recruiting cycles.
• Employer Information Sessions: Coordinate Employer Information Sessions, including room reservations, platform postings, marketing to students/staff, and arranging student event coverage.
• On-Campus Visit Logistics: Oversee the logistics of incoming recruiting visits, providing employers with candidate resumes, campus directions, and interview schedules, and greet employers upon arrival.
• Targeted Outreach: Collaborate with the Employer Relations team to generate career fair invitation lists (incorporating historical attendee lists) and align outreach to managed employer accounts.

Federal Work Study (FWS) Management

• Seasonal Outreach: Coordinate seasonal outreach per the FWS timeline to faculty, staff, and campus departments to collect and post Work Study/Campus Job Employment (CJE) vacancies into Handshake.
• Financial Aid Collaboration: Collaborate directly with the Financial Aid office to ensure accurate FWS information dissemination and timely outreach to students and supervisors.
• Campus Point of Contact: Act as the primary campus point of contact for questions, regularly communicating with campus supervisors regarding hiring policies and eligible students regarding application workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 1–3 years of professional experience in career services, student affairs, human resources, event coordination, or operations management.
• Proficiency with relational databases and tracking platforms, specifically Handshake and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.

Key Competencies

• Data Integrity & Analytics: Exceptional attention to detail with a proven ability to manage complex data entry, verification processes, and report generation.
• Logistical Excellence: Strong project management and event execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple moving timelines simultaneously.
• Relationship Management: Highly developed interpersonal skills to serve as a primary liaison between employers, internal campus departments (Catering, Facilities, Public Safety), and the Financial Aid office.
• Student-Centered Philosophy: Passion for supporting undergraduate students within a rigorous, highly selective liberal arts environment.

Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.