Job Description

General Summary: 

The primary mission of the Academic and Career Engagement and Success (ACES) Center is to provide holistic, high quality, and culturally responsive academic and career success advising/coaching. Advising/coaching engages students in an intentional process that values students’ strengths and cultural wealth. It advances their personal, academic, and professional goals, expands access to experiential learning opportunities and connects them with resources. The departments’ values promote inclusive excellence through holistic student success and equitable outcomes.

The Academic and Career Advisor will be responsible for managing a caseload of advisees on a wide range of academic and career-related topics, including but not limited to degree requirements for progression; major and career exploration and development resources; targeted programming and events; and serving as a liaison to faculty and staff. Advisors will also plan, implement, and evaluate programs and services to facilitate the development of an academic and professional plan that will enhance the quality of students’ academic experience and career-readiness skills. The incumbent will possess and demonstrate a high level of knowledge and practice of culturally-responsive, equity-minded, and asset-based theories, specifically when working with students from historically (and currently) marginalized identities. The incumbent will also serve as a resource and advocate for students by working alongside them to help them navigate complex internal and external systems, connect and refer them to appropriate university services, and identify policies and procedures that create barriers to equitable outcomes for all students The incumbent will demonstrate strong knowledge of high-impact practices, effective coaching and counseling strategies for holistic student success, and strong programming skills.

Examples of Duties: 

Academic and Career Advising

• Provide individual and group academic advising for students with focus on students with less than 60 credits and those who are exploratory using University systems such as WISER, Advising Case Management (ACM) tool, and the degree progress report;
• Work proactively with students to provide information on non-degree, transfer credit, inter-college program/major changes, academic standing, and/or reenrollment policies and procedures;
• Conduct individual and group career advising with undergraduate and/or graduate students, and/or alumni using University systems such as Handshake, Big Interview, and Focus 2;
• Maintain a strong knowledge base of effective advising and career coaching principles, philosophies, ideologies, and methodologies related to issues including but not limited to:
  • academic and career goal planning, developmental advising/counseling, major choice, resume/cover letter writing, networking, interviewing, internship/job/graduate school search, and participating in extracurricular activities/events/programs;
• Discuss employment outlook, job search strategies, and experiential learning opportunities to assist students’ in building their career capital;
• Conduct assessments to determine training, educational, career, and personal needs, including reviewing placement, career assessments, work history, and college transcripts, and referring students to the appropriate resources on and off campus to reach personal and professional goals;
• Inform students of the community resources on campus & off campus to support them with their educational success;
• Serve as advisor to student cohorts and maintain relationships with assigned departments on campus.
• Provide resources and referrals to various University services such as the Ross Center for Disability Services, Tutoring, Financial Aid, Counseling and Mental Health Services;
• Liaise between the student and the University community working collegially with other offices and departments to ensure student service functions are performed in an efficient and consistent manner;
• Work collaboratively as member of the advising and career advising team to provide office coverage and coordinate departmental activities.

Academic and Career Programming

• Present engaging, student-centered workshops and programs to enhance the knowledge and development of career-readiness skills and provide necessary information to help student navigate academic requirements;
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Academic and Career Programming regarding the content of workshops and presentations on a variety of topics including but not limited to: major and career exploration, advising and registration, experiential learning, resume, cover letters, workforce trends, and internships;
• May supervise ACES Peer Career Advisors on various projects within the department;
• Present in-person and virtually to prospective and admitted students during open house, welcome day, orientation, and information sessions;
• Implement equity-based programming grounded on the interpretation of data and metrics from internal institutional and external sources;
• Collaborate with academic and career advising team to organize various events including but not limited to career expos, alumni career panels, employer information sessions, and group advising workshops.

Assessment, Data, and Engagement

• Maintain up-to-date notes and record keeping of each student meeting including tracking of student academic progress and outcomes using the ACM tool;
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative data to make informed recommendations for new or modified programs and services;
• Participate in unit assessment efforts, including the development of benchmarks for progress
• Maintain consistency and compliance within ADA, FERPA, SEVIS, and other state, federal, university and departmental guidelines;
• Utilize technology to effectively perform job duties;
• Write and design appropriate communications/publications, including annual reports, and manage the distribution; accordingly, develop handouts, packets and related materials for students and alumni; gather resources for students and alumni;
• May represent the department on university committees;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

Bachelor’s Degree and at least two years of direct student service is required; Master’s Degree in Counseling, Higher Education or Human Development or a related field preferred. Proven ability to work with diverse populations is required. Work schedule may be flexed to extend into evenings. The occasional weekends may be required.

• Knowledge of or proven aptitude to learn current academic student development, and career development theory, research, and practice with a focus on critical scholarship.
• Knowledge of or proven aptitude to learn majors and career exploration resources and practices, as well as experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Knowledge of or proven aptitude to interpret academic and career inventories and assessments to provide holistic support to exploratory students.
• Knowledge of or proven aptitude to interpret and utilize data from institutional or external sources for the purpose of implementing equity-based programming.
• Demonstrated advising and student support skills.
• Demonstrated organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, effectively and efficiently in a team capacity.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with proven ability to manage and manipulate data by using Excel and the aptitude to learn in-house platform technologies.
• Excellent human relations skills and proven ability to establish positive working relationships and networks with peers, faculty, and administrators.
• Proven commitment to close academic and career related equity gaps.

Application Instructions: 

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date. 

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting.  All other candidates will be considered after that period. 

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link: 

Grade:30              

This is an exempt union position.

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.eduor 617-287-5150.

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