Assistant/Associate Director of Career Services for the School of Communications

Title: Assistant/Associate Director of Career Services for the School of Communications

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Strategic Initiatives

Department: Student Professional Development Center/Career Services

Location: Elon Main Campus

Position Summary

Serves as a career advisor within the School of Communications, providing professional development support to students and alumni through 1:1 appointments, drop-in meetings, classroom presentations and workshops. This position reports to the Senior Associate Director of Career Services for the School of Communications and works closely with the Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations for the School of Communications, and the Director of Internships for the School of Communications to develop and implement programs and events to help students successfully navigate their career exploration journeys and ensure successful first destination outcomes for the School of Communications. Additionally, the Assistant/Associate Director engages in continuing education to develop new programming that meets the changing needs of students and alumni pursuing opportunities for internships, full-time positions, and acceptance into graduate and professional schools.

The Student Professional Development Center reports through the Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs to the President’s Office. This position reports to the Senior Associate Director of Career Services for the School of Communications, who reports to the Senior Director of Career Services for the Student Professional Development Center, who reports to the Associate Vice President for Student Professional Development Center, who reports to the Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, or a degree related to the majors that the staff will be advising. Minimum 1 year of related work experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

Preferred previous experience includes working within career services or academic advising in higher education, communications, or recruiting or human resources in industry.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Experience in higher education or industry is preferred but not required. Outstanding oral and written communication skills are essential for success in this position as is the ability to effectively mentor undergraduates and coordinate/facilitate programs and events. The successful candidate will also have a solid understanding of career development theory, job search strategies and job market trends directly related to career opportunities for Communications majors at Elon. The ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and senior school administrators is paramount. The successful candidate must also possess a high level of organization and attention to detail, as well as the capacity and enthusiasm for succeeding in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.

 

Job Duties

• Meet one-on-one with undergraduate, graduate students and alumni to provide career advising in the School of Communications. Meet with students in-person, virtually and via phone to discuss all facets of their professional development including but not limited to: resume reviews, cover letter reviews, mock interviews, offer discussions, networking, job search, internship search, career and major exploration. Support student career advising through hosting drop-in hours regularly. Tailor advising sessions to meet the unique professional development needs of each individual.
• Develop and deliver high quality and timely programs/events/workshops, including classroom presentations, geared to help Communications students with exploring majors/careers, networking and building connections with alumni, and conducting an effective internship or full-time job search. Seek student engagement opportunities to encourage career conversations and support for students.
• Assist in the creation of marketing content, maintaining online/web resources, and sharing event and employment opportunities with students, faculty, and staff.
• Work closely with School of Communications faculty and staff, SPDC career development staff and additional staff members across campus to support campus-wide career programming.
• Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon’s foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.