Director for Career Coaching, College of Natural Sciences Full-time

Director for Career Coaching, College of Natural Sciences

Hiring Department: College of Natural Sciences

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Jan 31, 2028

Location: AUSTIN, TX

General Notes

Funding for this position is guaranteed until January 31, 2028, renewable based upon availability of funding and work performance.

The College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin strives to foster a work environment that enables all employees to contribute at the highest possible level to support the mission of the University. What starts here really does change the world. For more information about the College of Natural Sciences, please visit https://cns.utexas.edu.

Must be eligible to work in the US on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Purpose

Provide leadership and strategic direction of career coaching for the College of Natural Sciences by overseeing the development and implementation of career coaching strategies, focusing on helping undergraduate students explore career options, prepare for internships, and successfully navigate post-graduation career paths. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure alignment with the overall strategic goals and metrics of the Career Education and Career Success initiatives. To advance our core mission of fostering wellness, belonging, and success for all students.

Responsibilities

• Supervision & Management: Provide strategic leadership and oversight for career coaching services, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with program goals. Implement the vision and strategy for the coaching team to support and enhance student engagement in alignment with the learning outcomes and goals defined by the College of Natural Sciences. Manage the delivery of career coaching services including appointments, presentations, workshops, and programming. Serve as one of the directors for the CNS Career Services office with the Director of Employer and Alumni Engagement. Assist with overseeing day-to-day budget operations and budget management with the support of the Career Success Administrative Manager.
• Career Ecosystem Support & Outreach: Develop and provide training and resources to faculty and advising staff to enhance their understanding of career development and equip them to support students' career readiness. Collaborate with academic departments to align professional development resources with course objectives, ensuring that students receive career preparation that complements their academic journey. Collaborate with the Employer & Alumni Engagement team to synergize their efforts with the coaching team to ensure students are exposed to relevant opportunities and resources. Represent CNS and UT Austin at regional and national conferences.
• Career Coaching & Professional Development: Lead and provide direct career coaching to CNS students, focusing on personalized career exploration, professional development, and preparation for internships and post-graduation success. Support coaching staff communications with students around alignment of academic experiences and skills with potential careers, helping them set realistic, achievable career goals. Support coach investigation of industry trends, job market dynamics, and emerging fields within their designated domain, to equip students with the knowledge needed to make informed career decisions. Provide access and training to coaches on job market research, internship opportunities, and field-specific resources to help students in their career development efforts.
• Career Courses & Resource Development: Collaborate with the Career Education team and manage the involvement of the Career Coaches in teaching the career and internship courses. Guide coaches to develop and maintain resources within each CNS domain of focus (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Math, Data & Computing Sciences, or Human Sciences) such as guides, templates, and online tools to support students in navigating career options, preparing application materials, improving interviewing skills, and enhancing their professional skills.
• Data Collection & Evaluation: Work with the Career Success Data Analyst to track and assess the success of career coaching and professional development initiatives, using data to refine and improve career coaching. Leverage data from student surveys, career outcomes, and internship feedback to monitor progress and measure the effectiveness of career coaching programs. Assist in a variety of initiatives to improve the career outcomes knowledge rate. Report on key metrics related to student career success, including internship placement, career readiness, and post-graduation outcomes, to inform future strategies and initiatives. (10% Time)
• Other duties as assigned, including supporting special projects and staffing events within CNS.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree and at least four years of experience in career coaching, career services, or student affairs, with a strong background in guiding students in professional development and career preparation.
• Strong familiarity with internship programs, job search strategies, and employer expectations in specific scientific/technical fields. Proficiency in career coaching tools, platforms and online resources for students.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, faculty, and staff.
• Strong leadership, team management, and collaboration skills, with a focus on coaching and developing staff. Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across different departments and functions.
• Knowledge of current trends in career development, labor markets, and emerging career paths in specialized domains.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialized knowledge and experience within one of the CNS domains (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Computing, Math & Data Sciences, or Human Sciences).
• Proficiency with 12twenty, Handshake or other career management and recruiting platform that connects universities, students, and employers.
• Some knowledge of Life Design principles.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of CNS policies, procedures, and majors, or experience working at The University of Texas at Austin working with student populations.

Salary Range

$80,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Full-time position based on campus.
• Occasional evening or weekend work for events, employer engagements, and student career development activities.
• Occasional travel for events.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest