Career Engagement Coach

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).


The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.


We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

Primary Location:
LAGUARDIA C. C.

Bargaining Unit:

Yes

Reporting to the Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), the Career Engagement Coach is responsible for coordinating career planning programs for students pursuing degrees in career and technical programs including coaching services on an individual and group basis, using personality, interest, and values inventories and other career resources. This position will also present outreach programming and workshops to students in classroom settings and student organizations.

The Career Engagement Coach also supports the development, coordination, and promotion of internship placements and work-based learning opportunities that align with students' academic and career goals. The Coach serves as a liaison between career services, academic advising teams (career and technical programs), first year student programs, faculty, and employers to connect students with experiential learning opportunities.

Responsibilities:

Career Counseling, Coaching, Advising

• Advocate for students in the career and technical majors and contribute to efforts to promote their access, retention, and graduation from the college.
  
• Provide counseling, coaching, and advising to students and alumni to help them make well-informed decisions on career choices, reach their career goals, and become aware of employment opportunities.
  
• Meet individually with students to assist with career development and job, internship, and work-based learning search preparation.
  
• Guide students in the development of resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and other professional documents tailored for internship and employment opportunities.
  
• Assist students in identifying and preparing for experiential learning opportunities including internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and other work-based learning experiences aligned with their academic programs.
  
• Administer and interpret career and vocational assessment instruments such as Career Coach, Focus2, Vault, Career Finder, O*Net, and others.
  
• Track student participation in internships and experiential learning opportunities and support reporting requirements associated with grant-funded initiatives.
  
• Maintain an up-to-date database of all events, internships, employer partnerships, and programs in Symplicity, EAB Navigate, Handshake, and other databases.
  

Special Programs and Workshops

• Develop and present a variety of structured workshops, special topics programs, and career exploration programs and resources which assist individuals in making well-informed judgments regarding their career choices and in developing effective job search skills.
  
• Develop workshops focused on internship readiness, experiential learning, professional skills development, and workplace success.
  
• Coordinate and plan Mock Interview events and other professional skills workshops.
  
• Promote opportunities for students by working closely with faculty and administration to advise them of career services programs and encourage participation in programs as appropriate.
  
• Collaborate with faculty to integrate career readiness and work-based learning preparation into classroom experiences where appropriate.
  
• Prepare related materials for use in counseling, coaching, advising, workshops, and outreach.
  
• Conduct presentations at meetings of student clubs/organizations and classes. Present, implement, and grade assignments for classes in conjunction with faculty.
  
• Engage in professional development and education to understand industry trends, labor market data, and best practices related to career readiness and experiential learning.
  

Internship and Work-Based Learning Development

• Coordinate and promote internship, apprenticeship, and work-based learning opportunities aligned with career and technical academic programs.
  
• Develop and maintain relationships with employers to expand internship pipelines and experiential learning opportunities for students.
  
• Collaborate with faculty and academic departments to align internships with program learning outcomes and Perkins grant priorities.
  
• Support students through the internship search, application, placement, and reflection process.
  
• Assist with tracking, reporting, and assessment of internship participation and outcomes to support institutional and grant reporting requirements.
  
• Provide guidance to employers and students regarding internship best practices and expectations.
  

Outreach

• Develop and deploy a social media policy and procedures for office use. Coordinate office social media and report on usage. Make recommendations to improve social media channels and usage. Assist staff as needed in the use of social media tools.
  
• Identify and maintain contact with alumni to encourage and coordinate their participation in career development programs and internship/employer engagement opportunities.
  
• Actively interface with faculty to meet the career planning needs of students from specific academic considerations and to gain faculty input and involvement in office programs as appropriate.
  
• Build and maintain relationships with employers, industry partners, and community organizations to expand internships and work-based learning partnerships.
  
• Research and develop effective career information materials for use in counseling, workshops, and outreach. Assist in maintaining online career development tools and making recommendations to continually improve such resources.
  

This is a grant-funded position and continuation beyond June 30, 2026 is subject to the availability of funding.

Other Duties:

Other duties as assigned

Core Competencies/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and four years of related experience required.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, higher education administration, or related field required and no fewer than three (3) years of progressively responsible experience of related work, three years of experience working with students in the career and technical programs of study preferred; OR, An advanced degree in a related field of study from an accredited institution, an appropriate certification of specialization, and one (1) year experience performing responsible related work
  
• Ability to effectively counsel/advise college students in areas of career planning and academic development required
  
• At least three years of experience in advising, counseling, or career services required; two to three years of experience working with students in the career and technical programs of study preferred
  
• Demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with the ability to positively work with and support diverse groups.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop credibility and trust with a wide range of constituent groups and be a successful resource to the Bryant community.
  
• Ability to work autonomously, take initiative, use sound judgement, and make ethical decisions.
  
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and to lead programs and initiatives that include a wide range of constituent groups.
  
• Excellent oral and written communication and public speaking skills.
  
• Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  
• High degree of professionalism and ability to accurately maintain confidential and privileged information.
  
• Open and responsive to direction and feedback.
  

Core Competencies:

• Working knowledge of an information, learning, counseling or coaching specialty as evidenced by study, training, or certifications; and by prior instructional, counseling, or technical experience;
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student records, as appropriate;
  
  
• Ability to convey simple to somewhat complex concepts and processes to clients, peers, senior administrators, instructors, students, a relevant target community, and parent groups;
  
  
• Ability to work under deadlines, with changing priorities;
  
  
• Ability to respond calmly to emergencies and to fashion solutions to student, administrative, or technical problems; ability to seek assistance when needed;
  
  
• Ability to establish community networks and deal effectively with community groups;
  
  
• Ability to write clearly and produce/edit accurate, well-organized, and understandable reports;
  
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the area of specialization;
  
  
• Knowledge of major computer software, or software of equivalent complexity, used in the learning/counseling environment or in technical support of the project;
  
  
• Ability to use computer or other systems to accurately log and monitor inventories, to securely store equipment, and to comply with other security protocols;
  
  
• Ability to participate in training of moderate complexity, and, in turn, train others in new or upgraded theories, techniques, applications, practices, etc.;
  
  
• Ability to communicate effectively; ability to listen and respond to the concerns/ideas of others;
  
  
• Ability to work on a team, as well as work independently.
  

LaGuardia Community College

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens , LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia's degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility - moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond - in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).

Pay Range:

Minimum - Maximum: $58,990

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals (link to

About the Research Foundation
The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY's research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY's services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society's most pressing challenges.
RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY's research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.