Career Coach

Job Description

The Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), reporting to the Division of Student Success, is the university's centralized career planning and employment assistance service for USF students and alumni. The programs in the CCPD are designed to help students and graduates assess, explore, develop, and implement their career goals, gain employability skills and career-related experiences, prepare for a successful transition into graduate/professional school or the labor market, and connect with employers to obtain part-time jobs, internships, cooperative education, and professional employment. CCPD holds the values of community, excellence, integrity, service, and well-being at the core of all they do.

Reporting to the Director of Career Development, the Career Coach works closely with the Career Development team, as well as other members of the Center for Career & Professional Development.

• Provides individual and group career coaching/advising services and program delivery to undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni. The Career Coach supports students in making informed career decisions, setting career goals, choosing a major, developing a personal career plan, gaining experience/career readiness competencies, initiating and implementing a comprehensive internship/job search plan, and negotiating salary packages. The Career Coach may also advise students on graduate and professional school selection and application. Administers and interprets various career, personality, and leadership assessments/inventories; informs and engages students in the process of career development, and supports the development of informed decision-making skills. Maintains the privacy of students by adhering to FERRPA and HIPPA guidelines.
• Facilitates career-related workshops, programs, and events and provides up-to-date career information with an emphasis on identifying the most effective strategies for a successful job or internship search as well as potential graduate school pursuits.
• Creates and presents educational resources and programs to classes and groups on a variety of career and job search-related topics utilizing current resources and technology.
• May have an opportunity to teach courses related to career exploration or job search as assigned.

Special Skills or Training: employment market trends, career assessments

Responsibilities

• 50% Conducts in-person and virtual individual and group career coaching sessions to help students/alumni make informed career decisions. Assist and guide students/alumni through occupational exploration and the career decision-making process. Determine appropriate assessments and interventions and analyze and interpret career assessment results to incorporate into coaching sessions. Teach and coach students/alumni in self-directed job search strategies. Provide resume, CV, and cover letter critiques and interview skills training. Engage students/alumni in using online resources for researching employers and current employment opportunities.
• 20% Facilitates career-related workshops, programs, and events and provides up-to-date career information with an emphasis on identifying the most effective strategies for a successful job or internship search as well as potential graduate school pursuits. Creates and presents educational resources and programs to classes and groups on a variety of career and job search-related topics utilizing current resources and technology.
• 15% Serves on office cross-functional teams, as assigned. Participates in University and office events such as Orientations and Career Fairs in collaboration with career colleagues across the University. Under the supervision of the Director, engages in internal and external outreach in support of strategic plans. Promotes career services to all constituents including students, alumni, administrators, faculty, employers, and friends of the University. Participates in assessment and data collection and contributes to projects and events as requested.
• 10% May have an opportunity to teach courses related to career exploration or job search as assigned.
• 5% Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• The position requires a Master's degree in Career Counseling, Career Education, College Student Affairs, MBA; or a Bachelor's degree in those same fields with a minimum of two years of directly related experience. Alternatively, in specialized academic areas, the position may require a degree in that field of study.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with university students
• Certification from a professional organization such as the National Career Development Association, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, or the National Board of Certified Counselors may be preferred or required for specific positions.

• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate ( is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:


The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.