Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in
our world. We embrace discovery in a close and nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse,
sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice.
At Pacific University, we thrive in an
extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. We
humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, and acquire and share knowledge.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION FOR POSITION:
The Career and Experiential Coach is a student success role designed to provide
holistic support to undergraduate and graduate students as they navigate the intersection of their academic journey and professional future.
They are responsible for the integration of career development across campus in its entirety: they can support students from the
undergraduate to the graduate to the alumni experience in their designated areas. They act as a comprehensive guide for students by
providing career coaching, when appropriate, advising on course selection to align with personal and professional interests, and actively
supporting the integration and student pursuit of high impact experiential learning opportunities (e.g., work study, alumni mentorship
programs, internships, co-ops, shadowing, and projects). Their support is a key element to purpose-oriented, asset-based learning intended
to build core competencies and skills in the classroom as well as through work study and other high impact experiential learning
opportunities. This position aims to help students find their purpose and build adaptable, resilient, time-proof careers.
Under the
leadership and with the support of the executive director, the career and experiential coaches are student-facing with the development and
facilitation of professional development workshops and one-on-one coaching for both undergraduate and graduate students. They will work
under the advisement of the executive director to train and support faculty and staff champions that will scale up career support across the
university. They will work with the peers in the hub, work study leadership, and community partners to support experiential learning and
career opportunities for students. Each member of the coaching team will have both primary and secondary fields of specialization for career
support. This position on the team of coaches will include health professions as a primary area of specialization.
Salary
Range: 47,000 – $55,000
Reports to: Executive Director of Career and Experiential Learning
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Career Coaching & Professional Development (40%)
- Serve as the primary career coach for a caseload of students at the undergraduate and graduate level (often delineated by
school/program membership and professional interest at the undergraduate/graduate level; e.g. health, business, education and social
services), helping them articulate their personal interests, strengths, and values. - Develop (with the support of the Executive
Director) programming, group career sessions, and workshops to support professional development at the undergraduate, graduate, and alumni
level. - Provide support for graduate students in job search applications, including personal statements, resumes, CVs, LinkedIn
development, and mock interviews. - Support the Pacific Priority and cohort-building from undergraduate through graduate
professional preparation.
Experiential Learning Coordination & Student Experience Navigation (45%)
- Cultivate relationships with external employers, alumni, and community organizations hiring and supervising students to maintain
experiential learning sites and network connections - Actively support students as they explore and pursue experiential learning
opportunities, including work study, internships, externships, micro-internships, and job shadowing programs. - Serve as the
liaison between the student, the academic department, and the site supervisor/employer during the experience to ensure successful learning
outcomes. - Collect and analyze data on student experiential learning and post-experience feedback to improve program
effectiveness.
Academic & Career Purpose Pathway support and instruction (10%)-Undergraduate
- Work with students within the student-facing schools (and those still exploring who have not yet identified a school) to support
identification of their interests, aptitudes and goals, when making decisions regarding academic and career options, including facilitating
career assessments and cultivating student belonging and a sense of purpose, particularly in their chosen academic communities. -
Support personalized pathway development for each student whether through discernment and skill development, preparation for graduate
school, or movement directly into a career. - Support career development sequential coursework, aligned with the undergraduate
schools, that includes the administering and interpretation of career assessments for career exploration, resume and cover letter writing,
LinkedIn profile optimization, and interview preparation. This will also include the design and facilitation of workshops on job search
strategies, networking, and professionalism - Teach and/or mentor students in general and/or pathway-specific academic advising
and/or career development courses (e.g., First Year Advising, Advantage Pathways, Grad School Applications), including grading, providing
feedback on submitted assignments. - Follow college and university policies and procedures for course instruction (e.g., add/drop
procedures, grade submission deadlines, etc.
Purpose Pathway & Opportunity Hub Teamwork and Operations Support
(5%)
- Serve as a liaison between pathways, faculty, other advisors, and the Opportunity Hub team.
-
Coordinate and collaborate with faculty to integrate career competencies directly into the curriculum. Support ongoing training for faculty
in this work. - Collaborate with faculty advisors to ensure a unified approach to student support, particularly for students who
are undecided or changing majors. - Collaborate with the advising team and school faculty on programs and events, strategic
planning, assessment, and communications related to purpose pathways and academic and career advising. - Serve the college and
university through governance, student support, committee representation, or other means. - Collect and analyze data and records to
support assessment, program improvement, and reporting. - Contribute to event and program planning and execution.
- Other
duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Higher Education
Administration, Human Resources, Psychology, or a related field. Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Counseling, or Higher Education
preferred. - 2 years of experience in career services, academic advising, recruitment, or a related area within higher education or
workforce development. - Demonstrated experience in coaching or counseling individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- A
strong commitment to student success and the ability to listen actively and provide encouraging, constructive feedback. -
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to present to large groups
PREFERRED
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience working in a health profession, providing pre-health advising or instruction, and/or other
experience directly related to career coaching in the health professions. - Bilingual skills and/or strong intercultural
communication and interpersonal skills - Experience maintaining partnerships with employers or community stakeholders is highly
desirable. - Experience with the student lifecycle and how academic choices impact career trajectories.
- Strong
networking skills to advocate for students and secure experiential placement opportunities with external partners. - Proficiency
with career management systems (e.g., Handshake, Symplicity), student information systems (e.g., Colleague, Slate), and Microsoft Office
Suite.
HYBRID/REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY:
- On-site with limited remote work possible. Position will
be housed on the Forest Grove campus with regular presence on the Hillsboro Campus.
Schedule Expectations:
- Standard weekday hours (Monday–Friday)
Travel Requirements:
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Sedentary work – involves sitting most of the time
APPLICATION
PROCESS
To apply, please upload your resume and cover letter along with your Paycom application. Persons who do not follow
and complete the application process are not applicants and will not be considered for employment.
Only qualified applicants will be
contacted for an interview. During the selection process, we will strive to provide timely notifications. The selection process may vary
from recruitment to recruitment but typically includes multiple interviews and may take several weeks depending on the position. All
qualified applicants will be notified once the selection process has closed.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in
the United States at the time of hire and continue to work without employer visa sponsorship, now or in the future.
At
Pacific University, we are dedicated to offering experiences that are authentic, holistic, equity-minded, and responsive. Our communal
success rests on the recognition that complex problems and effective solutions are best approached by teams with a variety of diverse
perspectives. and life experiences. As we continue to develop our equity practices, we actively promote access to opportunities and
equitable pay for all employees.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs
where they are unsure if they can perform every function in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best
candidate for the job and that candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences. If you are interested in
applying, we encourage you to think broadly about how your background and skill set may qualify you for the role.
We,
who make up Pacific University, aspire to become a community of purpose where everyone is enabled to be wholly and comfortably who they are;
accountable for inclusive behaviors and practices; built on trust, civility, care, openness, and honest conversations often around critical
subjects. We know that these values are critical to prepare for a global world with complex problems, through an asset-based mindset so that
everyone is afforded an opportunity to succeed. We believe in fostering a workplace where every employee is respected, their contributions
are valued, and they are provided opportunities to succeed.
Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Diversity.












