Description

The Gateway Career Center at Lafayette College seeks a dynamic, student-centered professional to serve as the Assistant/Associate Director of Career Development & Inclusion Specialist. This individual will play a dual role: providing comprehensive career counseling to undergraduate students and leading the Center's strategic initiatives for access, equity, and inclusion.

As a core member of the career counseling team, the Assistant/Associate Director will guide students in exploring majors, preparing for internships and full-time jobs, developing résumés and cover letters, honing interview skills, building professional networks, conducting employer and industry research, and navigating the graduate school application process.

Simultaneously, the successful candidate will serve as the Gateway Career Center's point person for inclusion initiatives, driving the department's efforts to implement equitable practices and create a welcoming, empowering environment for all students-particularly those from traditionally marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds.

Key Responsibilities:

Career Counseling & Student Support (50%)

• Provide individual and group career advising to undergraduate students across all class years and majors.

• Assist students in exploring career paths, selecting majors, and identifying experiential learning opportunities.

• Guide students through résumé and cover letter writing, interview preparation, job/internship search strategies, and graduate school planning.

• Lead workshops, panels, and classroom presentations on career-related topics.

• Utilize technology and current trends to deliver innovative, culturally responsive career education.

Access, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership (40%)

• Lead the development and implementation of inclusion-focused career programs, services, and resources.

• Serve as an advocate for students from historically marginalized populations, ensuring their career development needs are understood and addressed.

• Collaborate with campus partners (e.g., multicultural offices, academic support services, faculty) to promote inclusive engagement with career services.

• Audit and improve departmental practices and policies to ensure equitable service delivery and access.

• Track participation and impact of inclusion initiatives; assess outcomes and make data-informed improvements.

Administrative & Strategic Support (10%)

• Serve as a thought partner to the AVP on diversity and inclusion matters.

• Represent the Gateway Career Center on institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion committees and initiatives.

• Stay abreast of evolving trends in employment, technology, and higher education to maintain cutting-edge practices.

• Assist with internal staff training and development related to inclusive practices.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience working with undergraduate students in a higher education or career development setting.

• Demonstrated commitment to access, equity, and inclusion, with experience designing and implementing programs for diverse student populations.

• Strong knowledge of career development theories, job market trends, employer expectations, and emerging technologies.

• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, communication, and collaboration skills.

• Cultural competence and the ability to work effectively with students and colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with career services technologies (e.g., Handshake, Big Interview, VMock).

• Knowledge of identity-based career challenges and best practices for inclusive student engagement.

• Proven ability to lead organizational change and staff training around equity and inclusion.

Compensation:

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Lafayette College offers a competitive benefits package.

Application Instructions

Please provide a cover letter, resume and contact information for three references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Lafayette College does not discriminate, or permit discrimination, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, age, military or veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law in any educational programs and activities it operates, including admissions or employment, as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (which requires that the College not discriminate on the basis of sex); the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (which require that the College not discriminate on the basis of disability); Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which requires that the College not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin); Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which requires that the College not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin); the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (which requires that the College not discriminate on the basis of age); and other applicable laws and College policies. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Director of Educational Equity/Title IX Coordinator. Copies of relevant policies and procedures can be found at https://sash.lafayette.edu/policies-laws/.