Graduate Career Exploration Specialist

Cornell University's Graduate School enables graduate and professional students and graduate faculty to thrive intellectually and achieve academic success. The Graduate School serves 4,800 students across nearly 100 fields of study. Through the graduate field system, the Graduate School provides the administrative structure to allow fields to devote their efforts and resources to research, scholarship, instruction, and professional development for their students.

Formed in 2022, the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development works with graduate students and postdocs to explore various career options through individual advising, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities and partners with faculty, graduate field staff, and other campus offices to raise awareness of career possibilities. We strive to empower students, strengthen skill development and professional preparation, demystify the job search process, and connect students to opportunities and resources useful to their career interests.

The Graduate Career Exploration Specialist will play an important role in expanding the current services of the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development to meet the growing needs for more specialized programming and discipline-specific advising, specifically in the areas of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

The Graduate Career Exploration Specialist creates and supports opportunities for arts, humanities, and social sciences doctoral students across the Ithaca, NY campus to explore diverse career options and develop a refined job search strategy. This position works collaboratively with other staff specializing in other populations and disciplines (STEM PhD students, postdoctoral scholars) to meet Graduate School commitments to support post-graduation success in preparing for a full spectrum of careers, as part of the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development.

The Career Specialist assesses faculty/student needs and perceptions, builds supports, and creates programs and resources responsive to these identified needs. They design, develop, and deliver new programming and opportunities for doctoral students to explore and pursue career options within and especially beyond the academic tenure track (e.g., publishing, instructional design, consulting, policy). This role emphasizes the discipline-specific needs and challenges of students seeking non-faculty careers after pursuing doctoral study in arts, humanities, or social sciences.

The Career Specialist holds a regular schedule of one-on-one consultation timeslots bookable by all Graduate School students seeking career advising and receives referrals from colleagues for students who would benefit from more in-depth and just-in-time support. Through consultations and small- and large-group programming, they assist graduate students and postdocs to develop career-seeking skills, make informed decisions about their career paths after Cornell, and explore relevant employment sectors and opportunities.

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Professional Development, the Career Specialist will work within a team of 4-5 peers specializing in career advising and professional development for research degree students (e.g., PhD, MFA, MS) and postdoctoral scholars, with partners across the Graduate School (a campus hub for academic and administrative support for graduate education), and within a broader ecosystem of career specialists around campus (many of whom work with complimentary constituent audiences, such as undergraduates and professional degree students).

Success Factors:

• A positive and proactive attitude towards introducing new ideas and supporting new efforts
• Commitment to teamwork and/or experience successfully communicating in complex teams
• Interested in sharing and adopting best practices for the benefit of a constituent population
• Flexibility and comfort with ambiguity
• Attentive to student well-being
• Ability to build and maintain collegial relationships and engage in respectful dialogue

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Cornell offers competitive compensation, generous time-off, and great benefits ...More on Cornell Benefits

Interested applicants must submit a resume and cover letter in the resume section of the application.

This position does not support visa sponsorship.

This is an on-site role on the Ithaca, NY campus with a high need for meetings with students and colleagues. However, the Graduate School supports a hybrid work model at the discretion of the supervisor and depending on the needs of the position (e.g., 1 regular remote day to focus on project work or occasional hybrid work). This position may require occasional evening and weekend availability to support Graduate School programs, events, and initiatives. All staff are expected to contribute in some way to major Graduate School-wide events such as orientation and PhD recognition.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Knowledge of or interest in working with research-degree graduate students (e.g., PhD, MS).
• Knowledge about the discipline-specific needs and challenges of students pursuing advanced study in arts, humanities, or social sciences.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color.
• Demonstrated ability to identify desired outcomes, implement programs to achieve those outcomes, and adapt/respond to assessment data.
• Initiative, organizational skills and good time management.
• Excellent oral and presentation skills as well as written communication skills.
• Professionalism, tact, and sound judgment in appropriate handling of sensitive or confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD degree in an arts, humanities, or social sciences field and previous work experience in student services administration, career services, or in a related professional sector.
• Experience in developing and initiating new projects or programs, either for a broad or targeted population.
• Experience or training in advising/coaching graduate or professional degree students or adult learners.
• Experience with running professional development or experiential programming in areas such as writing, editing, teaching/training or related academic or professional skills.
• Knowledge of graduate education policies and practices.
• Experience in working with program/office budget spreadsheets and participant datasets.
• Knowledge about discipline-specific needs and challenges of students and their faculty advisors regarding seeking non-faculty careers after pursuing doctoral study in arts, humanities, or social sciences.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

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