Career Coach
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Full-Time
Competitive
OfficeExecutive
Reporting to a Manager for Student Services, this position serves as a member of the student services team for the LSU Olinde Career Center: Provides career coaching to students and alumni - potentially focused on a specific population or industry cluster; empowers students to explore their major and careers, understand themselves and gain experience to complement their academic careers and achieve their post-graduation definition of success. Expands the career ecosystem within the broader university by building professional relationships with faculty and campus partners; providing resources and support to integrate Ready to Roar framework into all aspects of the LSU student experience.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS POSITION INCLUDE:
Provides guidance, coaching and support to students throughout their career development process; including major/career exploration; experience building; and professional transition.
Designs and implements programmatic efforts to scale career readiness services and resources.
Liaise with faculty, campus partners, academic departments, and employers to promote career development and advance the Ready to Roar career readiness proficiencies.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACT:
Expand a Culture of Career Readiness within Key Campus Units
Career Coaches act as ambassadors of career readiness across LSU’s campus. By building intentional partnerships with faculty, academic advisors, student organizations, and support offices, coaches can embed the Ready to Roar framework into coursework and co-curricular activities. This integration ensures students begin thinking about their long-term goals early and see career readiness as an essential part of their academic journey, not just a “senior year” task. Coaches can also support faculty by providing career-related classroom content, co-developing assignments, and serving as thought partners in aligning academic learning with professional competencies.
Expand Employer Engagement within the Student Experience
Understanding the world of work is integral to a student’s career preparation, the Career Coach will have the opportunity to develop unique programs to support student learning and connect students with employers from varied industries and companies. By fostering these relationships, coaches contribute to a stronger, more vibrant career ecosystem where students can access industry insights, expand their professional networks, and gain opportunities that align with their aspirations.
Empower Students in their Personal Definition of Success
Every LSU student has a unique vision of success after graduation, whether that involves graduate school, entering the workforce, or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. Career Coaches play a pivotal role in helping students clarify their values, strengths, and goals while providing the tools and encouragement needed to pursue them. By equipping students with self-awareness and practical strategies, Coaches empower them to take ownership of their career journey and to graduate not just with a degree, but with a plan.
ATTRIBUTES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:
Unequivocally student-centered in every aspect of decision-making. Is student-oriented even when it requires creativity or challenging the status quo.
Ability to build and maintain professional relationships of trust and support with colleagues across the campus community.
Committed to innovation, creativity, and outside-the-box thinking while being dedicated to high-quality work, professionalism, and results. Strives to be better tomorrow than they were yesterday.
Effective communicator who has a genuine sense of respect and appreciation for the community we serve.
Skilled project manager who can plan, organize, and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
Active learner who is in constant pursuit of building knowledge from known experts to best meet the needs of students.
Ability to demonstrate effective customer service skills: kind, helpful, and easy to work with.
ABOUT THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS PRIORITIES:
Three priorities guide our work in the Division of Student Affairs. Foremost, we maintain a commitment to quality which is rooted in the belief that LSU students deserve our best effort. Every interaction we have with students should communicate care, relevance, polish, and attention to detail. We work to ensure every space, place, and staff-to-student interaction communicates a sense of home to students. Finally, we design programs, services, events, and experiences with everyone in mind.
ABOUT THE LSU OLINDE CAREER CENTER:
Our team assists students and alumni in choosing careers, obtaining career-related work experiences, developing job search skills, and securing employment or admission to graduate or professional school. In addition to major and career coaching, our office houses student employment, and student financial management services focused on budgeting and managing debt.
In each of these areas, our work is guided by three priorities: commitment to quality, communicating a sense of home to students, and building programs and experiences with everyone in mind. These priorities inspire our work toward improving the career outcomes of students and building a career ecosystem that integrates career development throughout the student experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Direct Student Support (50%)
Coach undergraduate and graduate students, along with alumni, individually on holistic career development topics, providing front line advocacy and support. Translates department efforts, initiatives, and goals to students through interactions at programs, services, events and experiences. Designs and implements programmatic efforts to scale career readiness services and resources.
Academic Integration (35%)
Expands a culture of career within the LSU community at large, propagates the importance of gaining work experience that complements academic majors, and preparing for a transition to life after college (employment or graduate study). Liaise with academic departments, faculty and campus staff to promote career development and readiness for students. Communicates with appropriate administrators, staff, and faculty about the career development needs of their students and develop plans to address those needs.
Quality Control (10%)
Ensures every aspect of programmatic outputs including administrative tasks, implementation, and overall design exudes a high degree of quality. Embraces and executes the marginal gains approach and seeks to improve level of all services, events, programs, and experiences in the department for continuous improvement every academic year.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
Other duties as assigned by the Senior Director and direct supervisor. Engages in continuous development through participation in campus, local, regional, and national professional organization opportunities. This includes but is not limited to: efforts that support broad division/institution efforts such as Move-In Day, Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Disability Services Finals Testing, other special projects, etc.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s Degree
One year of professional related work experience. Two years of graduate assistantship qualifies.
LSU values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply— a degree is not required as long as the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s Degree in higher education administration, college student development, college student personnel administration, or a closely related field.
Experience working in a university career services office.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS/EXPECTATIONS:
As with all LSU employees, due to this position title and/or responsibilities, this position has an obligation to assist students in the acquisition of necessary services. Should a student appear in need of or seek assistance with issues of an emotional, behavioral, or mental health related matter they should be referred to the proper service within the Student Health Center. In situations where the student creates an impression that they are a danger to themselves or others, the advisor should immediately contact the Care Team, the Dean of Students or the appropriate law enforcement agency. The employee outside of those rights contained within FERPA should create no impression of client or patient confidentiality.
APPLICATIONS:
Applications will be accepted online on the LSU Careers website. The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Requested application materials include a letter of interest; curriculum vitae or resume; and the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least three professional references. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.
Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!
Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.
All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.
For questions or concerns related to updating your application with attachments (e.g., resumes, RS:17 documents), date of birth, or reactivating applications, please contact the LSU Human Resources Management Office at 225-578-8200 or email HR@lsu.edu. For questions or concerns regarding the status of your application or salary ranges, please contact the department using the information provided in the Special Instructions section of this job posting.