Career Services Coordinator

Full Time / Monday – Friday / 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

At Ridgewater College, the Career Services Coordinator is responsible for the leadership, development, and implementation of comprehensive career readiness, career exploration/development and career planning services for students, and serves as the primary contact for employers seeking to hire our graduates. This is a role that allows you to be innovative while making an impact and helping students find their futures. You’ll be part of a dynamic team that supports one another across our campuses in Willmar and Hutchinson.

This position works directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and fully supports the College’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

At Ridgewater College, the Career Services Coordinator is responsible for the leadership, development, and implementation of comprehensive career readiness, career exploration/development and career planning services for students, and serves as the primary contact for employers seeking to hire our graduates. This is a role that allows you to be innovative while making an impact and helping students find their futures. You’ll be part of a dynamic team that supports one another across our campuses in Willmar and Hutchinson.
This position works directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and fully supports the College’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

What You’ll Do
Develop and coordinate all Career Services daily operations, career-related data systems, and all career-related events (career and job fairs, etc.) and outreach activities
Create, promote, and manage all career-readiness programming
Collaborate with the College’s Secondary Perkins Coordinator and technical program advisors to integrate career development and planning in programs and advising
Plan, develop and implement strategies to expand collaboration with high schools in providing career exploration and development activities to prospective students in grades 9-12.
Provide coaching to students on resume and cover letter preparation, job search strategies, and effective interviewing
Develop and deliver programs and activities to promote development of key soft skills for employment success including but not limited to interpersonal skills, listening, responsibility, problem-solving, teamwork and professionalism
Serve as the main point of contact for career and employment activities with community stakeholders, including Chambers, EDCs, etc
Develop and nurture career-related community relationships and partnerships
Work with industry to promote internships; serve as liaison for internships between faculty and industry.
Collaborate with middle school and high school staff and instructors to develop and nurture secondary to post-secondary partnerships for career pathway development
Develop recruitment strategies for employers to engage with academic programs

Required Qualifications    
Two-year degree and three years of relevant work experience
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills to serve and collaborate with campus and community partners
Effective written communication and presentation skills
Experience working with diverse populations
Ability to effectively establish priorities, work independently, and execute objectives with minimal supervision
Ability to create and maintain effective and productive relationships with a variety of stakeholders including students, faculty and industry employers.
Demonstrated skill in use of computers, internet and various software packages such as MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.

Preferred Qualifications    
Bachelor’s degree
Experience working in a higher education institution, preferably in a student affairs related role (such as advising, counseling, program development, etc.) at a 2-year community and technical college
Knowledge of Minnesota State and college policies, programs and procedures
Experience with grants
Bilingual, particularly English/Spanish or English/Somali
Knowledge and experience using and interpreting career, occupation and labor market information
Ability to gather, analyze, interpret and present data and create reports for administration, college staff and faculty, students and outside entities

The State of Minnesota offers a variety of benefits designed to support your skills and career development, and provide you with the tools and resources for a healthy personal life.

Our exceptional benefits balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life balance. These benefits, along with your salary, make up your total compensation.

Benefits available* include:

Medical and dental plans
Generous vacation, holiday, and sick days
Prescription drug coverage
Health care spending and savings accounts
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Wellness programs and resources
Convenience clinics
Public pension plans
Deferred compensation plan
Health care savings plan
Life, short and long-term disability, and AD&D insurance
Credit union memberships
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
*Programs, resources, and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

 AA/EEO employer - A member of Minnesota State