Career Coach

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Position Title:

Career Coach

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:

Career Development Coordinator

Job Duties:

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic is seeking an individual passionate about assisting student success and career readiness as a Career Coach.  In this position, you will directly support students with career and employment activities through individual and group career coaching appointments, career education presentations, employer engagements, and career readiness programming. You will be the primary career coach for individuals participating in the UW‑Stout FUSE Initiative (Fast Upskilling for Skills & Employment), a federally funded grant project supporting short-term, employer-aligned training programs as well as serve as liaison to the FUSE learner support hub. You will serve as a liaison to colleges, schools, faculty, and offices within the university structure as part of the Career Education team.

SPECIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Career Coaching & Program Support

• Deliver career readiness service and support for all students, graduates, alumni, traditional, non-traditional and FUSE initiative learners including labor market research, resume development, interview preparation, and job search strategies delivered to individuals and group/classrooms, virtually and in-person.
• Expand access to career resources and support for FUSE participants, ensuring equitable services to diverse and non-traditional student populations engaged in short-term training pathways.
• Serve as a Career Education team liaison to assign academic programs or administrative offices, and part of the short-term learner support hub, providing wrap around student support specific to FUSE participants.
• Support students’ transition from training to employment, with attention to job attainment, onboarding, and retention outcomes aligned with FUSE grant goals.
• Collect, verify, and develop an employment and job outcomes report for FUSE grant participants, including post-completion employment verification, in accordance with grant reporting and evaluation requirements.
• Assist with career outcome follow-up activities, including telephone outreach and email surveys, to support the completion of the Career Services First Destination Report.
• Lead efforts to connect FUSE participants with employer partners through Career Services recruitment events such as career conference, industry/employer spotlights, and direct employment opportunities both on and off campus.
• Utilize career technology platforms and computer network systems to support students’ employment preparation and job market navigation
• Provide responsive student-centered support by adapting services and scheduling to meet the diverse needs of students, including occasional meetings outside of standard business hours.
• Maintain knowledge of campus and community resources and refer students to appropriate university services as needed.

Career Readiness Competency Programming

• Research, develop, and deliver high impact competency-based programs aligned with career services priorities to support positive career outcomes of all students.
• Create program-based pathways for FUSE participants to actively build career skills incorporating and addressing multiple learning modalities
• Collaborate with FUSE grant support team to create and align programming that supports and infuses competency development tailored to short-term learners, course-based activities and employer-aligned programs.
• Create programming impact reports to measure skill improvement of students and grant participants.
• Perform additional duties assigned by the supervisor to support evolving program, grant, or departmental needs.

Applied & Experiential Learning

• Support students in identifying and engaging in applied and experiential learning opportunities, including cooperative education, internships, and field experiences aligned with career interests.
• Serve as a point of contact, in collaboration with Career Services, for student inquiries related to applied and experiential learning options.
• Assist in the development of communication and marketing materials designed to increase student engagement in applied and experiential learning programs.
• Support Career Services and academic programs in implementing practices, processes, and procedures related to experiential learning opportunities.
• Assist with data collection and recordkeeping to ensure accurate reporting of experiential learning outcomes for Career Services, academic programs, and university partners.
• Develop strategies to increase utilization of career services and applied learning opportunities among academic programs or student populations with lower engagement.
• Connect with employers and campus partners to identify new applied learning and employment opportunities for students in the region.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of professionalism and credibility in representing UW‑Stout and the Universities of Wisconsin System.
• Cooperate with and assist staff to ensure high levels of efficiency, collaboration, and office morale.
• Uphold ethical principles and professional standards established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
• Promote career planning, applied learning, and employment as integral components of the educational experience.
• Demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to the needs of diverse student populations, including multicultural students, students with disabilities, online learners, first-generation students, veterans, and non-traditional students.
• Actively representing Career Services in professional associations and professional development activities as appropriate.
• Acknowledge that certain times of the academic year require work beyond a traditional schedule; this is a total-effort position.

Supervision: The Career Coach reports to the Career Development Manager.

About the job

This position is a full time; 4 yr grant funded position (through 2030) by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education – Special Project (FIPSE-SP) Program for the UW-Stout FUSE: Fast Upskilling for Skills and Employment Project.  

This position is a Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (year-round position), however, may be adjusted to meet student needs to involve evening hours.  Limited remote work/telecommuting may be possible (max up to 2 days per week) after completion of a significant training period, successful on-the-job performance, departmental needs assessment and approval. 

Official UW Title (Code) / Job Description:  Career Development Coordinator (AE032)   

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum / Required

• Bachelor’s degree
• 1+ yrs. relevant full time work experience involving career and professional development in Career Services/Student Services at the college/university/k-12 levels, or in human resource, recruitment, workforce development, professional services fields OR equivalent education/training

Highly Desired/Preferred

• Master’s degree
• Demonstrated ability to provide career coaching, including resume development, interviewing techniques, and job search strategies
• Demonstrated ability to deliver services to non-traditional populations
• Demonstrated ability to deliver effective presentations to groups of all sizes, and to provide information with clarity
• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate and execute programs and events
• Ability to navigate and utilize internet-based job search tools
• Demonstrated ability to initiate, build and sustain long-lasting relationships
• Familiarity with recruitment practices of businesses, corporations, and agencies that offer co-op/internship and career opportunities
• Experience with recruitment software, such as Handshake or similar vendor
• Possess computer skills and proficiency working with Microsoft office or google suite software
• Ability to contribute as an enthusiastic member of a fast-paced and team orientated career service staff
• Able to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team setting
• Possess verbal and written communication skills

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

The Career Services office is a dynamic team of dedicated professionals actively integrating career readiness, applied learning and professional skills across the university.  Our mission is to educate, engage and empower students and alumni in navigating career and professional development through employer and faculty/staff partnerships.  UW-Stout’s Career Services Office and its team is regularly receiving recognition through effective delivery of high-quality career programming and events.

Our vision is to continue to be a leader in:

• Providing centralized career resources, programs, services, and technologies
• Integrating applied and experiential learning
• Providing data to support informed career decisions
• Remaining adaptive and flexible in changing career needs for all stakeholders
• Building and nurturing strategic relationships to enhance opportunities for students
• Ultimately ensuring students successful transition from college to career

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Complete applications received by end of day, September 13, 2026 are ensured full consideration.  Applications submitted after September 13, 2026 may be reviewed at the discretion of the search committee or until position is filled.

To apply, click on the APPLY button or go to: https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/careers-jobs

Due to system limitations, applicants may upload no more than five (5) attachments. Please combine documents where appropriate.

Required application materials:

• Cover letter (* See below)
• Resume

*Please use your cover letter to speak to each of the Minimum/Required Qualifications for this position as listed above. For each required qualification, describe your relevant experience, using specific examples from your work history to illustrate how your experience satisfies the requirement.

All final candidates will be asked to provide names, email contact information, and/or phone numbers for three (3) references, with at least one being from a manager or supervisor, during the interview process.  

Official transcripts required at the time of hire.

For questions regarding this position or recruitment, please contact:

Search Chair: Bryan Barts, Career Services Director

Email: [email protected]

If you need assistance with the online application process or if you submitted your application prior to uploading all the required application materials, please contact:

Search Coordinator:  Nora Winkler, Career Services Office Manager

Phone: 715-232-1601

Email: [email protected]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Minimum starting salary of $48,000.00, commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. A successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment and for maintaining work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact our Human Resources office, Phone: 715.232.2149.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Participates in the campus-wide career services community, providing input to leadership regarding the development of advising, recruitment, and co/curricular programs offered by the school/college/unit

• Develops and delivers career development programming and resource materials across various mediums to provide education to students

• Responds to questions and provides information regarding student services, policies, procedures, and employment preparation

• May identify and maintain a professional network of employers or other stakeholders to facilitate career exploration and employment opportunities for students

• Educates or advises students and recent alumni individually or in groups through various mediums about career exploration, self-assessment, skills, materials development, and career decisions

Guidelines to ensure consideration:    

• Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required application materials.     

• Within your cover letter address each of the Minimum/Required Qualifications specified for this position. For each required qualification, describe your relevant experience, using specific examples from your work history to illustrate how your experience satisfies the requirement.  

It is the policy of UW-Stout Polytechnic to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance, or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact us using the information below. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodation for a qualified individual's disability.   

The Universities of Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package including participation in the Wisconsin State retirement plan, demonstrating our commitment to the diverse needs of our employees. 

• Employee Benefits:  https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/

• To calculate the estimated value of your total compensation, use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator | Employee Benefits (wisconsin.edu)

Employment is contingent upon the final candidate’s completing a criminal background check and being cleared to work by the Human Resources Office.  Employment is also contingent upon the final candidate passing reference checks and an essential job function test, as applicable. The reference check process includes asking the final candidates’ professional references questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. Reference checks must be conducted at a minimum with three professional references, at least one of which must be a prior supervisor.

Final candidates with previous employment within the Universities of Wisconsin and State of WI agencies will be subject to additional reference checks. 

In response to a public records request, the Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in their online application, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

UW-Stout Polytechnic is committed to providing safety and security of all members of our community in accordance with the Clery Act. For campus safety information and crime statistics visit: https://www.uwstout.edu/life-stout/police-and-parking/clery-information

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.