Career Development International Student Specialist

Job Summary

This position supports UBC Okanagan international students to become career ready graduates. Part of this innovative service includes wrap around supports in the area of career development for international students, in collaboration with the Global Engagement Office. This position will provide the highest quality of integrated career advising to support international graduate and undergraduate students. This position will use career development theories, ethics, modalities, principles, and tools to enhance career development, and connect students to career building opportunities both within and beyond the University. This position develops, delivers and evaluates in-person and web-based career development and work search programs, events, workshops and resources for international students and alumni. It fosters and maintains relationships with campus partners and prospective employers to build resources and programs to support undergraduate and graduate career development and learning.

Organizational Status
Reporting to the Manager, Career Development, this role also has dual reporting into the Director of Academic and Career Development and the Director, Global Engagement. This position works closely with colleagues in the AVP Students portfolio and within the Faculties to effectively deliver services that meet the academic, career and professional development needs of students and alumni. This position initiates, develops, and maintains excellent working relationships with colleagues across campus supporting workplace and experiential learning programming. This position implements their work in full consideration of the needs of students and employers.

Work Performed

Career Education

• Provides one to one and group sessions for all international students including all undergraduate year levels, graduate students, and across all faculties and disciplines.
• Career development mapping year by year to provide timely support to international students
• Develop metrics to assess program delivery for continuous improvement
• Advising students on a variety of career development and work search strategies including, career exploration, self-exploration, inspired actions and goal setting, labour market trends, choosing a major of study, gaining work and volunteer experience, resumes, CV's, job and professional school interviews, graduate school options and applications, networking and connecting to the workplace community.
• Develops and facilitates tailored workshops for international students and alumni in collaboration with campus partners and faculties on a variety of career related topics including career exploration, resumes, networking, job search strategies, interviewing skills, salary negotiation, workplace professional skills etc.
• Develops strategies and implements and evaluates initiatives to engage students in the career development process via the web. This could include production and maintenance of the website, social networking sites, and other web-based resources and tools

Cross Campus Collaboration

• Collaborates with faculty partners to identify, develop and evaluate customized events and programs for their students and alumni. This includes planning and designing the program(s), promotion, coordinating faculty or industry participation, and coordinating the involvement of other staff.
• Works in collaboration with the AVPS portfolio to provide specialized career development for international students.
• Partnering with WIL partners such as the Student Experience Office, Co-op and Community Service Learning, to ensure consistency in career education programming.
• Engaging with student course unions and clubs to co-host career related events.
• Facilitates workshops for the Career Readiness and Professional Development Micro-Credential in collaboration with the College of Graduate Studies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Creates opportunities for students to connect with and learn from employers and other members of workplace community. For example: invites and prepares employers (e.g. recruiters, HR managers) and professional association members, who are subject matter experts, to participate in career development programs, panels, and career events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Responsible for developing and implementing effective career education programs for students and alumni. Responsible for planning and executing effective career development programs and disseminating accurate information. Consequences of such decisions can affect future career management and may affect employment outcomes for students. Ineffective recruitment advice would have a serious negative impact on relationships with UBC students, Faculty and departments, and Employers. Dissatisfied prospective students and/or alumni would contribute to poor public relations for the University, which in turn would have a negative effect on the University's ability to raise funds and recruit outstanding prospective students.

Supervision Received

Working under the direction of the Manager Career Development and in close collaboration with ACD and GEO Leadership the incumbent acts independently and exercises considerable judgment and innovation in working with students, faculty and staff.

Supervision Given
May supervise professional and student staff directly and manage numerous volunteers on various projects. Responsible for developmental evaluation of professional and student staff. Responsible for on-going mentoring and professional development of student leaders and staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of three to four years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in a relevant discipline, such as Masters in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in career counseling or development.
• Certified Career Development Practitioner certification an asset.
• Holistic Narrative Career Practitioner certificate an asset.
• Design Thinking training an asset.
• Experience working with and designing career related materials and programs for international students, aboriginal students and students with a disability an asset.
• Experience creating and delivering career and work search instructional workshops.
• Experience advising and instructing clients on a variety of career development and work search issues such as career exploration, resumes, networking, interviews, labour market information etc.
• Experience in using the web to instruct and engage students in career development issues desirable.
• Experience leading and participating in projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with social software and networking applications such as blogs, podcasts, wiki's, Instagram, would be an asset.
• Proven competence in planning and conducting programs or special events.
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated presentation and public speaking skills for facilitation in large classrooms.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to work effectively with all levels of University personnel.
• May need to accommodate flexible hours to attend community events and conferences, and or delivering workshops or providing training evenings and weekends.