The Gateway Career Center at Lafayette College seeks a dynamic, student-centered professional to serve as the Assistant/Associate Director of Career Development & Inclusion Specialist. This individual will play a dual role: providing comprehensive career counseling to undergraduate students and leading the Center’s strategic initiatives for access, equity, and inclusion. As a core member of the career counseling team, the Assistant/Associate Director will guide students in exploring majors, preparing for internships and full-time jobs, developing résumés and cover letters, honing interview skills, building professional networks, conducting employer and industry research, and navigating the graduate school application process. Simultaneously, the successful candidate will serve as the Gateway Career Center’s point person for inclusion initiatives, driving the department’s efforts to implement equitable practices and create a welcoming, empowering environment for all students—particularly those from traditionally marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds.
Key Responsibilities:
Career Counseling & Student Support (50%)
● Provide individual and group career advising to undergraduate students across all class years and majors.
● Assist students in exploring career paths, selecting majors, and identifying experiential learning opportunities.
● Guide students through résumé and cover letter writing, interview preparation, job/internship search strategies, and graduate school planning.
● Lead workshops, panels, and classroom presentations on career-related topics.
● Utilize technology and current trends to deliver innovative, culturally responsive career education.
Access, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership (40%)
● Lead the development and implementation of inclusion-focused career programs, services, and resources.
● Serve as an advocate for students from historically marginalized populations, ensuring their career development needs are understood and addressed.
● Collaborate with campus partners (e.g., multicultural offices, academic support services, faculty) to promote inclusive engagement with career services.
● Audit and improve departmental practices and policies to ensure equitable service delivery and access.
● Track participation and impact of inclusion initiatives; assess outcomes and make data-informed improvements.
Administrative & Strategic Support (10%)
● Serve as a thought partner to the AVP on diversity and inclusion matters.
● Represent the Gateway Career Center on institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion committees and initiatives.
● Stay abreast of evolving trends in employment, technology, and higher education to maintain cutting-edge practices.
● Assist with internal staff training and development related to inclusive practices.
Required Qualifications:
● Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a closely related field.
● Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience working with undergraduate students in a higher education or career development setting.
● Demonstrated commitment to access, equity, and inclusion, with experience designing and implementing programs for diverse student populations.
● Strong knowledge of career development theories, job market trends, employer expectations, and emerging technologies.
● Excellent interpersonal, presentation, communication, and collaboration skills.
● Cultural competence and the ability to work effectively with students and colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications:
● Experience with career services technologies (e.g., Handshake, Big Interview, VMock).
● Knowledge of identity-based career challenges and best practices for inclusive student engagement.
● Proven ability to lead organizational change and staff training around equity and inclusion.
Compensation:
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Lafayette College offers a competitive benefits package.
Application Instructions:
Please provide a cover letter, resume and contact information for three references. https://apply.interfolio.com/169947
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. The College seeks to promote diversity in its many manifestations. These include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and place of origin. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced.