Career Services Specialist

Mission Statement

The mission of the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities, advance social and economic justice, and eradicate pressing societal problems in complex and culturally diverse urban environments throughout Southern California, the nation, and the world. This mission is achieved through experiential, practice-based, and competency-driven education, alongside culturally responsive training that is informed by evidence and best practices.

Position Overview

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work invites applications for a full-time, fixed-term Career Services Specialist. This position serves as key contact for the delivery of specialized career services to students and alumni including but not limited to international students and those seeking employment with highly competitive employers or in emerging fields. The ideal candidate will leverage extensive work experience to assist clients in navigating industry specific career paths and recruiting processes. The position will be responsible for brand enhancement relevant to regional and global employer engagement opportunities in advanced fields. This position will also collaborate with career services leadership, fellow advisors, and relevant stakeholders to identify areas for service enhancements.

Key Responsibilities

• Career Advising: Help students and alumni navigate industry specific career paths and recruiting processes, utilizing client tracking/case management software. Conduct complex career assessments, gathers informational resources, performs job searches, and assists with identifying and evaluating career path options.

• Counseling: Utilize varied career counseling and coaching approaches (e.g., mentoring, training, remote consulting) to navigate industry specific career paths and maximize desirable employment outcomes for students/alumni of highly specialized degree programs. Gather and disseminates marketplace intelligence for varied career fields to relevant stakeholders (e.g., updates to best practices, technical requirements).

• Relationship Development: Proactively identify, build, and maintain strategic relationships with local, regional, national, and international employers and organizations. Encourage and facilitate recruitment for employment and/or internships. Stay current with recruiting, labor-market, and emerging technology trends, helping students and alumni identify value propositions for personal brands and promotion strategies.

• Strategic Planning: Assist the development of short- and long-term strategic plans for career services. Collaborate with leadership, fellow advisors and relevant stakeholders to identify areas for service improvement. Responsible for brand enhancement relevant to global employer engagement opportunities. Attend interdepartmental and central university meetings, and participates in professional organizations and conferences, representing career services.

• Project Leadership: Lead the administration and coordination of varied projects, providing quality control, and assists the development and implementation of project goals and strategies. Conceptualize, plans, and executes professional development opportunities (e.g., job fairs, career workshops, lectures). Manage student/alumni outreach, maintaining awareness of engagement opportunities.

• Commitment to Diversity: Promote an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in counseling, higher education, human resources, or related field.

• Experience: At least 4 years counseling and human resources experience in a corporate or higher education environment, or similar industry. Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources.

• Leadership: Leadership and guidance skills with a proven ability to manage, balance, and prioritize different tasks and projects. In-depth knowledge of federal immigration regulations, interpreting and providing guidance as to their relevance to international students.

• Project Management: Strong project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate with faculty and staff.

• Communication Skills: Superior level of professionalism, exceptional attention to detail, and exemplary written and oral communication, presentation, and public-speaking skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, human resources, or related field.

• Advanced Experience: 7+ years in counseling and human resources experience in a corporate or higher education environment, or similar industry.

• Interprofessional Education: Experience interacting with diverse groups, exercising diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion.

• Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying up to date on employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources

Compensation: The annual base range for this position is $78,709.17 - $81,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Location

This position is based at the University Park Campus in Los Angeles, California.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree Minimum Experience: 4 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Bachelor’s degree in counseling, higher education, human resources, or related field. Four years’ counseling and human resources experience in a corporate or higher education environment, or similar industry. Leadership and guidance skills with a proven ability to manage, balance, and prioritize different tasks and projects. In-depth knowledge of federal immigration regulations, interpreting and providing guidance as to their relevance to international students. Advanced knowledge of employer recruiting strategies, job market trends, and occupational, career, and employment information sources. Superior level of professionalism, exceptional attention to detail, and exemplary written and oral communication, presentation, and public-speaking skills. Demonstrated experience interacting with diverse individuals and groups, exercising diplomacy, good judgment, and discretion.