Career Counsellor - Limited Term

Tracking Code: req952

Faculty/Department: Office of Student Life

Number of Positions: 1

Appointment Type: Limited Term 12 months

Hours of Work: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: Level 9 - Starting Salary, Step 1 $70,765

Posting Date: November 28, 2023

Closing Date: December 12, 2023

Job Summary:

The Career Counsellor promotes the academic, personal and professional development of students and alumni at Ontario Tech University with focus on career planning, employment preparation, and the transition to full time employment.

Nature of work:
Reporting to the Manager, Career Centre, the Counsellor is responsible for providing counseling for students and alumni as well as contributing to broader career development programming that promotes student success at the University. The Career Counsellor is also responsible for liaising and building relationships with staff and faculty, student organizations, colleagues within other student service areas, as well as external community partners and social organizations to develop and implement appropriate service levels for the counselling service and to facilitate ongoing support for university students.

The incumbent is also considered a key player who fosters an overall culture of learning, leadership, involvement and service among University students.

Responsibilities/accountabilities:

Student Counselling

Provides individual and group counselling and support for all students and recent graduates and develops and implements career development supports. This includes:

• Counselling students (undergraduate, graduate and alumni) and using motivational interviewing skills to identify their academic strengths and weaknesses by assessing their skills, values and interests and understanding how they relate to academic and co-curricular options and career opportunities
• Educating students on the career development process and supporting them in making decisions about careers and employment through individual counselling, drop-in sessions, workshops, resource development and other services.
• Assisting students and recent graduates with the acquisition of relevant and current information (print and electronic) about careers and the labor market and models techniques to aid students in developing their work search knowledge, skills and strategies.
• Administering and interpreting self-assessment exercises as required.
• Referring students to other counselling and resource agencies if assistance is needed beyond the scope of the career counselling position
• Maintaining student files and tracking usage for reporting purposes

Career Development Programming

Leads in the design, development and implementation of career development programming for students that is grounded in theory and research. This includes:

• Developing and delivering career development programming that utilizes theoretical approaches and best practices grounded in labour market research for students, including experiential learning transition programs, career development workshops, and discussion groups
• Collaborating with student groups to organize and facilitate career exploration panels, and to take advantage of career services as early as possible in their academic programs
• Developing information sessions and workshops for students in collaboration with faculty on strategies to support career development initiatives in courses and programs
• Developing and facilitating small group workshops and seminars focusing on career and employment topics that are tailored to specific academic programs, career areas, and/or specific needs
• Assisting with departmental projects and other duties as assigned and representing the Career Centre on campus committees and events

Resource Development

Leads in the development and production of online resources to support career development by:

• Developing resources, exercises and processes for students to support career development/exploration, in collaboration with other Student Life staff, including printed materials, multi-media presentations, online learning activities, tutorials and videos
• Liaising with Ontario Tech University faculty to ensure appropriate resources are available for students
• Liaising with Ontario Tech University library to understand available library resources
• Undertaking to continuous professional learning and development

Assessment

Formulates program outcomes and metrics to measure learning and development among students and to demonstrate program effectiveness and success by:

• Working with colleagues and campus partners to articulate program outcomes for specific projects and assessing progress toward those outcomes
• Engaging students, faculty, and student affairs professionals in collaborative assessment, both informal and formal
• Evaluating and reporting on initiatives to determine whether efforts are meeting student needs and generating the desired outcomes
• Maintaining records and data to be used in service evaluation
• Evaluating and reporting on initiatives to determine whether efforts are meeting the students’ needs and generating the desired outcomes to make evidence-based decisions on future programming

Required Skills:

• Ability to use knowledge of career development theory, motivational interviewing, higher order thinking, attending skills, empathy, problem solving, intervention strategies.
• Micro counselling skills (short-term therapy and/or coaching techniques)
• Group workshop and seminar facilitation (group counselling)
• Must possess judgment, particularly with respect to confidential information, patience, flexibility and adaptability
• Must have the capacity to handle a heavy workload
• Must be able to maintain credibility of students, faculty, staff and senior administrators
• Excellent writing and speaking skills, including public speaking
• Excellent time management and organizational skills as well as computer and other necessary web based technical skills
• Ability to work with people having a wide variety of life and school experiences
• Ability to think innovatively
• Ability to identify problems and skills to explore them
• Able to travel to and work out of two locations

Required Education:

• Master’s Degree in Counselling or Psychology, with focus in Career Counselling, or related degree
• An equivalent combination of education and related experience may be considered

* Verification of Academic credentials may be required

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit in electronic format a covering letter and their resume. Applications will be accepted until December 12, 2023 or until a suitable candidate is found. We appreciate all applications received; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

This position falls within the bargaining unit represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the university and the OPSEU. To the extent that policies are not included in the collective agreement, employment will also be governed by the university’s policies which may also be found on our website https://ontariotechu.ca and which may be amended from time-to-time.

Ontario Tech University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, while especially encouraging applications from women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous Peoples in Canada will be given priority.

Ontario Tech University respects people's different needs and therefore will take all reasonable steps to ensure accommodation for applicants where appropriate. The University is also committed to ensuring that confidentiality is maintained throughout all aspects of the recruitment cycle.

If you require accommodation, please contact Julie Day, Health and Disability Management Specialist. For more information about the universities policies for accommodating employees with disabilities please review the university’s Accessibility Policy

The university acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.

Job Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Expected Start Date: 1/8/2024

Expected End Date: 12/20/2024