The Position:

Coordinator for Professional Development

Job Summary:

The Muhlenberg Career Center partners with students, faculty, staff, employers, and alumni to develop innovative career exploration resources and programs. We help students and alumni prepare for life-long career satisfaction through a variety of one-on-one interactions, digital resources, curricular and co-curricular programs, and intentional partnerships. 

The Center is seeking a Coordinator for Professional Development to join a high-performing, nationally recognized team committed to creating an environment of opportunity and transforming how students connect their liberal arts education to meaningful careers. This 10-month position is structured in alignment with the academic calendar and is perfect for a candidate that prefers or requires summers off. Reporting to the Director of Employer & Alumni Engagement, this role is ideal for someone who has spent years building professional experience and is now energized by the idea of bringing those experiences to a new opportunity to pay it forward in a mission-driven environment. The Coordinator can expect that a percentage of their time will be spent engaging with student career coaching appointments and the remaining time will be spent creating and executing professional development programs to elevate career services at Muhlenberg for our students, alumni, and employer partners. 

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Muhlenberg Externship Program Administration

• Develop relationships with alumni and employer stakeholders to create and execute robust externship opportunities.
• Create and deliver workshops to educate students on short-term professional shadowing experiences, networking techniques, and other relevant career development needs.
• Manage logistics, communication, application and selection process for formal externships spanning multiple diverse sectors and academic disciplines.

Road Trips and Employer Site Visits

• Plan and lead off-campus employer visits that immerse students in workplace environments across industries.
• Keep detailed participation data, and engage with pre and post-testing to measure student learning and engagement.
• Coordinate travel and lodging logistics, brief students on expectations, and deliver summary reports for program donors.

Student Grants & Funding Initiatives

• Administer career development grants in accordance with donor expectations that support students pursuing experiential opportunities.
• Manage the application cycle, communicate with recipients, partner with the Business Office to steward funding responsibly.

Career Counseling/Coaching

• Assist students in clarifying academic and career goals through individual appointments.
• Assist students by fostering meaningful alumni and employer connections.
• Help students in crafting and improving resumes, cover letters, digital profiles, and other career collaterals.
• Help students prepare for interviews by providing techniques, training, and mock-interview opportunities.
• Serves as a positive example of workplace behaviors, including punctuality, responsiveness, discretion, and dependability.

Additional Responsibilities

• Serves on College-wide committees as appropriate for the Career Center’s mission and strategic vision.
• Routinely partners with other campus departments to support the mission and goals of the College more broadly.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Schedule & Benefits: Muhlenberg offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes generous paid holidays, including three days off for Thanksgiving and an extended winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day; 22 vacation days per year; sick leave; eight weeks of paid parental leave; Life Sports Center membership; undergraduate and graduate tuition opportunities; medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; short- and long-term disability coverage; life insurance; and retirement benefits. Eligibility requirements and waiting periods may apply.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution, Muhlenberg is also a qualifying employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

 

The College & Surrounding Area: Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. At Muhlenberg, we are committed to a campus community that ensures students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome, respected, valued and included.

The College provides an intensely challenging, supportive environment centered around a rigorous academic curriculum designed to prepare students for lives of leadership and meaning in a dynamic, global society. The academic program is amplified by a range of innovative programming: comprehensive and intentional residence-life programming, expansive experiential learning requirements, and an innovative coaching program designed to maximize every student’s performance and potential.

 

Part of eastern Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley, Allentown is a diverse city of 125,000, Pennsylvania’s third-largest, located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. The Lehigh Valley, which also includes neighboring cities Bethlehem and Easton, is one of the fastest growing regions in the state and the Northeast, leading Pennsylvania in population growth for people aged 18–34. Home to a vibrant arts scene, extensive parks and recreational opportunities, a rich blend of diverse cuisine, and so much more, visit Life in the Lehigh Valley | Muhlenberg College and check out Allentown here.

While no one person may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will have many of the following professional experiences and characteristics

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution required.
• 3-5 years of professional experience in an organization or community setting is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written/oral communication and relationship-building skills.
• Operate with a high degree of initiative, spotting what is needed and working to address it.
• Ability to work independently and also as a collaborative member of the Career Services team.
• Detail-oriented to manage complex logistics and agile to pivot when plans change.
• Familiarity with liberal arts education, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies desired.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive academic and professional environment where all members of our campus community are respected, valued, can succeed, and thrive.
• Successful completion of standard background checks, including but not limited to education verification, criminal background checks, and child abuse clearance required.

To apply, upload your complete application package as a single PDF document. A complete application package includes: 1) cover letter; 2) resume; 3) separate diversity statement summarizing professional experiences and capacities that prepare you to contribute to our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals; and 4) names/contact information for three professional references. Application review will continue until the position is filled. To initiate your application, use the APPLY button.

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An Equal Opportunity Employer, Muhlenberg College is committed to valuing and enhancing diversity and encourages applications from individuals who can contribute to the diversity of our community. Muhlenberg College does not discriminate against any person based on age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetics, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, in its education programs and activities, including admissions and employment. Muhlenberg College does not discriminate on the basis of sex as required by Title IX.

Legal Notice

Muhlenberg College Annual Crime Reporting- As provided by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, prospective employees of Muhlenberg College are entitled to request and receive a copy of the College Annual Security Report (ASR). The ASR can be accessed at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/annualsecurityreport . This report includes crime statistics on certain reportable crimes, as well as Muhlenberg College Safety Policies. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus safety and police, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault and other matters. Anyone wishing a paper copy of the ASR may contact the Campus Safety Office at 484-664-3112.