Advisor, Co-op

This position will be posted until filled Working in support of an assigned portfolio of programs and faculties, and collaborating closely with Deans, Program Chairs, Faculty and other internal and external partners, the Advisor, Co-op & Career Education provides student-centred co-op program administration and career advising and leads a variety of extra-curricular career education initiatives in support of career outcomes for Lakehead students and graduates. Responsibilities
- Organizing, designing and delivering career exploration and skill-building events, course content, workshops and other programming for students, alumni, and partners in the Career Zone, in classrooms, online and/or in other student-facing locations on campus.
- Applying high impact student-engagement and advising practices in career education and co-operative education, as these are defined by Co-operative Education and Work-Integration Canada (CEWIL) and other relevant professional associations within the Work-Integrated-Learning and Career Development Practitioner ecosystems for an assigned portfolio of program, supporting student centred services and upholding the overall integrity of the program.
- Communicating proactively with students and faculty concerning student eligibility for co-op and provide guidance, options, and alternatives as needed to uphold program integrity while supporting the students to achieve their career goals.
- Acting as a career development and employment coach, advising individual undergraduate and graduate co-op students in skills required for success in the co-op program and/or in their non-co-op job search, including but not limited to resume and cover letter writing, labour market trends, essential employability skills, interview techniques, and workplace etiquette.
- Monitoring students’ progress and providing strengths-based intervention when students encounter difficulties, provide appropriate referral to other support services and faculty to ensure students receive support for their needs Administration & Coordination for assigned portfolio of Co-op Programs (35%): As the primary co-op program administrator for an assigned portfolio of co-op programs, deliver a number of core responsibilities including:
- Interpreting policies and academic procedures, as well as writing, developing and maintaining processes related to a complex, multi-part co-operative education program
- Help to onboard new staff and faculty who support co-op students, providing regular training regarding processes and policies involved in co-operative education.
- Maintaining awareness of labour market trends, employment laws and standards, immigration and travel regulations, government employment programs, wage subsidies and talent retention strategies as these relate to co-operative education.
- As part of a team of subject matter experts for co-operative education at Lakehead, ensure broad awareness about the co-op program amongst future and current students, employers, faculty and staff, leveraging public speaking, creating and disseminating marketing and communications tactics, and relationship building across faculty and staff teams at the University.
- Accountable for tracking and maintaining co-op program data, and providing regular reports and analysis regarding the co-op program in order to inform enrolment plans regarding co-operative education at Lakehead
- Use enterprise CRM tools to maintain accurate and confidential records for individual appointments and meetings with student and partner interactions. Internal and External Partner Relationship Management and Communication (15%)
- Collaborating with colleagues in Employer Relationship & Industry Relations roles, facilitate employer onboarding meetings to promote of the co-op program and Lakehead’s role within the community, work to proactively develop employment opportunities for students engaged in co-op and ensure employment leads for all forms of employment are effectively delegated to the appropriate member of the team or University community.
- Attending community events associated with assigned portfolio as a representative of Lakehead University, promoting the role of the University and of co-operative education in local workforce development, talent retention and economic development
- Working with colleagues as necessary, develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and business development strategy to grow the number of co-op employer partners, promote the co-op program, and articulate the benefits of co-op for employers and the community
- Gather feedback from employer partners with respect to student readiness for the workplace, and provide recommendations to the Director, Deans and Program Chairs if/as needed.
- Prepare regular reports to share information with Lakehead University colleagues about student readiness to engage with employers, to inform and support the overall institutional strategy with respect to employer rela