Career Advisor Senior

Position Overview

University of Kansas Transition to Postsecondary Education (KU TPE) provides specialized services and support to KU undergraduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to enhance their postsecondary education at KU in academics, career development, and student life activities. Competitive integrated employment is the student outcome KU TPE works toward. This position is integral to the growth and sustainability of KU TPE and includes elements of direct service, leadership, systems change, continuous improvement and advocacy.

The TPE Career Advisor Senior will lead the career development/employment pillar of KU TPE by coordinating development, enhancement, implementation, and evaluation activities related to career development. This pivotal role includes:

• student-centered approaches
• career development instruction
• supporting students to obtain paid employment and internships related to their identified career paths
• facilitating and maintaining employer partnerships
• developing and providing students with accommodations and job supports
• collecting student, employer, and program level data
• collaborating with vocational rehabilitation

Knowledge of current evidence-based career development research and practices for young adults with IDD, creative problem-solving, reliability, and attention to detail are crucial for this position. The Career Advisor Senior will provide guidance to other TPE career staff to align and prioritize tasks related to student employment and career development. The TPE Career Advisor Senior may also supervise staff and student employees and, in collaboration with the Research Project Director and other TPE staff, integrate career development across TPE.

Some travel is required and occasional work outside of typical M-F, 8-5 hours is expected. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, manages multiple tasks within prescribed timelines, highly collaborative, and is a creative problem-solver. This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship.

• Lead TPE program on all activities related to student career development and employment including development of marketing/informational materials, data tracking, implementing career coaching, and developing partnerships outside of TPE.
• Collaborate with other TPE staff to align TPE services for individual students and support activities at the program level (e.g., information sessions, aligning classes with career goals, TPE credential development, participation in TPE Early Prep, Jump Start, and FutureU@KU camp, etc.).
• Research and implement evidence- and research-based methods for providing high quality employment/career development experiences in inclusive postsecondary education programs for students with IDD.
• Refine and enhance program structure, materials, processes, and sustainability methods within program parameters.

• Meet with students weekly to provide career counseling to refine their career goals and identify individualized strategies for success.
• Select, administer, and interpret career assessments to identify student preferences, interests and needs.
• Assist students to develop employment and internship application materials including resume, cover letter, references list, etc.
• Develop and implement accommodations, job aids, and other supports needed by students or employers.
• Use multiple effective practices to help develop employment opportunities for students with limited employment experience.
• Support workplace supervisors and co-workers.
• May provide on-the-job support to students.

• Coordinate with other KU units regarding career development instruction on campus.
• Teach C&T 175 (career development) and C&T 220 (career internship) by developing and refining curriculum and instructional materials, providing accommodations and adaptations and…