Assistant Director Career Counseling

To enrich education through diversity, The College of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment, and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Job Title: Assistant Director of Career Counseling
Job Category: AFT, Assistant Director 2
Close Date:
Salary: $64,760.85 - $74,477.19 (Steps 1-4)

Position Summary:

The Associate Director of Advising for the fully online graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at TCNJ will play a vital role in the success of counseling students by overseeing and expanding the program’s comprehensive advising services. We are seeking an innovative go-getter who takes the initiative to continuously improve student support services and implement fresh ideas that enhance the student experience. This individual will design and implement advising strategies to support student success from admission through graduation to ensure that students are well-prepared for both academic achievement and future career opportunities in the counseling profession. The Associate Director will provide individual and group advising, develop workshops, manage the new student orientation program, and maintain an advising curriculum tailored to the unique needs of graduate counseling students. The Associate Director will track student preparation for the national counseling licensure exams and support students through study plan development. Additionally, this position will lead efforts to enhance the student experience through recruitment, mentorship, and career preparation initiatives. Candidates with experience working in settings with students from diverse backgrounds and a strong commitment to contributing to the success of historically underrepresented students are encouraged to apply. They will also serve as our department liaison to the TCNJ Career Center. This position is a full-time (35 hours per week) position that is currently offered as a hybrid work
arrangement with two remote work days.

Main Responsibilities:

Advising Services:

• Provide group advising sessions each semester for all graduate CMHC students, which cover a range of topics related to career planning, goal setting, and academic success.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously evaluate a longitudinal advising curriculum that aligns with the developmental needs of students in the program.
• Offer individual advising as needed to support students’ academic and career success.
• Conduct weekly drop-in student support hours.
• Coordinate the administration, track student performance on practice licensure exams and provide support to students who need assistance with study preparation for licensure exams.
• Conduct an annual advising survey to gather student feedback, analyze the results, and share insights with program leadership to enhance advising services.
• Work with the faculty chair of the CMHC advising committee to develop meeting agendas and facilitate program advising committee meetings.
• Collaborate closely with the Clinical Coordinator and program faculty to identify and address emerging student advising needs.

Workshops and Career Development:

• Provide career-focused workshops on topics such as resume writing, job search strategies, preparing for licensure, and career opportunities within the counseling field.
• Review student resumes and cover letters and provide individualized feedback to support career readiness.
• Deliver workshops on study skills, time management, and strategies for succeeding in a graduate program.

Orientation and Recruitment:

• Oversee the orientation program for new students each semester, ensuring they are well-prepared to begin their studies.
• Collaborate with the admissions team to assist with recruitment efforts, including participating in informational sessions.
• Mentor and conduct outreach to incoming students, helping them acclimate to the program and build connections within the student community.

Program Development and Continuous Improvement:

• Collaborate with faculty and staff to ensure the advising program aligns with counseling profession standards and student needs.
• Identify and implement innovative advising practices to enhance student engagement and success.
• Stay informed about trends in graduate student advising and counseling education, applying best practices to the advising program.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, or a related field.
• Experience in career advising, academic advising, student affairs, or a related student support role, preferably in a graduate or online setting.
• Familiarity with the counseling profession, including licensure pathways and career options for graduate counseling students.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build meaningful connections with diverse students.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Commitment to student success and a passion for supporting the growth of future counseling professionals.

Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing and delivering advising curricula or student support programs.
• Licensure and/or counseling certifications, as well as experience preparing for the NCE or similar licensure exam.
• Active involvement in professional organizations such as NACADA, NCDA, or related organizations.

Employer Qualifications:

• Final offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference checks.
• Residency Requirement: In accordance with the New Jersey First Act P.L. 2011 c.70, effective September 1, 2011, new public employees in certain positions (faculty exempt) are required to obtain New Jersey residency within one (1) year of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements listed.

About TCNJ

TCNJ is a highly selective institution that has earned national recognition for its commitment to excellence. Founded in 1855, TCNJ has become an exemplar of the best in public higher education and is consistently acknowledged as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the 75 "Most Competitive" schools in the nation by Barron's Profiles of American Colleges and is rated the No. 1 public institution in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report. TCNJ was named the #10 value in public higher education by the Princeton review in 2009 and, in 2006, was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter - an honor shared by less than 10 percent of colleges and universities nationally. A strong liberal arts core forms the foundation for programs offered through TCNJ's seven schools - Arts & Communication; Business; Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; Science; Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science; and Engineering. TCNJ faculty members are teacher-scholars who share a commitment to liberal learning. TCNJ is located within an hour, by train, of New York City and Philadelphia. The College's campus is set on 289 tree-lined acres in suburban Ewing Township and is known for its natural beauty and has 39 major buildings.

Employee Benefits:

As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public university career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:

• Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans
• Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program
• Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program
• Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee affinity groups
• New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
• Access to extensive learning opportunities

To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more!

Application Instructions:

Qualified candidates should apply online at: careers@tcnj.edu and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable candidate is selected.