Specialist I, Career Coach

Position Summary:

The Career Coach provides holistic, learner-centered career coaching to support learners and alumni in identifying career direction, building career readiness, and navigating career transitions. This role delivers individualized and group coaching, facilitates career development programming, and partners with campus stakeholders to ensure learners and alumni are equipped to make informed, confident career decisions.

The Career Coach reports to the Manager, Alumni Workforce Operations. This role works closely with learners from enrollment through post-graduation, empowering them to clarify goals, articulate transferable skills, and align their education with meaningful career pathways. This position is especially focused on supporting working adult learners and alumni through growth, change, and professional advancement.

Role and Responsibilities:

Career Coaching & Learner/Alumni Development 

• Provide one-on-one and group career coaching to learners and alumni, supporting career exploration, goal setting, job search strategy, and professional development.
• Guide learners and alumni in gaining career clarity, identifying strengths and transferable skills, and translating experiences into marketable narratives.
• Coach learners and alumni on career readiness topics, including resume and cover letter development, LinkedIn optimization, interviewing strategies, salary negotiation, and other career readiness and development topics.
• Support learners and alumni navigating career transitions, advancement opportunities, or changes in industry or role.
• Apply coaching techniques that promote self-efficacy, accountability, and long-term career ownership.

Programming & Engagement 

• Design and facilitate career development workshops and events (e.g., career planning, networking strategies, panel discussions, etc.).
• Support the planning and execution of annual signature events (e.g., career fairs, school wide employer events, themed career development series) in collaboration with colleagues and campus partners.
• Collaborate with faculty, academic and learner support teams to embed career development throughout the learner experience.
• Encourage learner and alumni engagement with career resources, development tools, and job search platforms.

Employer & Alumni Connection 

• Serve as a bridge between learners, alumni, and employer-facing career opportunities.
• Conduct outreach to graduating learners and alumni to offer continued coaching support.
• Refer learners, alumni, and employers to appropriate institutional resources and career partners.

Career Outcomes & Data Management 

• Collect, verify, and maintain accurate graduate employment and placement data through surveys, attestations, outreach, and third-party verification methods.
• Record employment outcomes for learners and alumni in institutional systems and tracking tools in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements.
• Use outcomes insights to inform programming improvements and coaching strategies.

Learner-Centered Culture 

• Maintain a coaching-first, learner-centered approach that builds trust, inclusion, and motivation among learners and alumni.
• Contribute to a campus culture focused on learner persistence, wellbeing, and professional growth.
• Manage a coaching caseload independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment.
• Use career assessments, reflective exercises, and coaching tools to support self-awareness, decision-making, and goal alignment for learners and alumni.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to strengthen coaching competencies, labor market knowledge, and learner-centered practices.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in Career Development, Counseling, Higher Education, Psychology, Human Resources, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in career coaching, career services, academic advising, workforce development, or similar roles.
• Demonstrated ability to coach nontraditional learners, working adults, or career changers.
• Strong coaching presence with the ability to build rapport, ask powerful questions, and guide learners and alumni toward clarity and action.
• Knowledge of career development theory, job search strategies, and professional growth practices.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and career management or student information systems.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple learners effectively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a learner-focused environment.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings or flexible hours as required.
• Willingness to travel occasionally (roughly 10-20%) for learner and alumni engagement, programming, or institutional needs.

Preferred / Bonus Qualifications 

• Career coaching credential or certification (e.g., NCDA, ICF‑aligned training, CPCC, GCDF).
• Familiarity with systems such as Salesforce, LiveAlumni, and UpNotch.
• Experience facilitating group coaching, workshops, or career-focused programming.
• Understanding of adult learning theory or coaching methodologies.

All new hires are required to attend New Collaborator Orientation (NCO) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The College will cover travel, lodging, and other accommodations.

Nightingale’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected both in our learners and collaborators because we believe the best outcomes for learners from underserved and diverse populations are achieved through collaborators with similar backgrounds and cultures. Nightingale Education Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Our Mission (not just words on the wall, we live it, love it, and daily contribute to it): With the primary focus on higher learning in healthcare professions, Nightingale Education Group contributes to elevating education, health, and employment systems through facilitation of academic achievement, personal growth, and professional development of its learners, alumni, and collaborators, while serving diverse communities.

At Nightingale Education Group, our Innovative Education model helps transform rural health landscapes through our blended-distance learning platform. Every person involved with Nightingale Education Group helps to change the lives of our learners, our communities, and ultimately the world by adding to the quality of healthcare. We are proud to have graduated nearly 5,000 nurses serving communities in need. We are serious about our outcomes and have a little bit of fun getting there.

The professional and personal development of our learners and our collaborators is our company’s foundation. Not only do we develop strategies that promote a positive work-life integration, but we also create an environment that invites you to become an expert in your field, be it through higher education or professional development. Put simply, we elevate employment, elevate health, and elevate education. We’re so happy that you’ve found us!

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screen.