Lead Career Counselor - Career Services

Job Summary

The Lead Career Counselor for Strategic Partnerships in Career Services supports the diverse career development needs of Cal Poly students, aiming to empower them to achieve lifelong, meaningful career success. Under the general supervision of the Associate Director of Career Education and Equity, the Lead Career Counselor for Strategic Partnerships supports students in an innovative, inclusive, and fast-paced team environment through individual and group counseling, program management, collaborations with various campus entities, and outreach activities. This position will serve as a College Specialist with direct liaison responsibilities for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. It will also serve as a generalist, providing support to students in all other academic colleges as needed. In addition, this position independently manages multiple programmatic initiatives within Career Services - the student and alumni networking program, managing key campus partnerships focused on increasing access to career education, and strategic career education initiatives. Additionally, it is expected that all Career Services staff shall contribute to fostering a positive and supportive workplace culture and demonstrating leadership and professionalism both within and outside of the department.

Department Summary

The mission of Career Services is to empower Cal Poly students to achieve a lifetime of meaningful career success. We promote and support effective professional relationships between the university and employers. A full range of programs and services are offered to assist students with career planning, job exploration, job search strategies, pre-career work experience, pre-employment preparation, employment development, graduate school exploration, and other related areas.

Key Qualifications

• Ability to provide comprehensive individual and group advisement to students and recent alumni who have complex matters and problems related to choosing, pursuing and adjusting themselves to suitable educational and vocational goals.
  
• Thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior principles and career counseling or academic advising techniques.
  
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
  
• Ability to create and maintain accurate records, data, and assessments and present information on these in a clear and concise manner through monthly, quarterly, annually and/or as needed for reports.
  
• General knowledge of the policies, procedures and practices related to student and alumni networking, supporting first-generation students, and creating strategic partnerships across large organizations.
  

Education and Experience

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution. Three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience.
  
• A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience.
  
• A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.
  

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $66,480 - $72,500 Per Year

Classification Range: $66,480 - $94,716 Per Year

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu .

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.

Advertised: Sep 12 2025 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

• 

• California Polytechnic State University

• 805-756-2236

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