Life Design Coach
Position Summary
Life Design Coaches create an affirming, diverse, and inclusive learning environment for undergraduate students to make meaningful, purpose-driven connections between their curricular and co-curricular experiences that will lead them to academic, career, and personal success before and after graduation. Life Design Coaches create opportunities and experiences for students to express themselves and all of the identities they hold, facilitate an awareness of self and critical self-reflection, and contribute to students’ a sense of belonging at BGSU. Design coaches also build strong relationships with students and empower them throughout their academic experience to develop comprehensive college and life plans that center on the four pillars of life design at BGSU: Career, Purpose, Wellbeing, and Connections.
Life Design Coaches support a caseload of students, whom they will engage in classroom and co-curricular contexts throughout their college experience. In this capacity, Life Design Coaches are primarily responsible for ensuring each student they work with has the tools to successfully transition to college and gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to lead a purpose-driven, well-designed life.
Life Design Coaches will collaborate closely with campus partners to ensure that students know how to select experiences that are aligned with their values and career goals.
Essential Duties, Tasks and Responsibilities
- Introduce incoming students to the concept of Life Design by teaching multiple sections of BGSU 1910: Design Your BGSU (1 cr.) and ensure assigned students continue developing their understanding of the Life Design framework through coaching meetings, workshops, and activities in the first year and beyond. This course will be a place where students can develop connections and a sense of belonging to BGSU. Students are also exposed to perspectives which help cultivate greater self-knowledge and empathy toward others, thus promoting a desire to contribute to the public good. Life Design Coaches will utilize appropriate learning management software to support in-person and/or remote instructional methods focusing on inclusive pedagogy that reflects and supports a diverse student demographic.
- Provide on-going coaching to assigned students. Collaborate with students from diverse backgrounds to identify academic and co-curricular experiences aligned with their academic, personal, and career interests. Help students evaluate curricular options and develop a comprehensive success plan that aligns with the Life Design mindsets and four pillars. Provide referrals to campus partners as appropriate (e.g., advising, counseling, and financial aid). Facilitate connections with campus resources, alumni and other mentors in support of personal and career development
- Provide proactive and responsive outreach to assigned students based on various data sources (e.g., pre-matriculation data, predictive modeling, early alerts, and midterm grades). Exercise cultural competence and an awareness of the intersection of identities as they build rapport and trust with students. Connect students to appropriate campus resources that promote academic success, campus and community engagement, retention, and degree completion. Encourage and recognize successful students.
- Monitor, track, and provide regular updates on the retention, progression, and campus and community engagement of all students within the caseload. Use appropriate technology, data, and strategies to support university persistence, retention and four-year graduation goals.
- Participate in on-going training and development, including a community of practice among coaches and key campus partners, that encourages constant professional development and identifies opportunities to enhance BGSU’s Life Design framework. These opportunities may include assisting with various assessment activities related to all aspects of the department.
- Develop and implement relevant programming, collaborating with colleagues across campus to create an inclusive environment that acknowledges the unique needs of students, including neurodiversity, marginalized and historically underserved students including students of color, first-generation, LGBTQ+, and international students.
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned, including participating in staff meetings, on-going training and development, recruitment activities, and various workgroups and committees.
Knowledge, Skills or Abilities
- Demonstration of life design mindsets: curiosity, reframing, reflecting, taking action, and collaboration
- Experience in active learning, project-based and/or inclusive pedagogies
- Knowledge of or ability to learn design thinking concepts, student development theories, and career development theories
- Coaching oriented philosophy of student support
- Critical thinking skills
- Active listening skills
- Compassionate and caring attitude toward working with students
- Effective in working with diverse populations
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to interact well with students, parents, faculty, administrators and other members of the campus and community
- Understanding of the functions of an institution of higher education, including academic and student affairs
- An understanding of student learning outcomes associated with the completion of general education curriculum and baccalaureate/liberal arts degree
- Knowledge of or ability to learn University academic policies and procedures, as well as available degree programs and support services
- Knowledge of computer applications including but not limited to: Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, People Soft/CSS, student success software, various learning management systems, and an ability to learn and adopt other technologies.
Minimum Qualifications:
Master’s degree required. Degree must be conferred at the time of application.
The following experience is required:
- One year of related work experience with preference given to experience in advising, counseling, teaching, facilitation or coaching in an educational setting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Related experience in higher education.
- Teaching experience at the college level
- Certification or experience in life coaching, success coaching, or academic coaching and/or career development
Salary
Full-time, Administrative staff position available. Administrative Grade Level 354. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Full benefit package available.
Benefits
Bowling Green State University provides a comprehensive benefit program as part of a total compensation package. This includes medical, prescription, dental, vision, health accounts (medical & dependent), life & disability insurance, retirement plans, employee assistance program and tuition fee waivers for employees and their eligible dependents as well as paid time off, holidays and parental leave. For more information please visit Benefits-at-a-Glance.pdf (bgsu.edu)
Deadline to apply: The search committee will review applications until the position is filled; however, for best consideration, applications should be provided by ‘June 22, 2022’.
To Apply
For a complete job description & to apply for this position visit https://bgsu.hiretouch.com/ or contact the Office of Human Resources at (419) 372-8421. BGSU. AA/EEO/Disabilities/Veterans. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421.