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Penn State Job Catalog

Career Services Specialist – Principal Professional (PSU1831)

Additional Levels
Job Strings

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Career Services



Job Summary

The Career Services Specialist is responsible for supporting students, alumni, and/or other community members with career development guidance, programs, and resources across multiple academic disciplines; collaborates with students, employers, faculty, and staff to facilitate career exploration, professional skill-building, and successful career transitions; partners and forms relationships with employers to match individuals with career opportunities.

Representative Duties

  • Provide career coaching and/or counseling; meet with individuals to assess career goals, skills, interests, and qualifications to develop personalized career plans
  • Support individuals in exploring graduate school options, career pathways, and employment opportunities
  • Provide guidance on resume writing, interview preparation, job searching strategies, and other career-related skills
  • Plan, coordinate, and lead workshops and programs that address career exploration, resume writing, job searching, professional networking, and interviewing skills
  • Collaborate in the development and delivery of career readiness education, outreach, and programs
  • Plan and execute career fairs, networking events, and other employer connection opportunities
  • Engage in employer outreach and development initiatives to promote employment opportunities for students and alumni; foster relationships with companies, alumni, and industry partners to secure new internship or job opportunities; develop employer relations strategies to engage employers and potential partners; develop employee recruiter networks
  • Maintain documentation that tracks client progress, assessments results, and goals, while ensuring confidentiality
  • Identify, qualify, and evaluate career experiences including internships and job opportunities to ensure high-quality experiences and alignment with program goals
  • Develop and maintain communication strategies to connect with students and alumni to encourage engagement with Career Services
  • Collect and analyze data to evaluate program effectiveness, outcomes, and employer engagement trends
  • May work closely with academic departments, faculty, and other University offices to integrate career development into the student experience
  • May administer and interpret a broad range of career assessment instruments
  • May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level Matrix

Level:
Principal Professional
Base Description:
– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.
Level Summary:
– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee
Fiscal Responsibilities:
– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets
Problem Solving:
– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines
Independence of Action:
– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness
Communication and Collaboration:
– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units
Salary Structure
  • Comp Grade – 11
  • Minimum – $68,200.00
  • MidPoint – $85,200.00
  • Maximum – $102,300.00
FLSA Exemption Status
Exempt
Minimum Education
Master's Degree
Minimum Experience
8+ years of relevant experience
Equivalency
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Additional Job Requirements