Engineering a world of possibilities
Mines Career and Professional Development Center is growing!
This fall, Mines will implement a required second-year live-on policy, welcoming approximately 1,400 students to on-campus housing. This expansion creates a unique opportunity to build on our already strong first-year experience through an intentional and cohesive signature second-year experience model. The Coordinator for Career and Professional Development is a key university staff position responsible for leading this new initiative aimed at strengthening career readiness and exploration for second-year students. Reporting to the Assistant Director for Career and Professional Development in the Career Center—and working in close partnership with Residence Life—this role develops and implements the second-year professional development experience known as Career Catalyst Communities (C3s).
The coordinator will support the missions of the Career Center, the Vallejo-Irvine Program (VIP) for Professional Development, the signature second-year residential experience, and campus-wide professional advantage initiatives. Core responsibilities include recruiting and coordinating a C3 steering committee, developing and delivering programming, facilitating staff training, and leading program assessment.
This position requires regular on-campus presence in Golden, Colorado. A flexible hybrid model may be an option after a training period. This is a full-time, 12-month, professional position.
Primary Responsibilities
Signature Second-Year Experience
- Support the design, launch, and continuous refinement of the Career Catalyst Communities (C3s) program in close collaboration with Residence Life.
- Recruit, build, and facilitate a steering committee of industry partners, alumni, faculty, students, and staff; establish committee structure, lead recurring meetings, and ensure clear communication.
- Guide the C3(s) committee in developing and executing annual professional development programs tailored to second-year students and leveraging residential spaces.
- Collaborate with Residence Life to train, coach, and support RA staff in facilitating career conversations and integrating professional development into the signature second-year residential experience.
- Lead program evaluation and learning assessment using OreConnect and other campus tools; analyze engagement and impact data to inform direction and improvements.
Career and Professional Development Programming
- Develop, coordinate and deliver professional development programming that fosters experiential education and early career exploration such as internship preparation, job shadowing, or informational interviewing.
- Support efforts to develop and expand Career Center/VIP professional development programming offerings, including signature events and programs and workshops.
- Assist in the development of comprehensive, accessible resources aligned with current career readiness and professional development best practices.
- Support with Pre-Career Days programming and events.
- Potential for student staff supervision.
Career and Professional Development Advising
- Provide individualized professional development support to undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni by maintaining a schedule of appointment availability, supporting Career Center advising drop-in hours. Note: More support to advising may be necessary in the weeks prior to Career Days each semester.
- Opportunity to teach career-readiness and other CSM courses.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution in a relevant field.
- Experience supporting postsecondary students or recent graduates with career exploration, professional development, and/or early career preparation.
- Demonstrated experience designing, coordinating, or delivering programs, workshops, or initiatives for student populations.
- Proficiency with common office and collaboration technologies, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Co-Pilot.
- Ability to learn and effectively use campus systems and data management platforms.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including group facilitation and presentation.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, alumni, and external partners.
- Ability to lead group initiatives and contribute effectively as a member of cross-functional teams.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, including the ability to analyze data and feedback to inform program improvement.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and student-centered environment.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and continuous learning for self and others.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Business, Social Sciences, or a related field).
- Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting quantitative and qualitative data to assess program outcomes.
- Experience in career services, employer relations, university recruiting, or professional development programming OR Experience supporting students in residential or co-curricular learning environments.
- Experience working with STEM, engineering, or technology-focused student populations.
- Experience leading new or pilot initiatives in an organization.
- Experience with career management or student engagement platforms (e.g., Handshake, Simplicity, or similar systems).
- Experience or training in career coaching, advising, or student development practice.
- Knowledge of or demonstrated ability to apply student development theory in postsecondary settings.
- Familiarity with NACE Career Readiness Competencies and their application to career and professional development programming.
- Demonstrated ability to design inclusive programming that meets the needs of all student populations.
Salary and Benefits
Annual salary: rate of $58,000 - $62,000
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.
Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:
- Fully paid health and dental premiums
- Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
- Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
- Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
- Free RTD Ecopass
All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the on-campus Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more), equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center, the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP), and backup child and elder care. Coming soon is an on-campus daycare center. For more information about benefits at Mines, go to mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.
How to Apply
Applicants must:
- Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, references, veteran status)
- Upload a resume or CV
- Upload a cover letter.
Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.
References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.
Application review will begin May 27, 2026. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by May 26, at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.
Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.
Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.
Equal Opportunity
Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.
Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.
Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.
Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting
