Pre-Professional Career Advisor, Title III Grant

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) is committed to fostering excellence in education. We are dedicated to providing innovative programs and initiatives that empower our students to achieve their full potential. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we seek a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our team as the Pre-Professional Career Advisor.

The Pre-Professional Career Advisor will focus on providing specialized guidance and support to students pursuing pre-professional tracks, including medicine, community health, counseling, nursing, rehabilitative services, and other specialized fields, ensuring their readiness for internships, careers, and graduate programs in these areas. 

This is a soft-money, grant-funded position, 1-year renewable up to September 2028.

This is a full-time, 11-month position.

Key Responsibilities

• Encourages first-year, first-generation, and low-income students use of the Advising and Career Services Center.
• Utilizes effective advising practices for pre-professional majors.
• Collaborates with advisors and faculty.
• Assesses students' academic needs, assists in goal setting, and connects to appropriate resources.
• Provides targeted outreach to at-risk students.
• Supports related co-curricular programs including pre-professional club(s), guest speakers and alumni panels, career fairs, visits by graduate and professional school representatives, attendance at conferences and workshops, development of internships, mentoring networks, and job-shadowing opportunities. Creates relevant guides, web resources, and handouts 
• Consults with advisors and faculty to train and provide comprehensive advising support.
• Collaborates with other advisors, faculty, on-campus services, employers, and other stakeholders.
• Provides personalized guidance to current and prospective students interested in pre-professional tracks, assisting them in understanding the specific requirements, prerequisites, and expectations for their chosen field. 
• Supports retention and success by (a) monitoring engagement and quickly addressing challenges in courses, (b) coaching on uses of technology, academic supports and other campus services, (c) fostering peer support networks; and (d) creating opportunities for learners to discuss and resolve challenges.
• Submits accurate, complete, and timely data and performance reports on all activities conducted and services provided.

Note: UMF reserves the right to change or assign additional duties as necessary.

A full job description can be found here.

About University of Maine at Farmington:

The University of Maine at Farmington has earned a national reputation for excellence, gaining stature as one of the finest state-supported liberal arts colleges in the northeastern U.S. Additionally, UMF is rated 5th in U.S. News & World Report Top Regional Public College North for 2023 and has been rated one of America's Best Colleges by U.S. News 25 times since 1998.

The campus is in historic downtown Farmington, just a short walk away from coffee shops, funky stores, restaurants, banks, bookstores, a multi-screen movie theater and a whole lot more. Our perfect location combines the active outdoor lifestyle with the arts & smarts of a small college town.  With enrollment at around 1,600 full-time students, UMF is about the same size as many of New England's most selective private colleges and offers many of the same advantages, yet at a very affordable price - providing a tremendous college value in a spectacular natural setting.  Established in 1864 as Maine's first public institution of higher education, the University of Maine at Farmington is a founding member of The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) an exclusive national group of public colleges and universities committed to providing superior liberal arts and sciences education.

Who is the University of Maine at Farmington?

• A Nationally Ranked public university, recognized for its academic excellence, educational value and inclusion.

• An Outdoorsy College located in the heart of world class skiing and snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking, kayaking and rafting.

• An Affordable, high-quality, residential, liberal arts college.

• A school that offers challenging and innovative Academic Programs in the arts and sciences, teacher preparation, and other pre-professional fields.

• A small, friendly campus where Students are the center of the universe.

• A place where caring Professors work side by side with students - in research, creative endeavors, in the classroom and outside.

• An institution that offers unparalleled research opportunities - often at the level and depth found at graduate school.

• A campus of 1,600 bright, creative, independent-minded students who thrive on challenges.

• A college where students work hard but also enjoy kicking back and having Fun - lots of fun.

• A quirky yet warm-hearted, accepting community where it's OK to be you.

We may not be for everyone, but we just might be the perfect place for you.

Required Competencies

• Accountability - Formulates effective and progressive strategies aligned with the mission and values. 
• Interdependence - Fosters collaboration.  Demonstrated ability to work as a team member, in addition to working independently. 
• Communication - Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.  Demonstrated strong decision-making and communication skills including but not limited to verbal, written, and interpersonal. 
• Teamwork - Ability to work with students, faculty, staff, administration, and outside agencies. 
• Leadership - The ability to lead, manage, and inspire others. 
• Plan and Organize - The ability to manage multiple projects in a changing environment
• Adaptability - The ability to work effectively within a changing landscape of the campus, administrators/leadership, and strategy.
• Technology - Strong computer skills, as well as the ability and desire to learn new technologies.
• Networking - Ability to develop and manage relationships with professional schools, alumni, and industry professionals. 
• Support - Ability to work effectively with students from diverse backgrounds, especially first-generation and low income students. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.

• One (1) year of experience in student support (e.g., academic advising).

• One (1) year of experience working with pre-professional students (as an advisor, teacher, and/or mentor).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Counseling, Higher Education, Pre-Professional Studies, or a related field.
• Experience working with advising software, student information systems, and online learning platforms. 
• Previous experience in advising, counseling, or related roles in a higher education setting, preferably with a focus on pre-professional tracks. 
• Knowledge of admission processes for various professional programs and familiarity with entrance exams (MCAT, LSAT, GRE, etc.).
• Experience in program development and event planning.
• Certification in advising, counseling, or career development (e.g., NACADA, GCDF).

Materials must be submitted electronically via "Apply for Position." Please create an applicant profile, complete a brief application, and upload:

1)  A cover letter, which describes your qualifications, interests and suitability for the position

2)  A resume/curriculum vitae

3)  Contact information for three (3) professional references

You will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status form.

Review of applications will begin at the end of business day on March 1, 2024. Materials received after that date will be considered at the discretion of the university. Incomplete application materials will not be considered. We are not able to consider applicants who require Visa sponsorship support. 

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background screening and references.

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. View ourBenefits Information Summary for additional information.

The University of Maine at Farmington employees are Mandatory Reporters with the exception of UMF's licensed, clinical medical providers (including athletic trainers) and mental health providers and their clinical interns when working in their capacity as providers.    

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).