RPIE Career Coach

Posted On: August 29, 2024

Hours: Part Time

Description:

JOB SUMMARY:

The Cooper Union’s Retraining Program for Immigrant Engineers (RPIE) is a free professional development opportunity that supports immigrant, refugee, and asylee engineers as they build a competitive portfolio to equip them for the professional workforce and the career they want. 

RPIE fosters a supportive community and empowers participants to activate their past experience as they develop the required skills for today’s market. The Program has two primary components: a technical curriculum that allows participants to develop in-demand engineering skills, gain US experience, and prepare for certification exams; and a robust professional development sequence that encourages participants to build individually-tailored career strategies and strengthen the soft skills required for leading industries. 

RPIE Career Coaches support participants one-on-one and in small groups as participants familiarize themselves with the US engineering sector and build agency in their job search. Career Coaches provide direct support to 30-35 participants per term (15-17 participants/week). Coaches will offer skills assessments, review career opportunities, teach soft skills, support goal setting, and provide career coaching to RPIE participants. 

RPIE participants represent over forty nationalities and have backgrounds in over thirty engineering specializations, including Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical engineering, as well as architecture, IT, and programming. All participants enter with at least an undergraduate degree, and 35% have an advanced degree. Over 60% of participants have substantial previous professional experience. RPIE is committed to supporting participants as they work to gain the professional skills and familiarity with the US workforce and job application process to enter industry positions with competitive salaries (an average of at least $70,000), benefits, and career growth opportunities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Coach participants one-on-one to identify career goals, support the development of their professional portfolio and network, and guide them through the stages of the RPIE program workbook
  • Develop individual career plans for RPIE participants
  • Meet regularly with members of RPIE staff to review existing supports, and develop workshops and additional resources for RPIE participants
  • Lead professional development workshops
  • Support participant development of resumes and cover letters and provide ongoing feedback
  • Assist participants in developing job-readiness and soft skills
  • Coordinate and recommend additional support for RPIE participants
  • Coordinate with RPIE staff to identify key skill and certification requirements for various engineering sector positions
  • Advise participants on course and skill development required for a competitive portfolio
  • Mentor participants on workplace culture, interview prep, and fair workplace practices
  • Complete regular reports and maintain accurate records
  • Schedule meetings, conduct follow-up and balance multiple projects

SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS

Required:

  • At least two years experience providing career coaching, academic support, or mentoring 
  • Desire to work with immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers
  • Strong organizational and communication skills 
  • Familiarity with MS Office
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Good multi-tasker, scheduler, and time manager
  • Interest in student-center and student-empowered pedagogy
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekend; comfort working online and in-person

 

Preferred:

  • Familiarity working with employer databases such as Handshake and/or Lightcast.
  • Familiarity with engineering, architecture, technology or STEM sectors a plus
  • Familiarity working with adult English Language Learners

 

EDUCATION

Required: 

  • BA degree or minimum of four years of related experience

Preferred: 

  • Advanced degree

Rate: $30-$40 per hour

 

This is a unionized position.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Email materials to: hr@cooper.edu

Please include job title in subject line of your email.

 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.