Career Advisor Senior

Position Overview

University of Kansas Transition to Postsecondary Education (KU TPE) provides specialized services and support to KU undergraduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to enhance their postsecondary education at KU in academics, career development, and student life activities. Competitive integrated employment is the student outcome KU TPE works toward. This position is integral to the growth and sustainability of KU TPE and includes elements of direct service, leadership, systems change, continuous improvement and advocacy.

The TPE Career Advisor Senior will lead the career development/employment pillar of KU TPE by coordinating development, enhancement, implementation and evaluation activities related to career development. This pivotal role includes:

• student-centered approaches
• career development instruction
• supporting students to obtain paid employment and internships related to their identified career paths
• facilitating and maintaining employer partnerships
• developing and providing students with accommodations and job supports
• collecting student, employer, and program level data
• collaborating with vocational rehabilitation.
  
  
  

Knowledge of current evidence-based career development research and practices for young adults with IDD, creative problem-solving, reliability, and attention to detail are crucial for this position. The Career Advisor Senior will provide guidance to other TPE career staff to align and prioritize tasks related to student employment and career development. The TPE Career Advisor Senior may also supervise staff and student employees and, in collaboration with the Research Project Director and other TPE staff, integrate career development across TPE. Some travel is required and occasional work outside of typical M-F, 8-5 hours is expected. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, manages multiple tasks within prescribed timelines, highly collaborative, and is a creative problem-solver. This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship.

KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options, and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers employees educational and professional development opportunities. Tuition assistance offers up to 12 credit hours per year for employees and Employee Dependent Tuition Assistance Scholarship (EDTAS) award opportunities! Details available at: https://humanresources.ku.edu/tuition-assistance.

Job Description

25% - Provide overall day-to-day coordination of program activities focusing on career development and employment to ensure timely completion.

• Lead TPE program on all activities related to student career development and employment including development of marketing/informational materials, data tracking, implementing career coaching, and developing partnerships outside of TPE.
• Collaborate with other TPE staff to align TPE services for individual students and support activities at the program level (e.g., information sessions, aligning classes with career goals, TPE credential development, participation in TPE Early Prep, JumpStart, and FutureU@KU camp, etc.).
• Research and implement evidence- and research-based methods for providing high quality employment/career development experiences in inclusive postsecondary education programs for students with IDD.
• Refine and enhance program structure, materials, processes, and sustainability methods within program parameters.
  
  
  

25% - Secure career internships, paid student jobs, and other experiential learning opportunities based on students’ individualized career goals.

• Meet with students weekly to provide career counseling to refine their career goals and identify individualized strategies for success.
• Select, administer, and interpret career assessments to identify student preferences, interests and needs.
• Assist students to develop employment and internship application materials including resume, cover letter, references list, etc.
• Develop and implement accommodations, job aids, and other supports needed by students or employers.
• Use multiple effective practices to help develop employment opportunities for students with limited employment experience.
• Support workplace supervisors and co-workers.
• May provide on-the-job support to students.
  
  
  

20% - Provide career development/employment instruction to students

• Coordinate with other KU units regarding career development instruction on campus.
• Teach C&T 175 (career development) and C&T 220 (career internship) by developing and refining curriculum and instructional materials, providing accommodations and adaptations and adjusting curricula as needed.
• Collaborate with other instructors to co-sponsor training/coursework or align curricula.
  
  
  

20% - Develop and coordinate partnerships with other career development units.

• Develop relationships with employers to foster internship and integrated employment opportunities.
• Collaborate with other career development/career center personnel at KU.
• Collaborate with community employment service providers and vocational rehabilitation to support students as needed.
• Collaborate with KU TPE students and their families to help them achieve their career-related goals.
  
  
  

5% - Guide the Career Advisor-Job Coach and student hourlies to fulfill their job duties related to student career development and employment.

5% - Collect and maintain career/employment-related recordkeeping, evaluation and reporting information.

• Other duties as assigned.
  
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of three (3) years of related professional experience, OR Master’s degree with minimum of one (1) year of related professional experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with young adults with disabilities in employment, transition planning, or community-based services.
• Strong interpersonal, organization, and administrative skills as evidenced by application materials.
• Excellent written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
• Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience working independently and with collaborative teams.
• Strong computer skills especially with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as with online technologies.
  
  
  

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field.
• Previous experience working in a postsecondary education program for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Previous professional experience supporting others to obtain employment.
• Experience providing coaching and/or positive behavior supports and reinforcement.
• Experience making appropriate accommodations/adaptations/modifications for individuals with IDD.
• Experience with KU units and processes.
• Experience teaching or providing instruction (in a course, seminar, workshop, training, etc.).
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
  
  
  

Additional Candidate Instructions

A complete application consists of:

• resume
• cover letter
• list of three professional references (to be contacted after interview)
  
  
  

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application review begins Friday, August 7th, 2026, and will continue until a qualified applicant is selected.

Contact Information to Applicants

Grace Nichols gnicholson@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

$37,440-$43,680 for .75 FTE

Application Review Begins

Friday August 7, 2026

Anticipated Start Date

Monday August 24, 2026