Human Resources

Internship and Science Specialist for the Science and Health Care Pathway

Gorter Family Career Advancement Center

This professional will serve as member of Science and Health Care (SHC) Pathway team within the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center (CAC) and will report to the Senior Associate Director and Pathway Leader for Science and Health Care. They will oversee the Academic Internship Program and career advising efforts for students in the sciences, with a focus on those interested in physical science, environmental, and broader STEM careers, as well as those who are undecided about their path. They will work closely with the Internship and Pre-Health Specialist, who also supports students in this Pathway.

The majority of the Lake Forest College STEM population is female and also includes a significant number of first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students. The CAC embraces the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to preparing students from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds for career success in the sciences, and this professional will play an integral role in helping the CAC to cultivate equitable access to CAC services and high-quality experiential opportunties.

Program Administration:

• Serve as a liaison from the CAC and SHC Pathway to faculty and academic departments, including biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, neuroscience, psychology, and physics, as well as campus departments for various partnership initiatives.
• Work with the SHC Pathway team to collect data on science student career interests and engagement, track completion of internships and securing of post-graduate opportunties, and ensure supply of internships and other experiential learning opportunities can meet demand.
• Contribute to planning and executing CAC and SHC career programs on- and off-campus, assisting in mobilization of students, faculty, employer, alumni, trustees, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor employment trends to identify and implement strategies for improving students’ preparation and expanding available employment opportunties.
• Manage, organize, and communicate information using technology systems including the career services management system (Handshake), course management systems (Moodle), Project management software (Smartsheet), alumni database (Slate), social media, and ensure appropriate tracking and sharing of information with CAC and SHC team, and other stakeholders as necessary.
• Assist with other CAC initiatives as assigned or as opportunities emerge.

Student Preparation and Career Advising:

• Advise students individually and in group settings on all topics related to career from exploring majors/careers to pursuing and securing post-graduate options, with a focus on students interested in physical science, environmental, broader STEM careers, and those that are undecided about their path.
• Identify and utilize career advising techniques and technology appropriate to student goals, skills, and personal background and stay up to date on best practices advising diverse populations of students.
• Guide and mentor students completing internship experiences (non-credit and for academic credit), and identify referrals to opportunities that match students’ interests.
• Develop and facilitate large-scale programs on career preparation topics in alignment with the CAC Career Milestones and Career Pathways, the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Career Readiness Competencies, and the current employment landscape, which provide field-specific, developmentally appropriate, and inclusive resources for all students.

Internship Supervision:

• Serve as an internship supervisor for students completing the CAC Academic Internship Program, providing seminars or other educational experiences in collaboration with fellow internship supervisors to help students develop learning goals, understand professional expectations, and apply their academic training in the workplace.
• Evaluate assignments and submit final grades according to College requirements.
• Develop evaluation methods and referral procedures for internship site placements to maximize the success of each experience and provide students with personalized guidance.
• Maintain contact with internship site supervisors, and resolve any internship-related conflicts in collaboration with SHC and Internship Program team.
• Facilitate industry-related pre-internship training and professional development activities to improve students’ competitiveness for experiential learning opportunities.
• Ensure successful internship registration process and completion of appropriate required agreement/application forms.
• Contribute to on-going Academic Internship Program policy development/administration, evaluation, and promotion.

Relationship Management and Employer Relations:

• Work under the direction of the SHC Pathway Leader and collaborate closely with Internship and Pre-Health Specialist to develop a strategy for initiating new off-campus employer partnerships.
• Manage internship supervisor relationships and ensure continued internship flow of interns within pipelines.
• Assist with expanding pipelines with employers that will help the CAC to increase access to experiential opportunities for students from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds.
• Learn guidelines for identifying internships worthy of credit for relevant departments.
• Assist with organize recruiting activities, including job postings, campus interviews and specialized networking events.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a relevant Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred.
• Must have an interest in working with students/alumni, employers, and faculty/staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Preferred experience/knowledge of college student development, career services, internship program development, and/or teaching.
• Preferred experience/knowledge of STEM, physical science, and/or environmental career paths/related industries and their recruiting practices.
• Strong problem-solving skills and written/verbal communication; must be attentive to details.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships; experience tracking relationship-building success with a customer relationship management system is a plus.
• Must be team oriented with strong interpersonal skills and ability to think creatively; entrepreneurial spirit and fast-learner.
• Strong administrative skills to manage academic course requirements and associated internship documentation.
• Available to work some evenings and weekends; valid driver’s license and willingness to travel (primarily in Chicagoland area).

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Background

Lake Forest College has embraced career preparation as a key institutional goal for its undergraduate students more clearly and conscientiously than most other colleges in the liberal arts tradition, making a college-wide commitment to our mission to “prepare our students for, and help them attain, productive and rewarding careers.”

With our location in the Chicago metropolitan area, we are uniquely positioned to be a leader in career preparation and, for the third year in a row, have been recognized by the Princeton Review among its top 25 Best Schools for Internships. Our internship opportunities are central to the 4-year career preparation plan for our students, and it is a curricular requirement for all students at the College to participate in an experiential learning opportunity. Lake Forest College has also been ranked #4 for Best Science Lab Facilities by Princeton Review as well as #3 in the nation for Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report.

Application Process

Please submit cover letter and resume/CV online through this link to the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center Submission Form. Materials should be addressed to:

Colleen Monks -DirectorCareer Advancement Center

Lake Forest College

555 North Sheridan Road

Lake Forest, IL 60045-2399

Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Review of applications will begin immediately and will be accepted until the positions are filled. Please send any correspondence related to this search to Career Advancement Center Hiring Committee at cacsearch@lakeforest.edu.