Position Summary

The UNC Advancing Research Careers (UNC-ARC) Training Hub seeks a Career Coach to provide individualized and cohort-based career development support to biomedical doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T). This position aligns with UNC-ARC’s mission to equip senior doctoral trainees and early postdoctoral scholars with the competencies, mentorship, and professional networks needed to successfully transition into and thrive in biomedical careers.

Using a strengths-based, reflective, and scholar-centered coaching approach, the Career Coach will help participants clarify career goals, identify transferable skills, develop professional confidence, navigate career transitions, and prepare for successful entry into academic, industry, government, nonprofit, and other biomedical workforce pathways.

Primary Responsibilities:

Individual Career Coaching

• Provide one-on-one coaching sessions to doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars participating in UNC-ARC cohorts.
• Assist scholars in identifying strengths, values, interests, and transferable skills.
• Support development and implementation of Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
• Help participants establish career goals and actionable career advancement plans.
• Guide scholars through thinking about career decision-making and professional transitions.
• Assist scholars in evaluating academic, industry, government, nonprofit, and entrepreneurship career opportunities.

Career Readiness and Job Preparedness

• Deliver coaching and training on:
• CV and resume development
• Cover letters and personal statements
• Networking strategies
• Informational interviewing
• Professional branding and online presence
• Interview preparation
• Salary negotiation
• Job search strategies
• Professional communication
• Career transition planning
• Postdoc Navigation Process
• Support scholars applying for:
• Postdoctoral positions
• Faculty positions
• Research-intensive careers
• Industry and biotechnology roles
• Government and nonprofit careers

Workshop Facilitation

Develop and deliver interactive virtual workshops and small-group sessions, including topics such as:

• Career Exploration and Decision-Making
• Identifying Strengths and Transferable Skills
• IDP workshops
• Networking

Workshop design should incorporate reflective exercises, strengths-based assessment, goal setting, practical tools, and peer learning opportunities.

Program Development and Evaluation

• Contribute to development of career readiness curricula and resources.
• Maintain records of coaching participation and outcomes.
• Collect participant feedback and support continuous program improvement.
• Provide recommendations for future programming and capacity-building efforts at partner institutions.