Job Title: Early Childhood Career Advisor
PVN ID: VA-2508-006988
Category: Instruction and Social Service
Location: OFFICE OF SR. UNIV DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Job Description

General Description

Children need to spend their most critical years with dedicated, educated, trained, and well-compensated individuals in order to thrive. The New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute leads the work to establish and implement an early childhood workforce system to ensure funding, standards and competencies, career development resources, qualifications and credentials, professional development (training and strengths-based coaching), and program quality assurance and improvement for individuals who work with young children throughout New York. Housed at the City University of New York, the Institute is a fast-paced, dynamic public/private partnership that is committed to the early childhood workforce across New York State.

The Career Advisor is a member of the Institute’s Career Development Center team. The Career Advisor is responsible for supporting individuals at various stages of their career in Early Childhood Education. The Career Advisor will assist students with general academic guidance and career supports, including job search skills. The Career Advisor will report to the Director of Career Development and should be available to work evenings and weekends to support early childhood educators.

Other Duties

Career Development Advising 

  • Collaborate with members of the Career Development Center team in the implementation and delivery of comprehensive career development services.
  • Provide one-on-one and small group advising for career exploration, teacher certification, test preparation, academic advising, and job searching.
  • Design, develop, and deliver/instruct specialized workshops, career panels, and training sessions focused on early childhood career development.
  • Coach participants on effective job and internship search strategies, including networking, resume and cover letter development, and interview preparation.
  • Actively develop and maintain a strong understanding of the early childhood education sector, including various roles, recruiting trends, employer timelines, expectations, and technical assessments/interviews.
  • Connect students to key academic and personal resources such as tutoring, counseling, basic needs support, and financial aid.
  • Apply a proactive case management strategy to engage students who require additional guidance and support.
  • Partner with members of the Career Development Center team to share information on participant progress and needs, identifying intervention strategies.
  • Develop and maintain resources (e.g., certification requirements, academic pathways) for students interested in careers in early childhood education.
  • Maintain accurate and timely advising records, track participant progress, and outcomes.
  • Provide dynamic and collaborative direction for the development, recruitment, and piloting of new initiatives as they become suitable for inclusion in the project’s work.

Other Duties 

  • Attend staff meetings and training as required.
  • Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Early Childhood Education or a relevant field of study
  • 3+ years of experience helping professionals build teaching careers through mentoring, training, staff development, coaching, career counseling, etc.
  • Ability to monitor academic progress, track degree completion status, evaluate and process executive actions, and interpret and explain policies and procedures
  • Ability to problem-solve and analyze situations that may affect participants and/or the Career Development Center
  • Ability to maintain accurate and detailed records
  • Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet participants and program need

Preferred Qualifications

  • Spanish fluency is a plus
  • Strong familiarity with the structure and dynamics of Higher Education and the NYS teacher certification process
  • Ability to work with underserved populations and people of all ages
  • Ability to develop and sustain successful collaborative partnerships

Work Environment and Physical Requirements  

  • This is a 70/30 hybrid position, subject to change. Remote work arrangements are not a right or entitlement of employment and, as such, are discretionary and subject to operational needs unless otherwise provided by the CUNY Flexible Work Guidelines. A laptop may be provided if needed to support working remotely.
  • This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and presentation equipment.
  • While performing these duties, the employee is required to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting items (up to 20 pounds), bending, reaching, and sitting for prolonged periods of time. Reasonable accommodations will be made for employees with disabilities or other needs per RFCUNY policies.
  • Ability to travel to other sites as needed.

How to Apply

Provide a resume and cover letter specifying your qualifications and experience relevant to this position. Applications without cover letters will not be accepted.

RFCUNY Benefits

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

About the Research Foundation

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Key Features

Department
Status
Full Time
Annual Salary Range
$72,000.00 - $78,000.00
Closing Date
Oct 21, 2025 (Or Until Filled)
Bargaining Unit
No

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