Job Details

Career Coach III

Position Number: 6449417
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Career Counseling and Placement

Career Coach III

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

Since its genesis, SMU Guildhall has set the bar in game development education. Recognized as one of the best game design graduate programs in the world, SMU Guildhall works collaboratively across disciplines and industries to train the next generation of game developers. It's long held a seat in the Top 10 rankings for game development programs across the world by the Princeton Review. In addition to its Team Game Production curriculum, the Guildhall has been commended for the high quality of its faculty of industry veterans and professionals as well as its career services achievements. The program has graduated over 900 alumni, who now work at more than 270 video game studios and tech companies around the world. The program's achievements can also be seen in its high-caliber game successes including record breaking downloads, awards, and contest wins. SMU Guildhall offers both a Master of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development degree and a Professional Certificate of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development, and it is the only program to offer specializations in all four cornerstones of game development - Art, Design, Production, and Programming. For more information, visit https://www.smu.edu/guildhall.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This position will manage SMU Guildhall Career Services, direct Alumni Relations and plan opportunities for engagement. The Career Coach will administer and expand Industry Relations / partnerships and support Marketing efforts and content creation.

Essential Functions:

Manage program's Career Services: Develop expertise across all sectors of the game development job market to support successful career outcomes for students and graduates. Market Guildhall, students and graduates to local, regional, national and international employers to develop employment opportunities. Develop and implement an industry outreach plan; oversee all communications with employers regarding their recruitment needs. Coach students, and alumni, in career planning, personal branding, job search, school-to-work transition and career management. Host guest lectures by visiting professionals in order to illuminate industry dynamics. Direct annual career fair connecting 100+ students and alumni to international companies. Coordinate interview schedules with students and participating companies. Oversee program's presence on university career portal, 12twenty. Participate in campus-wide career services meetings.
Assist faculty teaching Professional Development courses: Support Professional Development coursework with workshops, feedback and resources. Create and deliver content on best practices for career development. Administer multiple mock interviews for all graduating students. Coordinate industry feedback on student portfolios (typically 3-4 per student).
Direct Alumni Relations and plan opportunities for engagement: Coordinate reunion events (e.g. reception at Game Developers Conference). Create mentorship opportunities with current students. Guide counseling sessions regarding career prospects and negotiation strategies. Share opportunities for professional advancement (e.g. job postings, events, best practices, etc.). Track and synthesize alumni data into compelling narratives that drive strategy, support marketing efforts, etc.
Administer and expand Industry Relations: Conduct cold outreach to thought-leaders and hiring managers to increase Guildhall's network. Spearhead and execute high-profile guest speaker series, Game Changers, involving international thought-leaders. Develop current relationships with AAA studios to identify new partnership opportunities (feedback on student game projects, scholarships, internship programs, exclusive access to gaming resources and products, etc.). Attend conferences and special events to advance industry relationships. Leverage LinkedIn Premium to generate leads with game development companies. Track current industry trends via game development outlets to assess best practices for the current market. Invite industry thought-leaders to serve on program's advisory board of Guildmasters'.
Support Marketing efforts and content creation: Co-manage 4 social media channels and compose content for promotion. Liaise with alumni and industry to secure copy for articles, press releases, etc. Plan and facilitate promotional video content (e.g. streamed content, interviews with students). Serve on committee pursuing additional awards and competitions for student game submissions.
Collect, evaluate and report on all placement Data for Princeton Review and Institutional Effectiveness: Co-write report submitted for Princeton Review's consideration.
Support Administrative staff with assorted duties: Facilitate screening for graduate, research and teaching assistants via career portal, Handshake. Plan travel for faculty candidates (when needed). Assist special events as needed (e.g. orientation, graduation, etc.).
Occasional evening/weekends hours may be required for special events (orientation, graduation, Game Jams, Career Fair, Game Developers Conference).

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience is required. Experience working as a Student Career Counselor or Alumni Relations for a university is preferred. Experience working as a game industry recruiter is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate ability to counsel and mentor students through the job search process is preferred.

Candidate knowledge of specific skills needed in game development and how the video game industry hires is a plus.

Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office.

Candidate familiarity with 12twenty is preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time
Bend, stand
Push/pull
Reach above shoulders
Carry/lift 25 lbs.
Handle objects (dexterity)

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by August 22, 2025.

Application deadline is September 5, 2025.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Student Services

Organization: Provost - Other

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: No

Job Posting: Aug 6, 2025, 2:19:45 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=PRO00000333&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC