The posting
Job Description
*** This position is fully on-site in Memphis, TN ***
BUCOM Career Counselor OMS 1-4
Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Position Summary
The BUCOM Career Counselor provides comprehensive, developmentally appropriate career advising to osteopathic medical students from matriculation through graduation. The position guides students in specialty exploration, career decision-making, residency readiness, and successful completion of the residency application and match processes. Working collaboratively with Student Affairs, Clinical Education, Graduate Medical Education, faculty advisors, and college leadership, the Career Counselor develops career programming, coordinates application resources and timelines, supports students requiring individualized intervention, and uses outcomes data to strengthen student success and institutional effectiveness.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Career Advising and Student Support — 50%
- Provide individual and group career counseling for OMS-1 through OMS-4 students, including specialty exploration, self-assessment, goal setting, competitiveness review, and individualized career planning.
- Guide students in developing realistic specialty and residency application strategies based on academic performance, board examination results, clinical experiences, professional goals, geographic preferences, and current match trends.
- Assist students with curriculum vitae development, personal statements, interview preparation, program research, rank-order decision-making, and professional communication.
- Identify students who may need enhanced career support and coordinate timely, documented interventions with appropriate academic, clinical education, wellness, and student support personnel.
- Provide focused advising and logistical support for students participating in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) or other post-match placement processes.
- Maintain confidential advising records and handle student information in accordance with FERPA, University policy, and applicable professional standards.
Career Education and Residency Readiness — 25%
- Develop, coordinate, and deliver a longitudinal career advising curriculum informed by AAMC Careers in Medicine, AACOM resources, NRMP guidance, and specialty-specific best practices.
- Plan workshops, presentations, and resources addressing specialty selection, clinical-year planning, audition and away rotations, residency applications, interviewing, ranking, match participation, and transition to residency.
- Educate students, faculty advisors, and staff regarding ERAS, NRMP, military match, San Francisco Match, and other relevant application systems, requirements, and deadlines.
- Collaborate with Clinical Education and GME partners to align career advising with rotation planning, residency readiness, and opportunities for student engagement with residency programs.
- Develop and maintain current advising guides, annual calendars, checklists, web-based resources, and student communications.
Application, MSPE, and Program Coordination — 15%
- Support the Medical Student Performance Evaluation process by coordinating student inputs, advising students on required materials, monitoring completion, and collaborating with designated academic leaders and staff to promote accuracy and timeliness.
- Monitor key residency application and match milestones; communicate deadlines, requirements, and emerging issues to students and appropriate stakeholders.
- Serve as a knowledgeable institutional resource and liaison for residency application organizations and external advising resources.
- Assist with Match Day and other student milestone events related to career development and residency placement.
Assessment, Collaboration, and Service — 10%
- Track participation, student needs, advising trends, match outcomes, and other program measures; prepare reports and recommendations for continuous quality improvement and accreditation readiness.
- Collaborate with faculty, department chairs, Student Affairs, Clinical Education, academic support, wellness, and institutional effectiveness personnel to strengthen coordinated student support.
- Serve on college or university committees as assigned and contribute to student success, recruitment, orientation, commencement, and other mission-related activities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Complexity and Independent Judgment
The Career Counselor manages sensitive, high-impact student matters and multiple national application timelines requiring sound judgment, discretion, accuracy, and timely action. The position independently evaluates individual student circumstances, applies established policies and national guidance, recognizes when escalation or referral is appropriate, and adapts advising strategies to changing residency application requirements and workforce trends. Examples of complex work include developing an individualized strategy for a student with a noncompetitive application and coordinating rapid institutional support for an unmatched student during SOAP.
Impact on Institutional Mission
Effective performance promotes student well-being, career readiness, successful residency placement, and BUCOM’s mission to educate and prepare osteopathic physicians to serve diverse communities. Accurate advising, coordinated processes, and reliable outcomes data strengthen student trust, operational effectiveness, accreditation readiness, and the College’s reputation. Errors in advising, documentation, or deadline management could adversely affect a student’s residency opportunities and create compliance, reputational, or operational risk for BUCOM.
Internal and External Contacts
Internal: Regular interaction with medical students, faculty advisors, department chairs, Student Affairs, Clinical Education, Graduate Medical Education, academic support, wellness personnel, the Registrar, institutional effectiveness staff, and college leadership.
External: Periodic interaction with residency programs, clinical partners, professional associations, and national application and matching organizations, including ERAS, NRMP, AACOM, AAMC, and other relevant entities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in counseling, education, higher education administration, student affairs, psychology, public health, healthcare administration, or a related field.
- At least three years of progressively responsible experience in career advising, academic advising, student services, medical education, graduate medical education, or a related higher education setting.
- Demonstrated experience advising students or adult learners and delivering workshops, presentations, or educational programming.
- Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage confidential information and multiple complex, time-sensitive processes.
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn student information, advising, and residency application systems.
- Learning management system skills is preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in counseling, education, higher education administration, student affairs, psychology, or a related field.
- Experience in a college of osteopathic medicine, medical school, graduate medical education program, or other health professions education environment.
- Knowledge of osteopathic medical education, specialty selection, ERAS, NRMP, SOAP, the military match, and residency application processes.
- Experience using advising assessment tools, outcomes data, and continuous quality-improvement methods.
Required Competencies
- Student-centered counseling and advising
- Professional judgment, discretion, and confidentiality
- Cultural humility and the ability to support students with varied backgrounds, experiences, and career goals
- Collaboration and relationship management
- Attention to detail, follow-through, and deadline management
- Data-informed planning and continuous improvement
- Professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to BUCOM and BHSU values
Supervision and Fiscal Accountability
This position does not ordinarily supervise full-time employees but may direct student workers or temporary staff as assigned. The position does not have primary budget authority but may recommend purchases, monitor approved program expenses, and steward institutional resources in accordance with University policy.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
Work is primarily performed in a standard office and campus environment and requires frequent computer use, communication, and review of electronic records. The employee must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, move about campus, and occasionally transport materials for programs or events. Some evening or weekend work may be required during peak application periods, Match Week, or college events. Occasional travel may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the position.
Employment Expectations
Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position. The employee is expected to comply with all BHSU and BUCOM policies, maintain professional conduct, protect confidential information, and contribute positively to a collaborative academic environment. This job description summarizes the primary responsibilities and may be revised as institutional needs evolve.
