Title: Expert/Executive in Residence
Semester: Beginning Fall 2026
FLSA STATUS: Exempt (Salary)
DEPARTMENT: Office of Career Programs & Employer Relations
REPORTS TO: Senior Director of Career Programs & Employer Relations
HOURS: 5-10 hours/week
The Office of Career Programs and Employer Relations at Dominican University is seeking Executives and Experts in Residence (EIR) to link students to community and business organizations, in addition to bringing a recent industry perspective to Dominican University to provide career mentoring services to students. Accessible to students via appointments in Handshake, our career development platform, these organizational leaders are paid a modest stipend in return for sharing their career advice, industry expertise, connections, and networks with the Dominican community.
The hallmark of the career development program is one-on-one career mentoring sessions in which the EIRs advise students on their prospective career choices. EIRs are required to spend at least one day physically on campus, face-to-face, which facilitates relationship building with students and community members. These meetings, which occur multiple times per semester, are approximately 30 minutes in length and are specifically tailored to the students' needs and interests.
Discussions typically focus on a student's interests, background, and experience as they consider a career in a particular profession. EIRs will often advise students on the following:
- Assistance with resume building, LinkedIn, cover letter, and applicable job search materials.
- Job and internship search, interview skills, and strategies.
- Skills and abilities required to succeed in a particular industry or organization.
- Planning a career path beyond the initial position accepted directly after graduation.
- Assistance with graduate or professional school applications.
- Strategies for maintaining momentum once a career path has been chosen.
- Navigating challenging professional or personal issues at work.
CURRENTLY HIRING FOR EXPERTS/EXECUTIVES IN RESIDENCE WITHIN THE FOLLOWING CAREER PATHWAYS:
- Human Services (Social work, psychology, sociology, criminology, or similar)
- Health Sciences (Nursing, nutrition, PhD or professional, or similar)
- STEM (Biology, chemistry, mathematics, natural sciences, environmental science, or similar)
- Education & Training (Languages, education, journalism, or similar)
- Arts & Creative
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary role is providing multiple 1:1 career mentoring sessions with students each semester to advise and coach them on their prospective career choices. Other duties include:
- Contributions to special projects assigned by the Senior Director of Career Programs & Employer Relations.
- Guest lectures in undergraduate and graduate courses.
- While practicing an "intrusive advising model," EIRs will be tasked with communicating to individual students via phone calls and email to build rapport and increase traffic with their appointments.
- EIRs will utilize Handshake, Dominican University's career development platform, for their appointments. EIRs will promote and encourage students to utilize the platform.
- The EIRs will encourage and support career development events and efforts by promoting these opportunities to students.
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience as a current/past leader (Executive-level leadership, C-suite, VP, President, etc.) in field/major/career path.
- Experience in career mentoring.
- Flexibility to be on campus at least 1 day per week.
- Ability to meet with students in-person and virtually via Zoom or over the phone.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate degree preferred
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Ability to spend long durations of the workday sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
Note: accommodations will be made for candidates who do not meet these physical demands
SALARY AND FLSA STATUS
- Salary: $4,000 - $8,000 depending on hours per week
- FLSA Status: Exempt, Part-time
BENEFITS
- Retirement plan
- Professional development opportunities
- Tuition remission for employees and their dependents
Employment at Dominican University is contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation.
About Dominican University
Dominican University is a Catholic, comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago, with an additional campus in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Dominican University offers associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. It is highly regarded for its academic rigor, thoughtful accompaniment of students, intentional affordability, and values-based, relationship-centered learning environment.
Dominican currently enrolls over 3,800 students, including 2,690 undergraduates and 1,114 graduate students. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of undergraduate students identify as Latinx, 5% as Black or African American, and 3% as Asian. Under-represented minority students comprise 77% of the undergraduate enrollment and 38% of the graduate enrollment. Over 90 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Nearly half of all undergraduates are first-generation college students; over half are federal Pell Grant recipients, illustrating their families' level of income; and 58% are eligible for low-income MAP grants from the State of Illinois.
Recognized since 2011 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, Dominican is committed to expanding and enhancing educational opportunities for Latinx students and all students from historically underrepresented groups. For more information, visit www.dom.edu.
Expectations for all Dominican Employees:
To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, give compassionate service, and participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, engage in university service work that promotes collaboration and community building. This includes participating in organizational initiatives, supporting campus events, contributing to community outreach, and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment through involvement in various staff-driven activities and groups.
Institutional Statement
Dominican University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Dominican University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, and candidates from diverse backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you need accommodations due to a disability, you may contact us at opc@dom.edu for assistance.
- Graduate degree preferred.
EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL DOMINICAN EMPLOYEES
To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service, and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.