Adjunct RISE Coach

About the Role:

The LE3 program at National Louis University is seeking a mission-aligned Adjunct RISE Coach to provide high-touch, holistic coaching to working adult students pursuing their bachelor’s degree while employed full-time. Our students are ambitious, often under-recognized, and balancing many responsibilities. Through RISE Coaching—Resilience, Initiative, Skills, Empowerment—we walk alongside them to build the mindset, skills, and support systems they need to thrive.

This is not a traditional advising role. It’s a relationship-based, human-centered coaching model that blends academic, professional, and personal support. We are looking for someone who believes in the potential of every student and is ready to disrupt the status quo of higher education to create real, lasting change.

Availability:

Potentially starting as soon as Summer and Fall Quarters (July-December 2025), approximately 12-15 hours/week depending on student caseload) 

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a thought partner, accountability partner, and life navigator for a caseload of working students.
• Use the GRoW Coaching Model to help students articulate goals, overcome barriers, and take meaningful action toward personal and professional growth. The Coach is not expected to know the GROW model, but will be trained by our staff. 
• Offer intrusive and proactive coaching—not waiting for students to reach out but building consistent, caring relationships.
• Address the whole student experience: academics, work, life, wellness, and identity.
• Collaborate with instructors, staff, and fellow coaches to ensure a seamless and supportive student journey.
• Track engagement and student progress using tech-enabled systems.
• Be open to sharing your own experiences vulnerably and appropriately to build trust and model resilience.

Who You Are

• Passionate about student success and social mobility—especially for students who have been historically excluded from traditional models of higher education.
• Excited to redefine the role of coach and educator, blending personal, academic, and career development in one relationship.
• Skilled in active listening, growth mindset cultivation, and personal storytelling.
• Emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and culturally responsive.
• A strong communicator who can both motivate and challenge students in a supportive way.
• Able and willing to use systems to track student progress.

• Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, organizational leadership, or a related field (Master's preferred). Relevant industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

• At least 2 years experience in higher education or coaching (teaching, student services, or academic advising).
• Prior work in coaching, HR, career services, or related fields.
• Familiarity with intrusive advising, GRoW Coaching Model, or similar methodologies.
• Lived or professional experience navigating nontraditional educational or career paths is a plus.
• Comfortable using technology to track coaching touchpoints and manage caseloads.

What Makes RISE Coaching Unique

RISE Coaches are disruptors and builders. We believe every student deserves a team, not just a class. Our coaching methodology is about walking beside—not talking at—students. We help students navigate complexity, own their story, and pursue their purpose. It’s transformational work, for both students and coaches.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued.  We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact.  Our institution values Adjunct Faculty's role in advancing our teaching mission and preparing our students for successful careers.  Adjunct Faculty have access to training resources for professional development, access to shared governance as a part of our Adjunct Council, retirement plans, educational opportunities, and paid time off.  A more complete list of Adjunct Faculty Benefits can be found here.

Adjunct Faculty are paid by course or assignment each term.  These rates vary by college and number of credit hours for the course/assignment.  While the specific amount will be indicated in an electronic contract that is issued to the Adjunct Faculty member when the course is assigned, an overview of standard rate structure is available below:

2025 Adjunct Faculty Rate Structure