Senior Director for Career and Professional Development

Senior Director for Career and Professional Development

Career and Professional Development

St. Edward's University of Austin, Texas invites applications for the position of Senior Director for Career and Professional Development. The Senior Director provides leadership in the development and implementation of the Office for Career and Professional Development (CAPD) mission, vision, goals, and objectives to align with the university's strategic priorities.

The position identifies and develops internship/employment opportunities, monitors educational trends to meet the changing needs of students and employers, develops and promotes career programs and services, and provides budget management. Lead and manage the delivery of career development and exploration services for all undergraduate and graduate students and alumni of the university. Works together with the CAPD team, academic school leadership, and University campus partners.

Create plans to build and enhance resources, programs, external partnerships, and support for all students.

Start date no earlier than July 1, 2026.

For consideration,

Minimum Qualifications (Qualifications required to perform the job successfully)

* Bachelor's degree required.

* Minimum of 5-7 years' experience in career planning and job and internship development and/or in building relationships with external partners.

* Support for the university's mission.

* Management and supervisory experience with direct reports.

* Strong interpersonal skills.

* Professional written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking experience.

* Experience proactively and effectively collaborating with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally, including employers, students, faculty, staff, and university administrators.

* Experience leading a team and succeeding in a cross-functional work environment.

* Demonstrated understanding of corporate hiring processes, college career centers, and career development trends.

* Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite.

* Demonstrated ability to analyze and use data as a decision-making tool.

* Experience or knowledge of best practices when working with international students and diverse populations.

* Successful completion of an employment and/or criminal history background check.

Preferred Qualifications

* Master's degree in a related area.

* Grant writing and administration experience.

* Experience with relevant software (including Handshake, Smart Sheets, and Tableau).

* Experience with regional accreditation (e.g Middle States, SACSCOC HLC).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

* Demonstrate leadership in career services, workforce development, or experiential learning program management.

* Ability to build and sustain partnerships with employers, alumni, faculty, and community organizations.

* Experience in developing and managing internships, career programming, and student career readiness initiatives.

* Strong team leadership, collaboration, and communication skills in a cross-functional environment.

* Ability to analyze outcomes data and workforce trends to inform strategy, programs, and student success initiatives.

Essential Duties and

Responsibilities Include:

* Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the Office for Career and Professional Development (CAPD) mission, vision, goals, and objectives aligned with the university's strategic priorities

* Supervise four full-time staff members who manage employer relations, career programming, recruitment activities, and CAPD marketing.

* Establish campus-wide collaborative partnerships with internal stakeholders including Advancement, Alumni Relations, External Affairs, Student Success staff, deans, directors, department chairs, faculty, and Residence Life staff.

* Develop and manage student internship opportunities and career programming to prepare students (undergraduate and graduate) and alumni for successful placement.

* Facilitate experiential learning visits to employer off-site visits (Career Treks) in collaboration with the Assc. Dir. Of Employer Engagement

* Promote programs and partnerships between the university,…