Associate Director of Career , Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy

The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia seeks an experienced, innovative, and student-centered professional to serve as Associate Director of Career Advancement
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The Associate Director plays a central role in preparing the next generation of public leaders by serving as a trusted career coach, strategist, and connector for Batten's undergraduate and graduate students and alumni. Through individualized coaching, innovative career education, employer and alumni engagement, and experiential learning, this position helps students translate their policy education into meaningful careers across government, consulting, nonprofits, philanthropy, advocacy, and the private sector.

At UVA Batten, we believe career success starts with connection. Career advancement begins on a student's first day-not with a job search, but with building relationships, exploring possibilities, gaining meaningful experiences, and developing the confidence to navigate a lifetime of leadership and public impact. The Associate Director will embrace this coaching philosophy while helping students clarify goals, build professional networks, and confidently pursue opportunities aligned with their interests and strengths.

As an integral member of the Career Advancement & Alumni Engagement team, the Associate Director will collaborate closely with faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and campus partners to advance Batten's commitment to student success and the school's 2030 Strategic Plan.

The Associate Director reports to the Director of Career Advancement & Alumni Engagement. While the position typically requires a standard work schedule, occasional evening and weekend work and regional travel will be required to support employer engagement, alumni programming, and student events. Hybrid work arrangements are available consistent with university policy.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional coach, relationship builder, and strategic thinker who is passionate about helping students launch meaningful careers.

Successful candidates will possess a strong understanding of public policy career pathways and graduate-level recruiting, particularly within government, consulting, nonprofits, philanthropy, advocacy, and mission-driven organizations. They will demonstrate the ability to coach high-achieving students through complex career decisions, cultivate strategic employer and alumni partnerships, and develop innovative programming that prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving workforce.

The successful candidate will be collaborative, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and committed to continuous improvement. They will possess exceptional communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine passion for public service and leadership development.

• Serve as a trusted career coach for undergraduate and graduate students, providing individualized guidance on career exploration, career design, internships, graduate school, job search strategy, networking, resume and cover letter development, interviewing, salary negotiation, and long-term career planning.
• Help students identify and articulate their strengths, interests, values, and experiences while translating their Batten education into compelling professional narratives for diverse employers.
• Coach students pursuing highly competitive opportunities across consulting, government, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, philanthropy, think tanks, and the private sector.
• Develop long-term coaching relationships that encourage reflection, confidence, resilience, and lifelong career management.
• Collaborate with the University Career Center and Career Communities to ensure seamless, high-quality career support for Batten students and strong advocacy for university-wide initiatives.
• Stay informed on labor market trends, emerging industries, graduate recruiting practices, and public policy career pathways to provide timely and relevant guidance.
• Participate in regional and national professional associations, conferences, and trainings to remain current on best practices in career coaching and student success.

• In partnership with the Director and University Career Center, design and deliver innovative career education programs that connect students with alumni, employers, and leaders across the public policy profession.
• Develop evidence-informed workshops and experiential learning opportunities that strengthen students' career readiness, professional identity, leadership capacity, and lifelong career management skills.
• Collaborate on signature initiatives including alumni networking, employer engagement, industry treks, career communities, and experiential learning programs.
• Support the development of career communications, including newsletters, digital resources, and career education materials for students and alumni.
• Track internship and employment outcomes and contribute to internal assessment,…