Director, Career Education & Early Engagement

Responsible to the Executive Director of the Toppel Career Center for the strategic leadership, implementation, coordination, and oversight of the Career Education & Readiness function, with a focus on engaging University of Miami students early and building career readiness from the start of their time with us. Provides leadership to a high-performing team consisting of an Associate Director, three Career Specialists, and 10–20 student interns and peer career coaches.

The Career Education Early Engagement team helps undergraduate and graduate students explore interests, understand career pathways, and build the skills, confidence, and connections to pursue opportunities. The team delivers career coaching, guidance, and professional development through individual and drop‑in coaching, educational programming, outreach, and virtual and in‑person initiatives. This role requires independent decision-making and continuous awareness of emerging trends and best practices in career services at the state, regional, and national levels.

The Director is responsible for advancing departmental objectives while aligning with the Center's vision and University policies and procedures. This position serves as a member of the Toppel Career Center Leadership Team, collaborating with senior leadership to advance strategic priorities across the Center

• Develops and articulates the strategic direction and vision for early career engagement, including educational initiatives, programs, and professional development offerings that reach students at the start of their undergraduate or graduate experience. Strategy is informed by career development theory, labor market trends, student data, emerging issues, and benchmarking with peer institutions.
• Designs and leads a developmental, stage-based approach to career readiness that helps students explore interests, values, and strengths; learn about majors, fields, and career pathways; and build foundational skills before recruiting or job search pressures begin.
• Ensures all Career Education initiatives align with the Center's mission, strategic plan, and institutional priorities, including University commitments to student success, value, and outcomes.
• Sets and monitors goals for first-year, new transfer, and new graduate student engagement, including participation in career exploration, coaching, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Partners with Employer Engagement colleagues to ensure early-stage programming introduces students to industries, professionals, and exploration opportunities (such as job shadowing, informational interviews, and employer insights) aligned with evolving workforce needs.
• Directs and manages all career coaching training and development. Collaborates with leadership on the creation of new educational programming, online resources, self‑assessment tools, webinars, workshops, and outreach initiatives, with attention to the distinct needs of undergraduate and graduate students.
• Oversees consistent training for career coaching staff on current trends, student development, exploration and decision‑making, and industry recruiting practices (e.g., interviewing, industry‑specific documents, recruiting technologies).
• Leads regular Career Education team meetings to promote alignment, accountability, and team development.
• Establishes and monitors individual and team goals and data in collaboration with the Executive Director, ensuring progress and accountability.
• Research emerging practices in early career exploration and readiness and recommend new initiatives; leads communication and engagement with key stakeholders.
• Develops, implements, and continuously refines an…