Director of Career Development

Director of Career Development

The Director of Career Development provides visionary operational and strategic leadership for a comprehensive career development program, with a focus on strategic planning, student career readiness, and leading the career advising team. The Director oversees student engagement operations, supervises key team members, leads the implementation of career readiness initiatives, and represents the Career Center across the university and in the community.

In addition, the Director is responsible for the assessment and continuous improvement of student engagement programs and services, using data, outcomes, and feedback to evaluate effectiveness, inform decision-making, and ensure alignment with Career Center and university goals.

• Leads strategic planning for student-facing career services and advising, including budget forecasting, HR functions, and operational oversight
• Collaborates with Career Center leadership to create a seamless student experience across career exploration, advising, education, and employer engagement
• Serves as a strategic decision-maker and key contributor to the mission and direction of the Career Center
• Evaluates and refines career initiatives using benchmarking data, assessments, and student engagement metrics
• Represents the Career Center in public speaking engagements, student events, and university/community functions
• Acts as the primary media contact for career-related topics and trends
• Oversees the integration and ongoing development of NACE career competencies across academic and co-curricular programs
• Supports the implementation and integration of career readiness tools into curriculum and student experiences
• Collaborates with academic and administrative partners to track, assess, and improve student participation in career readiness activities
• Aligns student career programming with university-wide goals for student success and graduate outcomes
• Provides direct supervision to assigned staff
• Promotes a collaborative, inclusive office culture and ensures ongoing professional development and support for team members
• Ensures that programs, services, and resources are high-quality, innovative, and accessible to students of all academic backgrounds
• Leads data collection and compliance related to career outcomes (first-destination surveys) in adherence to NACE standards
• Supports data reporting and analysis for annual reports, strategic planning, and institutional initiatives
• Serves as the Career Center's liaison to Deans, Associate Deans, and college administrators to align career services with academic priorities
• Engages regularly with advising and career staff across colleges, departments, and majors to promote collaborative programming and student support
• Leads the development and execution of a career strategy for graduate students, in partnership with the Graduate College
• Collaborates with Admissions, Enrollment Management, Alumni relations, advancement teams and other key units to enhance career education efforts
• Represents the Career Center on campus-wide initiatives and committees related to student engagement and post-graduation success
• Other duties as assigned to support departmental goals

Bachelor's degree required, AND :

• 7 years of experience in career services, academic advising, student success, or a related area

Experience or a combination of education & related experience can be considered in lieu of degree. A one-to-one ratio is used to determine the number of years of experience required in place of a degree.

• Strong relationship management and customer service skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuasively
• Proficient in strategic planning and implementation to support program development and organizational goals
• Ability to foster collaboration across departments and divisions, while effectively building and supporting a team
• Ability to design and deliver impactful presentations to departmental, divisional, and university leadership
• Exper…