Assistant/Associate Director, Career Development

What if your industry experience could shape how students launch their careers?

Have you worked in an industry and found yourself mentoring interns, new hires, or colleagues along the way?

Hamilton College has long been a leader in higher education, with the Maurice Horowitch Career Center driving that impact. Through the launch of Career Communities, the Center has unified its strengths: industry-specific coaching and employer and alumni connections, and our foundational career development curriculum, into a cohesive model that supports students from exploration through outcomes.

As we continue to evolve, we are seeking an Assistant or Associate Director, Career Development who brings industry experience and perspective to help students connect their liberal arts education to meaningful career paths.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in Finance/Consulting, Government and Law, or Science/Tech/Analytics; however, candidates from all industry backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The Role

This position blends career coaching with industry insight. You’ll work closely with students during their four years, helping them explore options, build skills, and navigate the transition from college to career - while also drawing on your own professional experience to make that process more concrete and accessible.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary career coach for students both exploring their career paths and within one of our eight career community industries
• Help students assess their interests, skills, and values and connect them to potential career paths
• Provide guidance on internships, jobs, and graduate school, including resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and salary negotiation
• Translate your industry knowledge into clear, practical advice on hiring processes, timelines, and expectations
• Help students develop and execute long-term career strategies
• Design and deliver workshops and programs that make industries and career pathways more accessible
• Leverage professional networks and industry relationships to create meaningful connections, learning opportunities, and employer engagement for Hamilton students
• Support students in using tools such as Handshake, LinkedIn, and My Hamilton Connect to build connections and pursue opportunities
• Collaborate with colleagues on communications, programming, and curriculum development
• Contribute to signature Career Center events and initiatives
• Support a culture of access, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of career education

What You Bring

We’re particularly interested in candidates who can bring the “real world” into career conversations:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus
• 2 years of experience in a relevant industry (e.g., business, nonprofit, tech, healthcare, government, creative fields, etc.)
• Understanding of how hiring works within a field (recruiting timelines, expectations, entry points)
• Ability to translate professional experience into actionable guidance for students
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Interest in mentoring, coaching, or developing others

Preferred but not required:

• Experience working with college students or in a higher education setting
• Program planning, training, or client-facing experience
• Comfort learning and leveraging new technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance student engagement and career education

Time Allocation:

• Career Advising & Student Engagement: 90%
• Program Development & Implementation: 10%

What Makes This Role Unique

While the title is Career Development, this role is not purely generalist. You’ll bring your own experience and perspective to help students better understand specific industries, career paths, and how to access them.

We’ll teach you career coaching - you bring the industry perspective.