Director

Description

The Director for the Career Center provides strategic leadership, oversight, and management of comprehensive career development services for students and alumni. The Director develops innovative programs that support career readiness, internships, experiential learning, graduate school preparation and employment outcomes while fostering strong partnerships with employers, faculty, alumni and community organizations. The Director ensures that career services align with the institution’s mission, strategic goals, student success initiatives and workforce development needs. The Director is responsible for planning, organizing, developing, administering, and budgeting career-related programs and delivery systems.

Examples of Duties

• Shape the vision, goals, and operational metrics of the Career Center, ensuring alignment with the university’s broader academic mission.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with corporate recruiters, non-profits, and government agencies to expand internship and job placement pipelines.
• Recruit, supervise, and mentor career counselors, employer relations coordinators, and support staff. Manage the department’s operational budget.
• Oversee the development of career education, self-assessment workshops, resume reviews, mock interviews, and job-search seminars.
• Monitor and evaluate postgraduate outcomes, employment rates, and program effectiveness using quantitative and statistical evidence.
• Partner closely with academic departments, faculty, alumni relations, and student affairs to seamlessly embed career readiness into the curriculum.
• Provide career counseling and coaching to students and alumni, particularly in complex or advanced cases.
• Develop and present workshops, classes, and presentations on career exploration, internships, job and graduate school preparation.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with alumni, employers, and community partners to expand internship, employment, and experiential learning opportunities across all majors.
• Oversee on-campus and virtual recruiting initiatives and employer engagement activities.
• Lead and supervise Career Center staff, interns, and student employees, including hiring, training, performance evaluation, and professional development.
• Develop and manage the Career Center budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and operational standards for the Center.
• Oversee the development and delivery of career planning, internship, experiential learning, graduate school, employment, and post-graduate service programs.
• Ensure high-quality, accessible career resources, including online platforms, digital tools, and career management systems.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs to integrate career development into academic programs and curricular initiatives.
• Provide strategic direction and long-range planning for Career Center programs, services, and initiatives.
• Establish annual goals and measurable outcomes aligned with institutional priorities; evaluate effectiveness using data and assessment tools.
• Prepare and present an annual report summarizing services, outcomes, trends, and areas for improvement.
• Represent the Career Center at University events, committees, and functions as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

• Earned master’s degree in business, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, Student Services, or a related area.
• Minimum of 8 years of effective administrative experience in Career Services, Higher Education, or related areas.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of career development and career services.
• Proven ability to translate ideas and concepts into successful career programs and services.

200 William R. Harvey Way

Hampton, Virginia, 23668