Director Career Coaching

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Career Coaching leads strategic initiatives to enhance student career readiness, oversee coaching programs, and integrate career development into the academic experience. This role supervises the Manager of Career Coaching and Career Coaches, manages student-facing platforms and programming, and collaborates across departments to deliver inclusive, high-impact services. The Director plays a critical role in shaping the vision for coaching, peer programs, and faculty engagement, while promoting institutional alignment and data-informed decision-making.

This position is an in-person position at Post’s main campus or downtown Waterbury location.

ESSENTIAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Leadership, Strategy & Promotion

• Hire, train, and supervise Career Coaching staff; support professional growth through conferences, certifications, and association engagement.
• Develop and execute strategic initiatives aligned with institutional goals and departmental priorities related to career development.
• Apply inclusive coaching practices that support the success of students from diverse backgrounds and career interests.
• Represent the department at professional conferences and events; share key insights with staff and strengthen the office’s visibility in the field.
• Lead the student-facing marketing strategy by defining messaging goals and campaign priorities for career coaching programs, events, and services.

Student & Alumni Career Development

• Ensure quality and consistency of coaching and document review through staff development, tool evaluation, and student feedback.
• Develop vision, outcomes, and equity-centered approach for all career coaching, including the Peer Career Coaching Program; align with goals.
• Lead the planning and delivery of in-person and virtual career readiness events focused on exploration, skill development, and professional preparation.

Partnerships & External Engagement

• Support employer and alumni engagement by integrating industry-informed content into coaching and classroom visits with faculty collaboration.
• Lead faculty engagement strategy for career development integration; present to faculty and promote alignment across advising and instruction.
• Collaborate with departments and contribute to campus-wide initiatives and committees as appropriate.
• Train Academic Advisors on career topics and materials; collaborate across campus to embed career development into academic and student life.

Data, Systems & Operations

• Report on student engagement, coaching effectiveness, peer coach impact, and career readiness milestones using consistent tracking systems.
• Oversee the budget for career coaching programs, workshops, peer initiatives, and academic advisor training efforts.
• Oversee coaching platforms and Handshake appointments, lead strategy for tool promotion, integration, and student engagement in career readiness.
• Develop dashboards to visualize student engagement trends, coaching participation, peer program impact, and career readiness milestones.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

There will be other duties as assigned for the position. This position requires a flexible schedule with some evening and weekend hours to meet the operational needs of the Career Development Center.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Master’s degree required.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in career development, academic advising, or a related field
• Demonstrated success in leading coaching programs, supervising staff, and integrating career development into academic settings.
• Supervisory experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven ability to design and deliver inclusive coaching programs and career readiness events.
• Experience developing curriculum, training materials, and strategic messaging for student engagement.
• Strong understanding of career development theory, coaching best practices, and student success metrics.
• Ability to manage budgets, assess program effectiveness, and use data to inform strategy.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional collaboration and institutional planning.
• Proficiency with Handshake, Big Interview, and UConnect for employer engagement and career services delivery
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) for documentation, reporting, and communication