Senior Director, Career and Professional Development

Office of Career and Professional Development

St. Edward's University, a nationally ranked, independent Catholic university and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, position as a Senior Director in the Department of Career and Professional Development, beginning June or July 2024. St. Edward's is characterized by its commitment to the Holy Cross educational mission to educate the hearts and minds of a diverse student body that is deeply committed to social justice.

The successful candidate will supervise professional staff, identification and development of internship/employment opportunities, monitoring educational trends to meet the changing needs of students and employers, development and promotion of career programs and services, and budget management. The Senior Director leads and manages the delivery of career development and exploration services for all undergraduate and graduate students and alumni of the university. Working together with the Career and Professional Development team, academic school leadership, and University campus partners, the Senior Director will create plans to build and enhance resources, programs, external partnerships, and support for all students. 

St. Edward's University embraces excellence through diversity and especially encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to supporting a diverse student body.

For Consideration, a candidate will possess:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in career planning and job and internship development and/or in building relationships with external partners.
• Support for the university's mission.
• Management and supervisory experience with direct reports.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Professional written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking experience.
• Experience proactively and effectively collaborating with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally, including employers, students, faculty, staff, and university administrators.
• Experience leading a team and succeeding in a cross-functional work environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of corporate hiring processes, college career centers, and career development trends.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and use data as a decision-making tool.
• Experience or knowledge of best practices when working with international students and diverse populations.
• Successful completion of an employment and/or criminal history background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related area.
• Grant writing and administration experience.
• Experience with relevant software (including Handshake, SmartSheet, and Tableau).

Essential Responsibilities Include:

• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the Office for Career and Professional Development (CAPD) mission, vision, goals, and objectives aligned with the university's strategic priorities.
• Develop and manage student internship opportunities and career programming to prepare students (undergraduate and graduate) and alumni for successful placement.
• Promote programs and partnerships between the university and employers and community groups in the Austin area, in support of our "Austin Impact" strategic goals.
• Supervise and administer the budget for the Office of Career and Professional Development.
• Oversee and manage key programs, such as Community Federal Work Study, donor-funded internships, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Administer the university's semi-annual survey of recent graduates to determine their career and graduate engagement.
• Collect and analyze data on the effectiveness of CAPD initiatives and student participation in programs that incentivize advanced experiential learning such as Blue and Gold Scholars.
• Monitor local and statewide workforce needs, identify opportunities for students, and address any needs and gaps.
• Facilitate and develop engagement with external partners.
• Supervise and collaborate with the Student Engagement and Communications Coordinator and Career and Professional Development staff to manage employer relations, job development, recruitment activities, and CAPD marketing.
• Facilitate engagement with alumni, grant funders, and other donors.
• Maintain and continue to grow mutually beneficial relationships with business, governmental, non-profit, and alumni communities to enhance employment and dedicated internship opportunities.
• Lead efforts to engage and train community organizations in hiring, supervising, and mentoring students and graduates.
• Develop skill-building workshops on subjects such as resume writing, interviewing, graduate school applications, and utilizing social media in job and internship searches, etc.
• Develop career exploration experiential learning programs.
• Leverage social media to promote the mission of the Career and Professional Development Office and communicate job opportunities.
• Provide and encourage ongoing professional development for staff.
• Develop and conduct annual assessments and evaluations of the department.
• Manage the university Handshake platform.
• Manage departmental vendor contracts.
• Establish campus-wide collaborative partnerships with internal stakeholders including Advancement and Alumni Relations, External Affairs, Student Success staff, deans, directors, department chairs, faculty, and Residence Life staff.
• Collaborate and support school-based career programming.
• Maintain responsibility for regulatory and policy compliance as it applies to the position.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

For detailed information, please scroll to the bottom of the page to download the job description.

The University offers an excellent TOTAL REWARDS package!

Medical & Rx Coverage (HSA Available)

Dental

Vision

Flexible Spending Accounts

Short Term Disability (STD) Insurance

Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance

Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Pet Insurance

Annual Leave & Paid Sick Leave

Retirement Plan - (TIAA) Employee 5%/Employer Match 7%

Tuition Benefits

Paid Holidays

Services & Discounts

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should submit an online application at: https://stedwards.applicantpro.com. Please include a resume, cover letter, and three employment references. Applications will not be considered if it is missing any of these three items. No Calls Please. For full consideration, please submit your materials by May 31, 2024.

Mission Integration Statement:

St. Edward's was founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, from which it acquired distinguishing characteristics that include the courage to take risks, an international perspective and the commitment to provide educational opportunities for students of varied cultural, religious, educational and economic backgrounds. In support of the mission, the different backgrounds of St. Edward's students, faculty and staff enrich our community and represent a significant part of our culture and commitment to excellence. We value the individual differences, life experiences, unique capabilities and innovative talent that our employees and students contribute to our vibrant academic environment. St. Edward's honors and respects all members of its community by fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that respects the dignity and worth of each person and stresses the obligation of all people to pursue a more just world.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

St. Edward's University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

ABOUT ST. EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1885 by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University is a private, Catholic liberal arts institution of more than 4,600 diverse students located in Austin, Texas. St. Edward's emphasizes critical thinking and ethical practices, as well as small classes, personalized learning and exciting internship opportunities. The community atmosphere extends to the approximately 800 faculty and staff who work together to make the university a welcoming yet challenging environment for students. An overview of St. Edward's University employee benefits is available at; https://www.stedwards.edu/human-resources/benefits-summary

Sponsorship:

We are not offering sponsorship at this time.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check is required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Reference #: J2024028

Available: June 2024