Assistant Director of Career Services for Study USA Programs

Assistant Director of Career Services for Study USA Programs

Location: Elon University Campus

Title: Assistant Director of Career Services for Study USA Programs

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday – Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Strategic Initiatives

Department: Student Professional Development Center/Career Services

Location: Elon Main Campus

Position Summary

In collaboration with campus partners, the Assistant Director of Career Services for Study USA Programs drives Elon University’s Study USA internship pipeline by blending targeted career advising, city-specific employer and advancement relations, international student career advising support, program operations, and inclusive community building. This role requires an entrepreneurial and proactive mindset to independently identify opportunities, build networks, and develop innovative solutions that scale Study USA’s internship outcomes. This role builds and stewards a dynamic database of Study USA internship sites/contacts while serving as the SPDC liaison to the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center (GEC), and Advancement teams (Parent & Alumni Engagement).

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree plus 1+ year in career services, higher ed/student affairs, employer relations, recruiting, or related fields (graduate assistantships count).

Entrepreneurial and proactive mindset with a track record of independently driving initiatives forward.

Proven success in career advising, relationship-building, and/or program management.

Excellent communication, project management, and database/CRM skills (e.g., Symplicity, Excel, Salesforce).

Ability to collaborate across teams and represent Elon professionally in diverse city contexts.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and NACE Career Readiness Competencies.

Preferred Education and Experience

Master’s degree, 2+ years professional experience in career services or experiential education, experience managing similar experiential learning or career programs from inception through assessment and iteration.

Experience with alumni/parent engagement, employer outreach, or study away programs.
Familiarity with U.S. internship best practices and international student advising.

Knowledge of Elon’s Study USA programs or similar domestic study away models.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Attention to detail and ability to work independently.
Ability to develop effective presentations in a timely manner.
Proficiency in popular software such as Canva, PowerPoint, Excel, as well as CRM software is preferred.

Job Duties

Targeted Career Advising
- Deliver individualized and group career advising to Study USA students on location-specific internship search strategies, self-marketing materials (resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters), interview preparation, networking etiquette, and professionalism aligned with the Preparation-Implementation-Reflection flow. In collaboration with other campus colleagues, host cohort kickoffs, pre-departure readiness sessions, virtual check-ins during implementation, and post-return integration workshops to guide students through goal setting, experiential learning documentation, and translating outcomes into future career assets.
- Provide on-demand coaching for workplace challenges, alumni/parent networking, and next-step planning (further internships, full-time roles). Curate student-facing resources like location-specific timelines, sample outreach emails, reflection prompts, and NACE competency-aligned goal worksheets. Work to ensure that all students have secured internship placements prior to the start of their Study USA program, and provide targeted support and guidance to those who may still be at risk of not having an internship in place.
City-Specific Employer & Advancement Relations
- Lead targeted employer development for designated Study USA locations (e.g., Los Angeles, New York, Charlotte, Washington D.C.), creating employer-facing collateral that communicates program expectations, student profiles, and partnership value.
- Build, maintain, and continuously update a centralized database of historical Study USA internships, supervisors, alumni/parent contacts, site quality notes, placement outcomes, and hiring pipelines.
- Partner with Parent Engagement and Alumni Engagement to identify, cultivate, and steward warm leads (alumni, parents, friends-of-Elon) as internship hosts, mentors, and connectors in priority cities. Execute outreach campaigns, virtual/in-person employer visits, networking events, and relationship management to expand high-quality sites and log all interactions/outcomes in the database.
- Serve as primary liaison for Study USA employer partners, facilitating communication, troubleshooting, student performance feedback, and conversion to deeper partnerships (repeat hosting, full-time hiring, philanthropy).
International Student Career Support
- Provide specialized career support for international students through individual advising, workshops, and resource development Address career readiness through NACE competencies, internship and job search strategies, cross-cultural communication, and general awareness of employment regulations and opportunities.
Program Operations & Partnerships
- Track Study USA student placements, outcomes, and feedback; produce reports for SPDC, GEC, CER, and Advancement stakeholders. Serve as SPDC liaison in regular meetings with GEC, Advancement, and CER to refine the Preparation-Implementation-Reflection workflow, prioritize cities/sectors, and drive continuous improvement.
Inclusive Community Building
- Foster inclusive excellence by designing accessible career programming for diverse Study USA and international student populations. Build connections through campus activities, mentoring relationships, and professional development that advance Elon’s commitment to relationships, collaboration, and enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion. Engage in employee resource groups, cultural events, and other university-sponsored activities to strengthen the residential campus community.