American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University
Department:
Experiential Education
Time Type:
Full time
Job Type:
Regular
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Work Modality:
Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)
Union:
Job Description:
Summary:
The Associate Director, Experiential Learning provides leadership for career-integrated experiential learning at American University, with a primary focus on internships and applied learning opportunities that advance students’ career readiness, professional development, and equitable access to high-impact experiences.
Reporting to the Director of Experiential Education, the Associate Director is responsible for the strategic direction, management, and assessment of university-wide experiential learning initiatives. This role expands experiential learning participation across undergraduate and graduate populations while addressing structural and financial barriers to access.
The Associate Director serves as a key institutional leader for the AU Ready Internship Pledge, a university-wide initiative providing up to $4,500 in student support funding to promote equitable participation in unpaid internships. The position exercises a high degree of independent judgment in program design, funding strategy, policy development, and institutional partnership management.
In addition, the Associate Director provides direct supervision for professional staff supporting both experiential learning and career advising functions as student conversations regularly integrate career and experiential guidance. This position contributes to broader decision-making, service integration, and cross-functional planning as well as provides critical support for evolving university strategic goals.
Essential Functions:
1.) AU Ready Internship Pledge Leadership and Student Support Funds Administration
- Serve as an administrator and strategic lead for the AU Ready Internship Pledge.
- Oversee program design, application cycles, eligibility frameworks, review processes, timelines, and communications related to student support funding.
- Exercise independent judgment and discretion in student funding allocations to ensure equitable, compliant, and mission-aligned distribution of resources.
- Manage financial tracking, documentation, reporting, and coordination with university finance, compliance, and advancement offices.
- Assess program outcomes, equity impacts, and student experience data; develop recommendations for policy refinement, sustainability, and future growth.
2.) Staff Supervision and Team Leadership
- Provide direct supervision of professional staff supporting experiential learning and career advising, including four professional staff members.
- Lead staff responsible for internship programs, experiential learning initiatives, and career advising functions, ensuring coordination and integration of services.
- Provide coaching, performance management, goal-setting, and professional development support.
- Delegate responsibilities and align staff work with unit, divisional, and institutional priorities.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered team culture.
- Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and evaluation of staff.
3.) Career and Experiential Learning Advising to Students
- Provide direct career and experiential learning advising to undergraduate and graduate students.
- Advise students on securing and reflecting on experiential learning opportunities including internships, fellowships, and applied learning experiences.
- Support students in connecting experiential learning to academic pathways, career goals, and skill development.
- Integrate advising practices with Career Center advising frameworks and institutional career readiness competencies.
- Contribute to advising-related workshops, programming, and student-facing resources.
4.) Data Management, Assessment, and Reporting
- Lead the collection, analysis, and reporting of experiential learning participation and outcome data.
- Use data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform planning and institutional reporting.
- Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations for Career Center leadership and university stakeholders.
- Ensure accurate record-keeping and compliance related to experiential learning programs and funding.
5.) Experiential Learning Engagement and Campus Collaboration
- Support experiential learning and career development programming including employer engagement, alumni mentoring, site visits, and student information sessions.
- Collaborate with Career Center colleagues to align experiential learning with advising, employer relations, and career education.
- Represent experiential learning and career advising initiatives on campus committees, meetings, and events.
Supervisory Responsibility:
- This position will supervise four full time staff members.
Competencies:
- Acting Ethically and With Integrity.
- Displaying Creativity.
- Acquiring and Analyzing Information.
- Managing Performance.
- Prioritizing and Organizing.
- Serving Customers.
- Supporting a Diverse and Inclusive Community.
- Supporting Coworkers.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
- Full-time.
- 35 hours per week.
- Monday – Friday schedule.
- Hybrid 1 work modality (3 – 4 days on campus).
Salary Range:
- $90,000.00 – $95,000.00 annually.
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- 4 – 6 years of relevant experience.
- 3+ years of supervisory experience.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Master’s degree or equivalent.
- 8 – 10 years of relevant experience.
Travel Required:
- Occasional local or domestic travel.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
- Strong organizational, analytical, and equity-focused practices.
Other Duties:
- Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Benefits
AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University’s unique benefit options.
Other Details
- Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
- Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
- Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
- American University is an E-Verify employer.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”) in its programs and activities.
