The Director of Career Development provides leadership for the university’s career development programs and services, supporting students’ career readiness, experiential learning, and post-graduate success. The Director collaborates with academic and student support units to connect academic experiences with workforce preparation and employment opportunities.
This position is responsible for developing and implementing programs that enhance career exploration, employability skill development, personal branding, employer engagement, and workforce readiness for students and alumni. The Director uses data-informed practices to support student success outcomes and strengthen relationships with employers, community partners, and alumni.
Strategic Planning & Program Development
- Develop and implement strategic goals for career development services aligned with institutional priorities and workforce needs.
- Support student career readiness through programs focused on career exploration, employability skills development, personal branding, and career preparation and placement.
- Use data and assessment practices to evaluate program effectiveness and improve student outcomes related to career readiness and employment.
- Develop and coordinate experiential learning opportunities, including internships, job shadowing, and employer-sponsored projects.
Career Services Operations
- Manage the daily operations of the Career Development office.
- Supervise career development staff and support ongoing professional development initiatives.
- Develop annual goals, assessment measures, and program evaluations for career development initiatives.
- Manage departmental budget and resources effectively.
- Oversee career services technologies and resources that support student engagement and employer outreach.
Employer & Community Engagement
- Cultivate and maintain partnerships with employers, alumni, and community organizations to expand experiential learning and career opportunities for students.
- Coordinate employer engagement activities, including career fairs, networking events, on-campus recruiting, and workshops.
- Participate in workforce development initiatives and maintain relationships with external partners to support experiential learning and student employment opportunities.
Collaboration & Campus Integration
- Collaborate with academic affairs, enrollment management, student success, and student affairs to support career readiness initiatives throughout the student experience.
- Partner with academic departments to support the incorporation of career competencies and experiential learning into academic programs.
- Collaborate with institutional research and other campus partners to track and report career-related outcomes.
- Support faculty and staff in promoting career development resources and opportunities for students.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in higher education, business, public administration, counseling, or a related field.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive professional experience in career services, workforce development, student success, or related areas in higher education.
- Demonstrated experience in program development, employer engagement, and staff supervision.
- Strong understanding of career readiness competencies, employment trends, and workforce development practices.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills.
Preferred
- Master’s degree in higher education, business, public administration, counseling, or a related field.
- Experience implementing new programs or initiatives.
- Experience developing employer partnerships and experiential learning opportunities.
- Familiarity with career services technologies and assessment practices.
- Knowledge of regional workforce and economic development trends.
Before hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources.
The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies.
AA/EO Employer.
Minority applications encouraged.
