Title: Executive Director of Career & Professional Development
Executive Area: Academic
Affairs
College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences
Department: CNS Advising Center
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule: Full time
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Job Summary
The Executive Director of Career & Professional Development manages the relationships with the
College of Natural Sciences’ many employer partners, supervises a team of up to 8 staff members and approximately 15 Career Peer Advisors
and Graduate Assistants, and is responsible for the development and execution of career and professional development services and
programming for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS).
Serves as a trusted partner and liaison with the College of Natural Sciences
and the CNS Student Success Center on matters of strategy and planning for delivering up-to-date, data- and results-driven career services
that meet marketplace demand for undergraduate and graduate students. Works closely with other career and professional development units and
campus wide staff to forge strategic partnerships and coordinate efforts to bring relevant career opportunities to our students.
Essential Functions
Oversees career services for CNS undergraduate and graduate students, across all 14
departments. Ensure delivery of high-quality and highly responsive career advising services for CNS students.
Supervises and manages
a team of up to seven professional staff. Ensures appropriate training and assignment of duties for staff serving CNS students. Provides
frequent direction, sets priorities, reviews work, and provides constructive feedback.
Develops, maintains, and cultivates
relationships with CNS’s expansive local, regional, and national employer partners. Develops essential data elements to analyze employer
partnerships.
Develops, maintains, and oversees opportunities for CNS undergraduate and graduate students to connect with local,
regional, and national employers and other partners through on-campus and virtual presentations, talks, career fairs, and field excursions.
Initiates, plans, and oversees the execution of educational and experiential learning opportunities by connecting employers and
faculty.
Ensures career and professional development programming and education in first year seminars, classroom presentations, and
summer intern cohorts are relevant, current, accurate and reflects employer feedback, market strategy, and insights. Conducts research,
collects feedback and presents data findings to senior leadership and other stakeholders that inform future decisions.
Works closely
with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education to ensure that career services align with overall academic objectives for undergraduate
and graduate students; messaging about relevant career opportunities is communicated effectively, timely, and through appropriate channels
to students, employers, staff, and faculty; and opportunities for professionals to engage with our students are developed and
managed.
Develops and plans the distribution of surveys to collect data on internships and full-time job and graduate school
outcomes; uses complex data to make informed decisions about employer partnerships, career and professional development programming, and
strategic, promotional communications regarding student outcomes. Monitors and measures data collection results and identifies when a course
change or corrective action is necessary.
Oversees day-to-day operations; identifies and plans necessary growth opportunities and
change affecting ongoing and future operations of the Career & Professional Development Center. Participates in decisions that have
program-wide impact and affect staff in non-program areas.
Other Functions
Works collaboratively and
effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.
Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and
across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
Performs other related duties as assigned to advance the mission and
achieve the goals and objectives of the College of Natural Sciences, Department, Division, and University.
Minimum
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in counseling, higher education administration, or a related field and Seven (7) years of
relevant professional experience OR Master’s degree in counseling, education, or a related field relevant and five (5) years of relevant
professional experience.
Demonstrated ability to interact effectively, communicate clearly and concisely to articulate ideas, and
create and maintain harmonious relationships with students, decision makes, employers and faculty.
Demonstrated sensitivity to
diverse groups.
Excellent management and organizational skills and an attention to detail with an ability to resolve routine problems
efficiently, effectively, and independently in a timely manner. Ability to organize, prioritize and manage time and heavy workloads
effectively.
Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.
Excellent ability to analyze, summarize, and clearly present
data in ways usable for stakeholders.
Working knowledge of career services technologies, such as online recruiting tools and
management systems and other computer proficiencies.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and make decisions
based on data and the input of others.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in counseling, education, or
a field relevant to career and professional development.
Additional Details
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we
strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual
is valued. These values and goals are reflected in the College of Natural Sciences’ Inclusive Excellence framework and in the UMass
Amherst’s For the Common Good: 2024–2034 Strategic Plan.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a standard
office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.
Work Schedule and Work
Arrangement
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Nights and weekends may be required.
This position has the
opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed
at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is
subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
Salary
Information
Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 29
Click here to view the Professional Staff Hiring Ranges.
Special Instructions for Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter.
References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional
references.
This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and
will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.
