Posted: Feb 6, 2026
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Director of Career Initiatives

Application Deadline: N/A

Director of Career Initiatives

 

The Director of Career Initiatives provides strategic leadership in developing and executing innovative initiatives that advance the Career Centers mission and support the University's multi-campus system. This role cultivates strong partnerships with University leaders, faculty, and staff to ensure career and professional development efforts align with and contribute to institutional strategic priorities. The Director is responsible for leading the creation, implementation, tracking, and assessment of initiatives that drive student success and career readiness, and which fall under the Career Center's Career Everywhere movement.

  • Manages key projects by developing, implementing, and maintaining timelines; conducts research, performs data analysis, produces reports, and provides recommendations for continuous program improvement to departmental leadership.
  • Provides strategic support and guidance to divisional leadership in the management and coordination of career initiatives and special projects
  • Collaborates with University-wide leadership to design and implement initiatives aimed at enhancing student success and post-graduation outcomes
  • Represents the Career Center on institutional committees and administrative councils to ensure alignment with university goals
  • Prepares high-level communications, executive remarks, updates, reports, presentations, and meeting materials for the Vice President
  • Supervises a team of assigned staff including full-time staff, graduate assistants, and student employees
  • Oversees the planning and execution of campus-wide Experiential Learning initiatives, including curricular integration and career readiness programming
  • Partners with the data analyst to monitor and report on post-graduation outcomes and explores innovative strategies for tracking student success
  • Tracks utilization and effectiveness of the Career Center's third-party platforms; stays informed about emerging technologies and trends in career services
  • Evaluates current technology and submits strategic recommendations to the Executive Director regarding new technologies and systems to enhance Career Center operations

 

Qualifications - Internal

Required: Bachelor's degree in business, management, or a related field from an accredited institution, AND:  

  • 7 years experience in developing and implementing new programs with a focus on student success or related area

 

Equivalency/Substitution: Experience or a combination of education and related experience can be considered in lieu of degree. A one-to-one ratio is used to determine the number of years of experience required in place of a degree.

 

Skills:

  • Experience developing, implementing, and managing large-scale projects and initiatives
  • Ability to lead and coordinate across all organizational levels and multiple university departments</li><li>Proven success in supervising, mentoring, and developing staff
  • Skilled in creating and delivering effective presentations to departmental, divisional, and university leadership
  • Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
  • Ability to build and maintain successful relationships and cross-functional partnerships
  • Solution-oriented with a track record of delivering performance-based outcomes
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and lead multiple project teams concurrently
  • Strong analytical, organizational, planning, and problem-solving abilities
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects under tight deadlines while adapting to changing needs

 

Certifications: None

 

Working Conditions:

  • Standard office environment
  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
  • Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays in alignment with events, meeting schedules, and deadlines

 

Applicants must submit an ONLINE application at http://jobs.ou.edu for Job Requisition # 260194. Computers and personal assistance are available at the Office of Human Resources, 905 Asp, Room 205, Norman, OK 73069. Include job requisition number on all correspondence. Deadlines subject to change with or without notice. For further information on this or other University of Oklahoma job opportunities, please call (405) 325-1826 or access our website at www.hr.ou.edu.

 

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

 

Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma values our community's unique talents, perspectives, and experiences. At OU, we aspire to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere. You Belong Here!

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, gender identity/expression (consistent with applicable law), age (40 or older), religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services.