Director of Career Development

Organizational Unit

The Center for Career & Professional Development, within the Division of Student Success, is the university’s centralized career planning and employment assistance service for USF students and alumni. Programs help students and graduates develop career goals, gain employability skills and career-related experience, prepare for graduate/professional school or the labor market, and connect with employers for jobs, internships, cooperative education, and professional employment. The Center’s core values are community, excellence, integrity, service, and well-being.

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Career Services, this position works closely with the Center for Career & Professional Development team, the University, and strategic partners. The position manages Assistant Directors, Career Coaches, and Career Peers to lead career development programs, staff training, campus partnerships, program assessment, and student career services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Train career coaches and provide ongoing professional development.

• Establish the annual program and workshop schedule, respond to program requests, and delegate to appropriate staff.

• Develop partnerships with faculty, academic departments, and campus offices to provide students with career knowledge and tools for internships, employment, and graduate school admission.

• Oversee program assessment, data collection, analysis, and reporting for the Career Development team.

• Coordinate participation in Orientation and ensure responsibilities are covered.

• Provide career coaching, develop and deliver workshops, administer and interpret assessments, and conduct resume reviews.

• Oversee career development content for career guides, tip sheets, the website, and other delivery methods, with support from marketing and communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Career Development team through weekly meetings, ongoing training, performance evaluations, and individual check-ins. Identify professional development needs and provide growth opportunities.

• Provide career coaching to students and alumni; maintain accurate records of students served, presentations, and career events while protecting confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and Student Affairs professional standards.

• Identify, develop, deliver, assess, and update career programs and workshops. Present career topics to students, faculty, staff, advisors, and community members. Create and update the Career Readiness Canvas module and lead efforts toward 100% completion by first-year students annually.

• Collaborate with Center leadership to advance university partnerships, signature programs, new initiatives, and externally sponsored activities through trust, collaboration, execution, and value creation.

• Support Center activities, serve on or lead committees and workgroups, represent the Center at university meetings and professional conferences, and perform other duties as assigned.

Special Skills/Training

• Knowledge of student development and career development theories, high-impact educational practices, educational best practices, client record management, and job search techniques.

• Experience in student and employer coaching or programming, a college or university career center, higher education, or a related role working with students and employers.

• Knowledge of labor market trends and state and federal labor laws related to recruitment and hiring.

• Knowledge of relationship management with diverse stakeholders.

• Proficiency in standard office applications, computer applications, databases, data management, spreadsheets, documents, and report creation.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and at least seven years of related exempt-level experience, including five years of managerial experience. Experience leading a team, project, program, or function is required.

Degree Equivalency

Four years of direct experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher.

• Leadership experience in career development, curriculum planning, experiential learning/internships, or a related field.

• Strong organizational, personnel, and administrative management skills, including experience working with faculty, university administrators, and advisory board members.

• A dynamic leader with strong relationship skills who fosters collaboration and trust and demonstrates professionalism and integrity.

• Strategic mindset and ability to communicate a vision and translate ideas into operational goals.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, process-driven environment while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy with lean staff support.

• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.