Director/Executive Director of the Center for Career and Professional Development

Summary of Position

Through strategic leadership, the Director/Executive Director drives field-leading innovation in preparing liberal arts students for lives of purpose and career success in an ever-evolving global marketplace. Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Director/Executive Director serves as the career education leader for the College and an advisor to the Cabinet and campus on trends related to the college-to-career transition, lifelong career management, and the future of work.

What you will do in this role:

As the Director/Executive Director, you will:

• Operating at the highest level of career center competency, oversee organizational excellence, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement of all primary career center functions including career advising, employer and alumni engagement, faculty and staff engagement, internship development, experiential programs, career readiness initiatives, assessment, communications, and technology
• Hire (when necessary), develop, and manage a high-performing team, building upon an innovative and inclusive workplace culture focused on accountability, continual assessment, and professional growth
• Lead efforts to deepen faculty and student connections with the College’s alumni base through tactics that align with the work of the Strategic Pathway/In for Allegheny campaign.
• Conduct ongoing research of experiential learning programs to expand/refine a comprehensive program, including internship/co-op/summer and part-time employment opportunities to provide a service-minded approach to students and employers. Design strategies to increase the number and type of experiences and growth in FDS outcomes
• Oversee and participate in site visits to include campus, local, and regional employers to maintain/develop new relations, promote programs and services with emphasis on experiential learning, job development, and on-campus interviews
• Provide virtual, off-campus, and on-campus career fair opportunities for our students and increasing participation across all academic disciplines
• Manage budget for career services. Approve purchases and monitor expenditures on a regular basis. Provide input on short- and long-range unit planning, with emphasis on designing services to meet needs, generating revenues when needed, and allocating resources. With the VPIA, develop an annual budget for the department comprised of operational budget, directed giving, and endowed funds
• Requirements include strong organizational, communications, project management, and relationship building.

 YOUR EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in career services/higher education.
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred
• Strong knowledge of National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) standards for professional ethical practice in career services and recruiting
• Knowledge of trends in college-to-career-transition, talent acquisition, and career education best practices within liberal arts institutions
• Understanding of how to leverage technology for operational efficiency, scale and personalization
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Google products, Social Media
• Track record of achieving exceptional results.

YOUR FUTURE TEAM

The Center for Career and Professional Development team’s mission is to prepare students for meaningful lives and support alumni experiencing career transitions. We do this by leading and leveraging career development programs, resources, and opportunities, while collaborating within an ecosystem of alumni, colleagues, and employers.

The team works with students, alumni, employers, faculty, and staff in ways that promote career coaching and exploration, alumni and employer engagement, and career readiness.

As an institutional driver for equity and inclusion, we seek to create a welcoming environment that promotes a sense of belonging for all. We strive to level the playing field through a proactive approach that decreases barriers and increases access and opportunities for students.

 YOUR COMPENSATION

New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.

Director Level:  4-6 years relative experience                            starting salary range point $89,000

Executive Director Level:  7+ years relative experience            starting salary range point $96,000

 TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and provide contact information for three references to the Office of Human Resources by e-mail to [email protected].  An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation’s oldest and most innovative four-year colleges where multidisciplinary learning breaks the conventional mold. It is one of the few colleges in the United States with a unique requirement to choose both a major and minor for graduation, to provide students with a cross-disciplinary path in the sciences and humanities for educational depth and intellectual growth. Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Allegheny College is one of 44 colleges featured in Loren Pope’s “Colleges That Change Lives.” In its 2022 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College as one of the country’s top 100 national liberal arts colleges — and one of the top 25 best for undergraduate teaching.

Allegheny’s undergraduate residential education prepares students for successful, meaningful lives by promoting students’ intellectual, moral, and social development and encouraging personal and civic responsibility. Allegheny’s faculty and staff combine high academic standards and a commitment to the exchange of knowledge with a supportive approach to learning. Graduates are equipped to think critically and creatively, write clearly, speak persuasively, and meet challenges in a diverse, interconnected world. Allegheny College is deeply committed to creating an inclusive community that actively challenges racism, sexism, heterosexism, religious bigotry, and other forms of bias (see Allegheny College Statement of Community).

Allegheny College is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. The College does not discriminate, and will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, creed, national/ethnic origin, ancestry, veterans, handicap or disability as those terms are defined under applicable law, or members of other underrepresented groups.

Visit the Allegheny College Web Site at www.allegheny.edu