Executive Director of Academic and Career Engagement

General Summary: 

The primary mission of the Academic and Career Engagement and Success (ACES) Center is to provide holistic, high-quality, and culturally responsive academic and career success advising, programming, and experiential learning. The department values inclusive excellence through holistic student success and equitable outcomes.

The Executive Director of Academic and Career Engagement provides advanced strategic leadership and vision for the university’s comprehensive academic and career development services function. This role oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of comprehensive academic and career-related services, programs, and initiatives for students and alumni across all academic disciplines, while ensuring operational excellence, inclusive practice, and data-informed decision-making.

The Executive Director leads division-wide strategy execution, including the development and implementation of a cohesive career communities model, institutional experiential learning frameworks, and expanded employer and industry partnerships. Serving as a key strategic advisor to the AVP and campus leadership, they will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders to foster comprehensive academic and career exploration, career readiness, employment opportunities, and post-graduation success. The position includes the development and oversight of a cohesive career communities model, enhancement of strategic employer partnerships, and collaboration to establish a campus-wide comprehensive experiential learning model that supports student success and retention.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost (AVP), the Executive Director oversees and integrates multiple functional areas including comprehensive academic and career advising services, employer engagement, career communities, and departmental operations including supervision, training, program assessment, and creative leadership. They will oversee daily operations leading a team of academic and career advisors and in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Programming, Assistant Director of Employer Partnerships, and Assistant Director of Career Development and Education related to academic and career advising, career development via career communities, strategic employer partnerships, signature events, experiential learning within ACES and across campus, and assessment of service delivery and outcomes.

 

 

Examples of Duties: 

Strategic Leadership & Planning:

• Under the direction of the AVP and in collaboration with the leadership team align comprehensive academic and career development and education, experiential learning, career communities, and employer engagement models with institutional goals.
• Lead and assess short- and long-term strategic planning efforts for comprehensive academic and career services and experiential learning initiatives, including the development of measurable goals and key performance indicators.
• Contribute at a senior level to budget planning, resource allocation, and operational decision-making, beyond day-to-day operations and program management.
• Translate institutional strategy into scalable programs and services within ACES and across career communities.
• Partner with the AVP in strengthening strategic external partnerships toward advancing comprehensive academic and career services on the campus.

Career Services Program Management:

• Provide senior-level oversight of comprehensive academic and career services, including academic and career advising, graduate and alumni career engagement, career communities, experiential learning programs, and employer partnerships.
• Oversee the planning and delivery of career fairs, employer recruitment activities, workshops and seminars, networking events, and job and internship placement aimed at enhancing students’ career readiness.
• In collaboration with the AVP, provide leadership-level guidance, consultation, supervision, and training for Academic and Career Advisors who provide career development services to students.
• Ensure that career development services are accessible to students across all disciplines and academic levels.
• Advance and scale student participation in the experiential learning programs and career readiness pathways.
• Collaborate with campus leaders to expand and coordinate experiential learning programs across campus to align with career and learning communities.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Provide high-level supervision and mentorship to a team of academic and career services professionals, fostering a collaborative, inclusive work culture, and high-performing work environment.
• Lead staff recruitment, training, evaluation, and prof