Senior Director, Career and Professional Development

Senior Director, Career and Professional Development

Office of Career and Professional Development

St. Edward's University, a nationally ranked, independent Catholic university and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, position as a Senior Director in the Department of Career and Professional Development, beginning June or July 2024. St. Edward's is characterized by its commitment to the Holy Cross educational mission to educate the hearts and minds of a diverse student body that is deeply committed to social justice.

The successful candidate will supervise professional staff, identification and development of internship/employment opportunities, monitoring educational trends to meet the changing needs of students and employers, development and promotion of career programs and services, and budget management. The Senior Director leads and manages the delivery of career development and exploration services for all undergraduate and graduate students and alumni of the university. Working together with the Career and Professional Development team, academic school leadership, and University campus partners, the Senior Director will create plans to build and enhance resources, programs, external partnerships, and support for all students. 

St. Edward's University embraces excellence through diversity and especially encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to supporting a diverse student body.

For Consideration, a candidate will possess:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in career planning and job and internship development and/or in building relationships with external partners.
• Support for the university's mission.
• Management and supervisory experience with direct reports.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Professional written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking experience.
• Experience proactively and effectively collaborating with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally, including employers, students, faculty, staff, and university administrators.
• Experience leading a team and succeeding in a cross-functional work environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of corporate hiring processes, college career centers, and career development trends.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and use data as a decision-making tool.
• Experience or knowledge of best practices when working with international students and diverse populations.
• Successful completion of an employment and/or criminal history background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related area.
• Grant writing and administration experience.
• Experience with relevant software (including Handshake, SmartSheet, and Tableau).

Essential Responsibilities Include:

• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the Office for Career and Professional Development (CAPD) mission, vision, goals, and objectives aligned with the university's strategic priorities.
• Develop and manage student internship opportunities and career programming to prepare students (undergraduate and graduate) and alumni for successful placement.
• Promote programs and partnerships between the university and employers and community groups in the Austin area, in support of our "Austin Impact" strategic goals.
• Supervise and administer the budget for the Office of Career and Professional Development.
• Oversee and manage key programs, such as Community Federal Work Study, donor-funded internships, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Administer the university's semi-annual survey of recent graduates to determine their career and graduate engagement.
• Collect and analyze data on the effectiveness of CAPD initiatives and student participation in programs that incentivize advanced experiential learning such as Blue and Gold Scholars.
• Monitor local and statewide workforce needs, identify opportunities for students, and address any needs and gaps.
• Facilitate and develop engagement with external partners.
• Supervise and collaborate with the Student Engagement and Communications Coordinator and Career and Professional Development staff to manage employer relations, job develo