Assistant Dir. Career Development & Student Employment Manager

Roanoke College; Salem (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Roanoke College seeks an Assistant Director of Career Development & Student Employment Manager to support students in transitioning to college and pursuing fulfilling careers. The role emphasizes career awareness, experiential learning opportunities, and managing key career technology systems.

The position includes leadership of the student employment program, collaboration with HR, and responsibility for workshops, career fairs, and assessment reporting to drive student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in an educational setting preferred.
• Strong customer service orientation with commitment to student success.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with student information systems such as Colleague, Navigate, and Handshake preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one career advising to undergraduate and graduate students, including exploration of majors, internships, and job searches.
• Lead the student employment program, onboarding, training, and policy coordination with HR.
• Manage Handshake and Navigate postings, events, and employer approvals.
• Develop partnerships with campus departments to expand program reach and impact.
• Collaborate with PLACE staff to design career development programs aligned with priorities.
• Support assessment activities and report on student engagement and outcomes.

Skills

Customer service

Written communication

Verbal communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Handshake

Navigate

Colleague

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Roanoke College

Roanoke College is a place where every student who works hard has the opportunity to succeed. We champion potential, providing essential learning and leadership through innovative academic programs and transformative educational experiences, giving students the mettle, mindset, and empathy to pursue lives of purpose, build meaningful careers, and meet society’s most pressing needs. Located in scenic Salem, Virginia, Roanoke College is an intimate, welcoming community that has served the local region and beyond for nearly 200 years. Now, we’re building on momentum and offering a Roanoke experience for today’s students and a legacy that belongs to every Maroon. Learn about the College's new strategic plan, Imagine Roanoke: A Strategic Plan for Roanoke College and the 21st Century Learner.

Roanoke College is a nationally ranked residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Lutheran Church (ELCA), located in the beautiful Roanoke Valley of Virginia. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Roanoke College is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks diversity among its faculty, staff, and students; women and members of under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

The Position

The Assistant Director of Career Development & Student Employment Manager position, serves a critical role in the support of students as they transition to college and in their progress towards finding a fulfilling career. In support of the College’s mission to guide students to live a life of purpose, the Assistant Director promotes career awareness, facilitates access to experiential learning opportunities, and manages services that measure student success. Through cross-divisional collaboration, the Assistant Director seeks to create a sense of belonging for all students, confidence in their abilities and a positive outlook on their future. This role includes leadership of the student employment program and administration of key career technology systems, including Handshake and Navigate.

Key Responsibilities

Advising

• Provide one-on-one career advising to undergraduate and graduate students, including exploration of majors, purpose, internships, and job searches.
• Support development of professional materials (resumes, cover letters) and interview preparation.
• Utilize a relationship-centered advising approach to support identity development, career exploration, and goal setting.
• Connect students with experiential learning opportunities, campus resources, and employer/alumni networks.

Student Employment Program Leadership

• Design, implement, and manage hiring, onboarding, and training processes for the Roanoke Rovers pooled student employment program.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Office of Human Resources regarding student employment policies, compliance, and employer training.
• Manage project intake, tracking systems, and assignment coordination across campus partners.
• Develop student leadership capacity through coaching, delegation, and performance feedback.
• Build and maintain partnerships with campus departments to expand program reach and impact.
• Maintain and update student employment policies, procedures, and resources; serve as a campus-wide resource on best practices.
• Oversee accurate and timely maintenance of job postings, events, and employer approvals in Handshake.
• Assist with planning and executing workshops, career fairs, and other PLACE-sponsored events.

Operations & Systems Management

• Manage and support the administration of career services technology systems, including Handshake and Navigate.
• Ensure effective use of systems to track student engagement, employment outcomes, and program success.
• Identify opportunities to improve system utilization and operational efficiency.

Outreach & Presentations

• Collaborate with PLACE staff and academic departments to design and implement career development programming aligned with institutional priorities.

Assessment

• Serve as the primary contact for First Destination Survey (FDS) data collection, maintenance, and reporting.
• Manage assessment and reporting on student engagement and on-campus employment.
• Translate assessment findings into actionable recommendations to enhance programs and services.
• Evaluate existing programs and recommend improvements based on data and outcomes.

Professional Development

• Engage in ongoing professional development to remain current with industry trends and best practices.
• Participate in campus committees and initiatives as appropriate.

Other Duties

• Perform other tasks as assigned to support the ongoing success of PLACE and of Roanoke College.

Education, Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in an educational setting is preferred.
• Strong customer service orientation with a commitment to student success.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with student information systems such as Colleague, Navigate, and Handshake is preferred, though training will be provided.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends when necessary.