Assistant Director of Career Development

School of Visual Arts; New York (NY); On-site; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

The School of Visual Arts is seeking an Assistant Director of Career Development in New York, NY. This full‑time onsite role supports students and alumni with career growth, co‑supervises internship programs using 12twenty, and builds industry relationships to connect graduates with opportunities.

You will deliver counseling, design career programs, and collaborate with campus partners to enhance assessment, reporting, and day‑to‑day operations of the Career Development department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in visual arts or related field.
• 1–3 years in college-level career counseling, higher education, or college teaching.
• 3–5 years of professional work or artistic practice in at least one undergraduate discipline.
• Direct experience counseling, teaching, or mentoring young adults.

Responsibilities

• Counsel and educate students and recent alumni on job search strategies, portfolio development, networking and interviewing.
• Guide students in exploring opportunities, grants, residencies, or starting a studio practice.
• Design, host and promote career workshops and programs, including a career fair.

Skills

Career counseling

Student advising

Workshop design

Program coordination

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in visual arts or related field

Tools

12twenty

Canvas

Colleague

Google Workspace

MS Office

LinkedIn

Job description

Assistant Director of Career Development

• Assistant Director of Career Development

JOB TITLE: Assistant Director of Career Development

JOB POSTED: August 20, 2026

REPORTS TO: Director of Career Development

SCHEDULE: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:00 pm, Onsite

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

COMPENSATION: $80,000 Annually

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Director of Career Development, the Assistant Director advises and educates students and recent alumni across all college disciplines in their growth and development as creative professionals. This role co-supervises the Internship-for-Credit program, serves as a faculty advisor, provides one-on-one career counseling, designs and facilitates career development workshops, and fosters strategic relationships with creative-industry employers.

Additionally, the Assistant Director supports departmental assessment, survey reporting, and day-to-day administrative operations for the Career Development department.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Counseling & Advising

• Counsel and educate students and recent alumni across all college majors – including design, 2D animation, 3D animation and visual effects, illustration, comics, film and video, fine arts, and photography –on job search strategies, portfolio development, networking, and interviewing techniques.
• Guide students and recent alumni in exploring professional opportunities, including grant applications, artist residencies, and/or establishing a small business or studio practice.

Career & Professional Development Programs

• Collaborate with department staff to initiate, design, host, conduct, and promote educational programs, career workshops, guest speaker panels, portfolio reviews, industry sessions, and an annual career fair.

Internship-for-Credit Program Administration

• Co-manage administrative operations for the Internship-for-Credit program using 12twenty, including processing applications, updating student and employer records, maintaining deadlines of forms, data, and grades for the Registrar, and partnering with the International Students Office.
• Conduct outreach to promote the Internship-for-Credit program to students and employers, guiding applicants through the application process and helping them align opportunities with their learning goals.
• Serve as a faculty advisor and instructor for the online Canvas internship course, delivering weekly lessons, reviewing student/employer evaluations, and monitoring student learning progress.

Employer & Industry Relations

• Cultivate and maintain industry relationships across the creative sector to build employer partnerships and engagements, and connect students and alumni with internships and job opportunities.

Assessment, Analytics, & General Administration

• Assist the Director with data collection, survey administration, and analytics to track student outcomes and evaluate department services.
• Maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal campus partners (e.g., Academic Advising, the Registrar, Alumni Affairs).
• Provide mentorship, training, and support to the Coordinator position.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in visual arts or a related field
• Professional Experience:
  • 1 to 3 years of experience in college-level career counseling, higher education, or college teaching.
  • 3 to 5 years of professional-level work or artistic practice in at least one undergraduate discipline represented at SVA (e.g., design, 3D animation, 3D Animation and Visual Effects, comics, illustration, film and video, fine arts, or photography) or other relevant arts field.
  • Direct experience counseling, teaching, or mentoring young adults.
  • Demonstrated experience designing, presenting, and facilitating career development workshops for diverse student populations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in visual arts, higher education, counseling, or a related field.
• Demonstrated track record of proactive industry outreach across creative industries and experience connecting students with jobs and internships.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• In-depth knowledge of career paths, resources, and labor market trends within the visual arts and creative industries.
• High-level fluency in Google Workspace, MS Office, Zoom, and LinkedIn, with experience using Career Services Management systems (preferably 12twenty), Learning Management systems (such as Canvas), and higher education administrative platforms (such as Colleague).
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including public speaking and delivering presentations both in person and virtually.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to initiate, manage, and complete complex projects with strict attention to detail.
• A proactive, enthusiastic, and collaborative team player with strong cultural sensitivity to the aspirations of visual artists.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Location: 136 West 21st Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
• Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:00 pm, Onsite
• Flexibility: Adaptable to schedule or location changes; available for overtime during campus events, peak operational needs, or emergencies.
• Remote Work Policy: This is an on-site role; remote work accommodations are rare and permitted only on an occasional, pre-approved basis, requiring adherence to all standard department communication protocols and methods. Employees will be required to maintain the same standard work schedule and hours as they would in the office.
• Physical Demands and Work Environment:
  • Work is performed primarily in an office with frequent interaction with students, faculty, and staff.
  • Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the office for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Ability to regularly lift, carry, and move equipment weighing up to 20 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

WORKING AT SVA

The School of Visual Arts has been a leader in the education of artists, designers, and creative professionals for more than seven decades. With a faculty of distinguished working professionals, a dynamic curriculum, and an emphasis on critical thinking, SVA is a catalyst for innovation and social responsibility. Comprising over 7,000 students at its Manhattan campus and over 41,000 alumni from 128 countries, SVA also represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world. For more information about the College's 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Click here to learn what it's like to work at SVA.

The School of Visual Arts is an equal opportunity employer. Diversity and inclusion is a core principle of the College. SVA enjoys a community that represents a significant number of historically underrepresented communities, ethnic and religious backgrounds, gender identities, diverse abilities, and foreign countries, and all are encouraged to apply.