Associate Director, Career Readiness

WWU; Bellingham (WA); Hybrid; USD 78,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work opportunities

Job summary

Western Washington University invites applications for the Associate Director of Academic Advising & Career Readiness. The role leads career education strategy, curriculum development, and scalable programs supporting student and alumni career readiness.

You will collaborate across campus with faculty and staff to integrate career learning into courses, advising, and student programs, while supervising a small team and advancing equitable access to services.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Career Development, Counseling, Student Affairs, Education, Business Management or HR Management.
• Three years of professional experience in career services, advising, counseling, workforce development, or education.
• Three or more years progressively responsible supervision experience of professional staff
• Experience designing and delivering educational programs, workshops, or curriculum.
• Experience supporting diverse student populations.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience using assessment data to evaluate and improve programs and services.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience utilizing various technology and software such as Microsoft 365, Teams, Zoom, etc.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the department’s career education strategy.
• Design, implement, and assess career education curriculum and programming aligned with institutional goals and career readiness competencies.
• Develop and maintain career learning outcomes, milestones, and student success benchmarks across the student lifecycle.
• Create scalable educational resources, guides, toolkits, and learning materials that support student career development.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices in career development and higher education to inform program design.
• Utilize assessment data and student feedback to improve educational offerings and student outcomes.
• In partnership with Executive Director, collaborates with faculty, advisors, and campus partners to integrate career readiness into courses, advising, co‑curricular experiences, and student programs.
• Consult with campus partners on strategies for embedding career learning into existing student experiences.
• Develops, manages and coordinates activities/meetings related to career related advisory committees including key stakeholders on and off campus.
• Support implementation of career readiness initiatives across colleges, departments, and student organizations.
• Promotion and marketing of career readiness technology and software across campus.
• Support and engage with industry partners in the support of student career opportunities including internships and employment.
• Develop resources and training materials that enable campus partners to facilitate career‑related learning experiences.

Skills

Strong written and verbal comms

Fluent in two or more languages

Education

Master's degree in Career Development, Counseling, Student Affairs, Education, Business Management or HR Management

Tools

Microsoft 365

Teams

Zoom

Job description

If you have any questionsor trouble using this page, please reach out to Stephanie Norsby .

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constitu­ents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department

Academic Advising and Career Readiness supports Western's mission , which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. All are encouraged to apply, including women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

About the Position

Position Summary

Academic Advising and Career Readiness (AACR) provides a comprehensive range of services that support students' academic advising and career development while fostering campus partnerships and connecting students with key institutional resources. The AACR team, comprised of professional and student staff who support students in defining their educational and career goals and prepare for success after graduation.

The Associate Director provides leadership for the development, implementation, and assessment of career education initiatives that support student and alumni career readiness. This position leads the design of career learning experiences, educational resources, and scalable programs that help students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to navigate career exploration, experiential learning, job and internship searches, and lifelong career management.

Partnering with the Executive Director of Academic Advising & Career Readiness and other team members, collaboratively works with faculty, advisors, student affairs professionals, and campus partners, in advancing a distributed career services model by integrating career readiness throughout the student experience. This role collaborates with academic partners in developing industry relations strategy to expand internship and employment opportunities. The position oversees career education curriculum, digital learning resources, workshops, outreach initiatives, and employer engagement while helping ensure equitable access to career development opportunities across campus. In partnership with the Executive Director, Alumni and University Advancement, this role works with industry and corporate leaders in collaborations that benefit and support student retention and post‑graduation success.

This position reports to the Executive Director of Academic Advising & Career Readiness.

Essential Functions

Career Education Strategy & Curriculum Development

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the department’s career education strategy.
• Design, implement, and assess career education curriculum and programming aligned with institutional goals and career readiness competencies.
• Develop and maintain career learning outcomes, milestones, and student success benchmarks across the student lifecycle.
• Create scalable educational resources, guides, toolkits, and learning materials that support student career development.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices in career development and higher education to inform program design.
• Utilize assessment data and student feedback to improve educational offerings and student outcomes.

Career Readiness Integration & Campus Partnerships

• In partnership with Executive Director, collaborates with faculty, advisors, and campus partners to integrate career readiness into courses, advising, co‑curricular experiences, and student programs.
• Consult with campus partners on strategies for embedding career learning into existing student experiences.
• Develops, manages and coordinates activities/meetings related to career related advisory committees including key stakeholders on and off campus.
• Support implementation of career readiness initiatives across colleges, departments, and student organizations.
• Promotion and marketing of career readiness technology and software across campus.
• Support and engage with industry partners in the support of student career opportunities including internships and employment.
• Develop resources and training materials that enable campus partners to facilitate career‑related learning experiences.

Career Programming & Student Engagement

• In coordination with Career Coach, facilitate the development and execution of career readiness workshops and career education programs.
• Implement innovative approaches to engage students in career readiness activities.
• Expand self‑service career education resources and learning opportunities that increase access and scalability.
• Coordinate outreach efforts that increase awareness and utilization of career development resources and services.
• Leadership of implementation and integration of career readiness technology solutions, working with Program Specialist.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvements based on participation and assessment data.
• Support with new student onboarding experiences.

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervision of career readiness staff including Career Coach and Program Specialist. Team also includes peer advisors who report to Career Coach.
• Create meaningful leadership and professional development opportunities for the team.
• Coordinate staff scheduling, assignments, and program support responsibilities.
• Provides career readiness training and professional development for the WWU advising community.

Career Advising & Student Support

• Facilitate distributed drop‑in advising and career education services across campus.
• Provide career coaching and advising to students and alumni as needed.
• Support students in areas such as career exploration, internship and job search strategies, networking, and career decision‑making.
• Develop resources that increase students' ability to independently navigate career development processes.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Career Development, Counseling, Student Affairs, Education, Business Management or Human Resources Management.
• Three years of professional experience in career services, advising, counseling, workforce development, or education.
• Three or more years progressively responsible supervision experience of professional staff
• Experience designing and delivering educational programs, workshops, or curriculum.
• Experience supporting diverse student populations.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience using assessment data to evaluate and improve programs and services.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience utilizing various technology and software such as Microsoft 365, Teams, Zoom, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating career readiness into academic or co‑curricular environments.
• Experience working with Canvas, career technologies, or digital learning tools.
• Familiarity with NACE Career Readiness Competencies and career development theory.
• Fluent in two or more languages

Conditions of Employment

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to [e-mail] if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Some evening and weekend work may be required in this position.

All team members are expected to use WWU issued computer, Microsoft 365 applications (specifically Outlook, Teams Chat and Calls, Word, Excel, etc.), Zoom, and other related software platforms related to work.

This position is primarily an in-person role, with regular on-campus presence expected to support collaboration, accessibility, and engagement with students and colleagues. Opportunities for hybrid work may be available at times, based on position responsibilities, operational needs, and supervisor approval.

Salary Hiring range is $78,364 - $90,117/year depending on qualifications and experience. Through longevity position tops out at $101,871/year.

Closing Date Notes Application review begins November 26, 2026; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex . Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); [e-mail]

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services , 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (\"The Clery Act\"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off‑campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at [e-mail] . The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report .

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check .