Associate Vice President, Career & Professional Development

Virginia; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks an innovative leader for the Associate Vice President of Career and Professional Development role. This pivotal position involves strategic oversight of career services, enhancing student engagement, and fostering employer relations. The successful candidate will drive initiatives aligned with the university's mission, ensuring all students receive comprehensive support in their career journeys. Join a dedicated team focused on transforming the career development landscape and making a meaningful impact on students' futures. If you are passionate about student success and possess a collaborative spirit, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of administrative experience in higher education or related fields.
• Experience managing teams and building strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the central career center’s leadership team and oversee 35+ staff.
• Manage a complex budget and develop strategic partnerships with employers.

Skills

Leadership

Career Development

Strategic Planning

Relationship Building

Budget Management

Team Management

Communication

Technology Implementation

Education

Master's degree in business or related discipline

Tools

Workday

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

It is an exciting time for innovation in student affairs at the University of Virginia (UVA), and we seek an accomplished, strategic professional with a record of authentic and innovative leadership to become the next Associate Vice President of Career and Professional Development (AVP-CPD). The AVP-CPD will work with a community of individuals across Grounds (and beyond) to help position the Career Center to meet the needs of students as they prepare for the ever-evolving future of work. The AVP-CPD reports directly to Nicole R. Hall , Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (Dean of Students).

UVA Student Affairs is guided by a three-pronged mission : to help students build community, pursue wellness, and grow as citizen leaders. This AVP-CPD will align the Career Center with the ambitious goals of UVA’s 2030 Strategic Plan (also known as The Great and Good Plan ), a roadmap for UVA’s future focused strengthening our foundation, cultivating the most vibrant community in higher education, enabling discoveries that enrich and improve lives, and making UVA synonymous with service.

The leader of the Career Center will join a strong and dedicated team committed to the engagement and support of all students in the discovery and pursuit of meaningful lives. As part of the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS) supports students in various areas, including Hoos First (first generation and limited-income students), Student Engagement, the Career Center, Rotunda and University Events, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Multicultural Student Services, the Office of African American Affairs, and Orientation & Transition Programs.

The AVP-CPD is an important member of the ODOS leadership team and will also serve on the Student Affairs Extended Leadership Team. This extended leadership group brings together ODOS leaders with key colleagues in housing and residence life, student health and wellness, advancement and fundraising, policy, and critical event management.

THE ROLE

The UVA Career Center provides a wide array of programs and services and empowers degree-seeking students, regardless of major or year, in their career development through various programs, including an industry-based advising model that incorporates pre-health, pre-law, and eight additional career communities. The AVP-CPD will provide strategic leadership, vision, direction, and oversight for the central university career services center to ensure high-quality services for all stakeholders, including students, employers, alumni, parents, and university staff. Additionally, the AVP-CPD will work with stakeholders to implement changes in academic and career advising, supporting all degree-seeking students in UVA’s 12 schools , particularly the 12,000 students in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences where there is a clear focus on career readiness, collaboration across academic and career advising, and applied learning.

The AVP-CPD will develop and oversee the strategic vision and direction of the university’s centralized career services, including career development for undergraduate and graduate students and employer relations. As convener and chair of the Career Services Council , the AVP-CPD will facilitate collaboration among the university’s career services affiliates and oversee the annual UVA Career Forum, from which opportunities will emerge to coordinate efforts such as advising methodologies, technology platforms, student engagement, marketing, employer relations, and staff training. Additionally, the AVP-CPD will engage key external constituencies, especially parents and alumni, to ensure their awareness and involvement in career services activities and partner on new approaches.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The AVP-CPD will develop and lead the central career center’s leadership team as a collaborative, action-oriented, and enterprise-focused body for the delivery of pan-university services. The position will provide direct and indirect supervision to the entire central career services team. In doing so, key responsibilities include:

• Direct the central career services center comprised of 35+ staff and 50+ student employees in its mission of supporting all students and providing centralized services to the affiliate offices
  
  
• Serve on the Dean of Students’ leadership team and provide critical thought partnership to the Dean of Students
  
  
• Work closely with the Student Affairs Extended Leadership Team, collaborating with colleagues to provide strategic direction to the division
  
  
• Manage a complex budget including operations, unrestricted gifts, revenues, and grants
  
  
• Lead the Career Services Council and its work on policy setting, and university-wide career services projects
  
  
• Lead the execution of an expanded strategy for applied learning opportunities to enhance student development
  
  
• Cultivate and manage relationships with relevant key external constituencies related to student outcomes including current and potential employers and non-profit, governmental, and non-governmental organizations
  
  
• Promote the active involvement of key internal and external UVA partners such as advancement, alumni relations, the Parents Committee, and faculty and academic departments in the work of the Career Services Council
  
  
• Leverage expertise and relationships to position UVA as a leader in the delivery of career services
  
  
• Work closely with career affiliates to execute the student campaign for career outcomes
  
  
• Coordinate the annual strategy to track first destination data across Grounds, and to collect experiential learning data
  
  
• Generate revenue and resources through fundraising (current and prospective donors), grant writing, and other activities
  
  
• Serve as a spokesperson for career services at the university and in the broader community, in higher education, and through the media
  
  
• Serve on committees, boards, task forces, and other cross-functional teams of the university as requested
  
  
• Enhance professional reputation and expertise through attendance at conferences and seminars, service to professional organizations, research and presentations, review of current literature, and contributing to the thought leadership of university career services
  
  
• Participate as an active member of the SEC/ACC (SEACNET) collaborative of career services offices and the Virginia Association of Colleges and Employers (VACE) career directors’ group
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

UVA’s AVP-CPD will be an experienced, energetic, collaborative, and innovative leader who embraces forward-thinking strategies to anticipate students’ needs. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to develop and enhance a student-centered career development program that serves a diverse student population and identify employment and educational trends to meet the changing needs of employers, students, and alumni.

The AVP-CPD must be adaptable, demonstrate steadfast integrity, and possess experience developing and nurturing strategic partnerships with academic affairs/faculty colleagues, employers, and diverse external constituencies to design a broad range of internship endeavors and industry partnerships.

Additional qualifications include:

• Master's degree in business, accounting, or related discipline
  
  
• At least seven (7) years of administrative and supervisory experience in higher education, business, or non-profit environment. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree; 10+ years preferred
  
  
• At least five (5) years of proven experience in centralized operation - or corporate environment - focused on employer relations, college recruiting, sales, development or other areas where building relationships with individuals/organizations and collaborating deeply with career services is a central function
  
  
• Experience managing teams, including hiring, developing, evaluating, and retaining high-performing professionals
  
  
• Demonstrated commitment to access and opportunity for all students with an ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of unique challenges facing students, including those who are first generation and limited income, and how these issues manifest in supporting student career and professional development
  
  
• Experience aligning internships and other career-focused applied learning opportunities to the university’s core academic mission
  
  
• Proven ability to lead with direct authority and through influence
  
  
• A high degree of initiative, judgment, discretion, and decision-making to analyze situations accurately and take effective action as needed
  
  
• Ability to inspire trust and work collegially with staff, faculty, campus partners, administrators, students, and alumni
  
  
• Experience securing sponsorships and managing multiple budget accounts including operations, unrestricted gifts, revenues, and grants
  
  
• Technology and implementation experience with outcomes-based assessment, including in-depth knowledge related to first destination data best practices
  
  
• Proven accuracy and attention to detail in managing multiple initiatives and priorities, along with experience in simultaneously implementing projects and events across multiple timeframes
  

The University of Virginia is eager to build a pool of talented individuals. The Office of the Senior Associate Vice President & Dean of Students is working with UVA Executive Search Group (ESG), an internal executive search firm in the Office of the President.

Confidential inquires and nominations should be directed to Adam Seid, Senior Consultant, at [e-mail] . To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume via Workday . The search will be conducted with full confidentiality. Applications received by June 9, 2025, will be given priority consideration.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physicians Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experience. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.