Director, Career Center

California State University; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cal Poly Pomona’s Career Center seeks an Administrator I to provide strategic leadership across career development, employer relations, and campus partnerships. This full-time, at-will role drives program innovation, outcomes measurement, and cross-unit collaboration to advance student success.

The position oversees staff, budgets, and operations, develops long-range plans, and advises university leadership on labor trends and workforce readiness, with responsibilities spanning career services

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communications abilities with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven leadership and change-management capability.
• Experience with budget oversight and program evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Career Center programs and cross-campus initiatives.
• Develop long-range plans aligned with university priorities and required outcomes.
• Establish measurable goals and assess impact on student career readiness.
• Advise leadership on workforce trends and employer expectations.
• Oversee employer relations, partnerships, and on-campus recruiting activities.
• Lead staff recruitment, training, supervision, and performance evaluations.
• Administer budget resources and manage contracts, grants, and sponsorships.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

People management

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, or related field

Job description

Type of Appointment:

Full-Time, At-Will

Job Classification:

Administrator I

Anticipated Hiring Range:

Up to $100,152 annually (commensurate with skills and qualifications)

Work Hours:

Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm, unless otherwise notified

Recruitment Closing Date:

September 11, 2026

The Department

The Career Center is a unit within University Advising and Career Development in the Office of Student Success, Division of Academic Affairs, at Cal Poly Pomona. It supports student career readiness, professional development, experiential learning, employer engagement, and post-graduation success through career education, coaching, employer partnerships, and campus collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Student Success, and Career Ecosystem Development:

• Provide strategic leadership for Career Center programs and cross-campus career development initiatives that advance student success, career readiness, workforce preparation, and post-graduation outcomes
• Develop and implement long-range plans and strategic priorities for the Career Center aligned with Cal Poly Pomona’s strategic priorities and polytechnic mission
• Establish measurable goals, priorities, and assessment strategies to increase student participation in career development activities
• Advance a campus-wide culture recognizing career readiness as a shared responsibility across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and University Advancement
• Advise the Assistant Vice President and other university leaders on workforce trends, labor market demands, and employer expectations
• Represent the Career Center and Cal Poly Pomona in CSU initiatives, workforce development partnerships, and external stakeholder groups

Career Readiness, Student Development, and Program Innovation:

• Lead comprehensive career development programs including coaching, counseling, assessments, workshops, and professional development
• Develop career education initiatives that integrate career readiness competencies into curricular and co-curricular experiences
• Support career exploration, internship preparation, graduate school planning, networking, interviewing, and employment success
• Develop initiatives that reduce barriers for first-generation students, transfer students, veterans, international students, and underserved populations

Employer Relations, Industry Engagement, and Career-Connected Learning:

• Lead development of strategic employer partnerships expanding internships, employment opportunities, and professional networks
• Cultivate relationships with regional, national, and global employers for internships, cooperative education, and full-time employment
• Oversee employer-facing programs including career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions, and on-campus recruiting
• Position Cal Poly Pomona as a preferred recruiting destination for organizations seeking diverse talent

Assessment, Data Analytics, and Institutional Effectiveness:

• Lead assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts demonstrating the impact of career initiatives on student outcomes
• Develop dashboards, reports, and performance metrics; administer career outcomes surveys including the First Destination Survey and CSU reporting requirements
• Use disaggregated data to identify equity gaps and improve access and outcomes for underserved student populations

Personnel, Fiscal, and Operational Leadership:

• Recruit, supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Career Center staff
• Administer the Career Center’s budget and financial resources, and coordinate contracts, grants, and sponsorships
• Oversee Career Center operations, facilities, technology platforms, and organizational systems
• Monitor operations for compliance with university policies, CSU requirements, and applicable laws
• Pursue external funding, sponsorships, partnerships, and grants supporting innovation and strategic growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, or a related field
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in career services, employer relations, workforce development, higher education administration, advising/counseling, human resources, or a closely related field
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds and organizational levels
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including capacity to lead change and make timely decisions
• Strong strategic planning, organizational management, and budget administration skills
• Experience hiring, training, supervising, developing, and evaluating employees
• Strong analytical and assessment skills, including using data to evaluate programs and recommend improvements

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, organizational leadership, or a related field
• Management experience in a collective bargaining environment
• Experience leading organizational change, service redesign, or implementation of new programs or systems
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff and align teams around shared goals

Additional Notices

• CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits performing CSU-related work outside California
• Conditional offer pending satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check)
• Education Code 89521: applicants must disclose any final decision determining they committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years, once minimum qualifications are confirmed
• This position is a designated position under the CSU Conflict of Interest Code and requires filing financial interest disclosure forms
• MPP employees must disclose all current outside employment at hire and periodically thereafter
• Considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CSU Executive Order 1083)
• As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona complies with Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination and VEVRAA veteran priority referral requirements
• Reasonable accommodations available for applicants and employees with disabilities