Director, Career Development

Eastern Michigan University; Ypsilanti (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern Michigan University seeks a Director of Career Development to provide strategic and administrative leadership for the Career Development Center, guiding programs, initiatives, and partnerships that support student success across the university.

The role requires building employer relations, expanding experiential learning and networking opportunities, and advancing technology-enabled career resources while ensuring accessibility for a diverse student population.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Human Resources, Business, Communications, Marketing, or a related field is required.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in career development, higher education, workforce development, employer relations, student success, experiential learning, or a related area is required.
• Experience supervising, developing, or leading staff is required.
• Ability to develop and implement programs, initiatives, or partnerships from concept through execution is required.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, organizational, and collaborative leadership skills are required.
• Experience using technology, data, assessment, and feedback to improve programs, services, or constituent experiences is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of career development programs and initiatives.
• Develop a comprehensive vision for career development that integrates exploration and preparation.
• Identify opportunities to innovate and expand programming.
• Build partnerships with academic units, faculty, advisors, alumni engagement, and other university units.
• Develop strategies for engaging students early in career exploration and development.
• Collaborate with employers, alumni, and community partners to create opportunities for students.
• Expand internships, mentoring, and employer engagement experiences.
• Coordinate programs, workshops, events, resources to strengthen career readiness.
• Provide leadership for career fairs, employer engagement programs, and industry events.
• Ensure programs are accessible to EMU’s diverse student population.
• Represent the Center and lead marketing and outreach efforts.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Stakeholder collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Education

Master’s degree in Higher Education or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Career management platforms

AI / emerging technologies

Job description

Title: Director, Career Development

Employee Classification: AP - Administrative Professional

Pay Grade: AP 09

Division: Academic and Student Affairs

Subdivision:Univ Advising and Career Devel Ctr

Department: Academic Programming and Services

Campus Location: Main Campus

General Summary

Provide strategic and administrative leadership of the team for career development programs, initiatives, partnerships, technology, communications, and outreach within the University Career Development Center. Work closely with University partners to develop and implement innovative approaches to career exploration, career readiness, professional development, experiential learning, employer engagement, and student success. Expand the reach and impact of career development across the University and ensure students have access to high-quality career resources, experiences, relationships, and opportunities.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of career development programs and initiatives serving EMU students and alumni.
• Help develop and execute a comprehensive vision for career development that integrates career exploration and preparation throughout the student experience.
• Identify opportunities to innovate and expand programming in response to changing student needs, employer expectations, emerging technologies, economic conditions, and workforce trends.
• Build strong partnerships with academic colleges, departments, faculty, advisors, student-success professionals, alumni engagement, advancement, and other University units.
• Develop innovative strategies for engaging students earlier and more consistently in career exploration, professional development, experiential learning, networking, and career preparation.
• Partner with employers, alumni, community organizations, and industry leaders to create meaningful connections and opportunities for students.
• Expand opportunities for internships, experiential learning, mentoring, employer engagement, networking, and other experiences that prepare students for successful transitions from college to career.
• Develop and coordinate programs, workshops, events, resources, and other experiences that strengthen career readiness and professional competencies.
• Provide leadership and support for career fairs, employer engagement programs, networking opportunities, industry-focused events, alumni career programs, and other signature experiences.
• Develop strategies to ensure career development programs and resources are accessible and responsive to EMU's broad and diverse student population.
• Serve as a resource and representative of the Center and provide leadership on career development, partnerships, marketing, and outreach.
• Assist in developing and implementing marketing, communications, and outreach strategies that increase awareness and engagement.
• Collaborate on continuous improvement of the Center's website, digital resources, social media, communications, and other platforms.
• Explore and advance emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital career platforms, to expand access, personalize the student experience, and prepare students for a changing workplace.
• Use data, assessment, student and employer feedback, and workforce trends to evaluate programs, demonstrate impact, and guide strategic decision-making.
• Develop meaningful measures of student engagement and career outcomes and contribute to a culture of assessment and continuous improvement.
• Assist with annual and periodic reports, career outcomes information, employment trend analyses, and other materials demonstrating impact.
• Assist with development and monitoring of the Center budget and strategic deployment of resources.
• Supervise, coach, and develop assigned professional, support, and student staff.
• Represent the Department at professional conferences, meetings, employer and community events, and on University committees.
• Maintain knowledge of national trends and emerging practices in career development, higher education, workforce development, experiential learning, and student success.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, external resources, and collaborations that expand career development opportunities for EMU students.
• Adhere to applicable Eastern Michigan University policies, rules, regulations, and operational procedures.
• Perform related departmental duties, as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of higher education, career development, workforce and recruiting trends, experiential learning, communications and marketing strategies, employer engagement, and program development typically acquired through completion of a master's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Human Resources, Business, Communications, Marketing, or a related field is required.
At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in career development, higher education, workforce development, employer relations, student success, experiential learning, or a closely related area is required.
Demonstrated experience supervising, developing, or leading staff is required.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement programs, initiatives, or partnerships from concept through execution is required.
Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, organizational, and collaborative leadership skills are required.
Demonstrated ability to establish productive relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators, employers, alumni, and external partners is required.
Experience using technology, data, assessment, and feedback to improve programs, services, or constituent experiences is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience in career services, career development, employer relations, experiential learning, workforce development, academic advising, or another student-success function in higher education is preferred.
Experience developing innovative career programs, employer partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, or student engagement initiatives is preferred.
Experience with career management platforms, CRM systems, digital engagement tools, artificial intelligence, or other emerging technologies relevant to career development is preferred.

Special Instructions

N/A

Appointment Percentage

100%

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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