Director, Career Services

The University of North Georgia; Dahlonega (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of North Georgia seeks a strategic Director of Career Services to provide leadership across five campuses. You will guide career education, readiness, and placement initiatives, building strong employer and alumni partnerships.

You will use data-driven practices to improve student outcomes, manage budgets, and collaborate with college deans and faculty to embed career content into curricula. A CSA role and compliance duties apply.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required.
• Five years of career service experience, or experience directly related to the job responsibilities. At least two years of managerial experience.
• Preferred certifications: MCDP, MCC, and/or NCC.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-campus Career Services department with staff supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Develop partnerships with college deans, employers, and professional organizations.
• Chair Career Services Advisory Board meetings and collaborate with faculty and staff.
• Manage partnerships with employers, alumni, and community organizations to expand experiential learning.
• Oversee data management, reporting, and compliance for career services outcomes.
• Direct budget planning and resource allocation for the department.

Skills

Career services knowledge

Job search basics

Counseling strategies

Excellent communication

Presentations

Organizational skills

Stakeholder relations

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Director, Career Services

Location: UNG-Dahlonega, GA

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Job ID: 303249

About Us

Located in the fastest-growing region of the state, the University of North Georgia is a multi-campus university with an enrollment of over 20,000 students, making it one of the largest institutions in the University System of Georgia. UNG is focused on a mission of educational excellence, leadership development and community engagement opportunities that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. Through a variety of educational pathways that provide access and range from certificates and associate degrees to a professional doctoral program, UNG is responsive to regional education and economic development needs. Federally designated as a senior military college, one of the university's signature leadership programs is its 800-member Corps of Cadets on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Job Summary

The Director of Career Services provides strategic leadership, vision, and direction for a team of career professionals providing education and guidance to students exploring careers, developing purpose, building career skills, engaging in experiential learning, and preparing for success in the workforce. The Director motivates team performance, encourages employer/faculty/alumni engagement, and, in collaboration with the College Deans, is responsible for overall career readiness and placement success metrics across 5 campuses. The Director uses data-informed practices to support student success outcomes and strengthen relationships with employers, community partners, university partners and alumni across North Georgia and beyond.

This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) and holds the responsibility of serving as a mandatory reporter for all Clery Act crimes.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-campus Career Services department, including staff supervision, training, and evaluation, while fostering collaboration and accountability across the team. Develop innovative strategies and annual goals that respond to changing workforce needs and emerging industry trends while aligning with UNG and division strategic priorities. Inspire team to produce transformative career education and professional readiness programs for students that are grounded in current career development theories and best practices.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with college deans, department heads, employers, and professional organizations to expand career opportunities for students and graduates. Promote UNG student talent, strengthen employer relationships, monitor labor market trends, and leverage industry best practices to enhance career readiness initiatives, workforce alignment, and employer hiring/placements.
• Chair Career Services Advisory Board meetings to capture current changes in employer needs, trends in recruitment & hiring practices, faculty perspectives and curriculum updates. Collaborate with faculty and staff across UNG to promote student awareness and use of career services, programs, and resources. Serve as a consultant to faculty members seeking to embed career content into curriculum.
• Manage efforts to establish and nurture partnerships with employers, alumni, and community organizations to expand experiential learning and career opportunities for students. Coordinate efforts with Community Engagement Directors and Development Officers. Represent Career Services on the External Relations Council and Career Champions Network.
• Lead assessment, analysis, and continuous improvement of career services programs, services, and outcomes. Oversee data management, reporting, and compliance. Ensure ethical collection and maintenance of student, employer, and alumni information, including supporting capture of graduate outcomes for UNG. Use data-driven insights to inform strategic planning, resource allocation, employer engagement, staffing priorities, professional development opportunities, and improvements to career services.
• Direct budget planning and resource allocation for the department, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, USG and UNG policies and guidelines.
• Develop and update departmental policies and procedures to increase efficiency, maintain compliance with ethical guidelines, and in consultation with UNG Policy staff and Legal Counsel.
• Serve on UNG and Division of Student Engagement & Success committees as needed. Ensure Career Services representation/coverage of university and division-wide events, including orientations, Nighthawk Showcase, move-in events, graduations, professional development days, and campus-community engagement events.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of career services functions, services, and professional standards
• Knowledge of job search components and processes
• Knowledge of counseling, coaching, or advising strategies for individual students
• Knowledge of national trends and issues in the career services field
• Excellent written and communication skills, including presentational skills; strong marketing skills
• Computer skills
• Organizational skills
• Ability to relate effectively to faculty, students and employers
• Ability to deliver effective presentations
• Ability to coordinate special career-related events

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Five years of career service experience, or experience directly related to the job responsibilities. At least two years of managerial experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master Career Development Professional (MCDP), Master Career Counselor (MCC), and/or National Certified Counselor (NCC) certifications preferred.

Required Documents to Attach

• Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcripts
• Contact information for three professional references

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Institutional Values

The University of North Georgia, a regional multi-campus institution and premier senior military college, provides a culture of academic excellence in a student-focused environment that includes quality education, service, research, and creativity. This is accomplished through broad access to comprehensive academic and co-curricular programs that develop students into leaders for a diverse and global society. The University of North Georgia is a University System of Georgia leadership institution and is The Military College of Georgia. More details on the UNG Mission, Values, Vision, and Culture can be found at https://ung.edu/about/mission-vision-values.php.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of North Georgia, as determined by University of North Georgia in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of North Georgia, a unit of the University System of Georgia, is an Affineative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sex or national origin, age, disability, religion, genetics or veteran status. Georgia is an open records state. Also, UNG is a federal contractor and desires priority referrals of protected veterans.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position has financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time.
This position requires security clearance.

Background Check

• Position of Trust + Education & Credit