Director of Career and Professional Achievement

Jackson College; Jackson (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson College seeks a Director of Career and Professional Achievement to lead its career and professional achievement strategy, moving career services from optional to integrated learning across recruitment, onboarding, completion, transfer, employment, and career advancement.

The Director leads the Jets Career Achievement Center and ensures that every student can connect a Jackson College education to a meaningful next step.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, approval, launch, scaling, and continuous improvement of the Career Essentials course for all degree- and certificate-seeking students.
• Provide leadership for career exploration, coaching, readiness, résumé and portfolio development, interview preparation, professional branding, and employment preparation.

Job description

The Director of Career and Professional Achievement provides institution-wide leadership for Jackson College’s career and professional achievement strategy. The position moves career development from an optional, transactional service to an integrated, high-touch learning experience embedded from recruitment and onboarding through completion, transfer, employment, and career advancement. The Director leads the Jets Career Achievement Center and ensures that every student can connect a Jackson College education to a meaningful next step.

A central responsibility is to lead the design, approval, launch, scaling, and continuous improvement of a required one-credit Career Essentials course for all degree- and certificate-seeking students. The course will address career and labor-market exploration; a career and education plan; résumé, cover-letter, and portfolio development; interview and job-search preparation; professional communication and workplace expectations; a responsible professional social-media and digital presence; networking and mentorship; internships, externships, job shadows, apprenticeships, and other work-based learning; responsible use of artificial intelligence and technology; and strategies for securing, onboarding into, retaining, and advancing in employment.

The Career Essentials course and the Center’s services must serve transfer and workforce students equally. For transfer-intending students, the course will connect intended major, transfer institution, experiential learning, and long-term career direction.

The Director also provides strategic oversight for career coaching, employer engagement, internships and externships, work-based learning, apprenticeships, career technology, alumni career support, and post-completion outcomes. The position builds durable partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, community organizations, faculty, academic leadership, student achievement teams, alumni, and transfer institutions; supervises assigned staff; manages resources; and establishes measurable goals and continuous-improvement processes aligned with Jackson College’s Student Achievement Imperative.

For Highest Consideration, Apply by 10/09/2026

Essential Functions

Career Essentials Course and Curricular Integration • Lead, in partnership with faculty and academic leadership, the curriculum design, approval, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of a required one-credit Career Essentials course for all degree- and certificate-seeking students. • Recommend placement of the course early in the student journey, normally within the first 15 earned credits, and develop later milestone activities before internship, transfer, and completion so career preparation is not a one-time event.

Career Coaching, Student Development, and Alumni Engagement • Provide leadership for career exploration, career coaching, career readiness, résumé and portfolio development, interview preparation, professional branding, and employment preparation.