Director of Career Development

The University of West Alabama; Livingston (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of West Alabama seeks a Director of Career Development to lead career services, experiential learning, and employer partnerships. This role aligns academic programs with workforce demands and coordinates data-driven initiatives to boost student and alumni career outcomes.

Responsibilities include strategic planning, program development, budget oversight, and cross-campus collaboration to integrate career readiness across the student experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in higher education, business, public administration, counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive professional experience in career services, workforce development, student success, or related areas in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, employer engagement, and staff supervision.
• Strong understanding of career readiness competencies, employment trends, and workforce development practices.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic goals for career development services aligned with institutional priorities and workforce needs.
• Support student career readiness through programs focused on career exploration, employability skills development, personal branding, and career preparation and placement.
• Use data and assessment practices to evaluate program effectiveness and improve student outcomes related to career readiness and employment.
• Develop and coordinate experiential learning opportunities, including internships, job shadowing, and employer‑sponsored projects.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Career readiness knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Director of Career Development

University of West Alabama: Enrollment Management and Student Success

Location

University of West Alabama

Open Date

Sep 14, 2026

Description

The Director of Career Development provides leadership for the university’s career development programs and services, supporting students’ career readiness, experiential learning, and post‑graduate success. The Director collaborates with academic and student support units to connect academic experiences with workforce preparation and employment opportunities.

This position is responsible for developing and implementing programs that enhance career exploration, employability skill development, personal branding, employer engagement, and workforce readiness for students and alumni. The Director uses data‑informed practices to support student success outcomes and strengthen relationships with employers, community partners, and alumni.

Strategic Planning & Program Development

• Develop and implement strategic goals for career development services aligned with institutional priorities and workforce needs.
• Support student career readiness through programs focused on career exploration, employability skills development, personal branding, and career preparation and placement.
• Use data and assessment practices to evaluate program effectiveness and improve student outcomes related to career readiness and employment.
• Develop and coordinate experiential learning opportunities, including internships, job shadowing, and employer‑sponsored projects.

Career Services Operations

• Manage the daily operations of the Career Development office.
• Supervise career development staff and support ongoing professional development initiatives.
• Develop annual goals, assessment measures, and program evaluations for career development initiatives.
• Manage departmental budget and resources effectively.
• Oversee career services technologies and resources that support student engagement and employer outreach.

Employer & Community Engagement

• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with employers, alumni, and community organizations to expand experiential learning and career opportunities for students.
• Coordinate employer engagement activities, including career fairs, networking events, on‑campus recruiting, and workshops.
• Participate in workforce development initiatives and maintain relationships with external partners to support experiential learning and student employment opportunities.

Collaboration & Campus Integration

• Collaborate with academic affairs, enrollment management, student success, and student affairs to support career readiness initiatives throughout the student experience.
• Partner with academic departments to support the incorporation of career competencies and experiential learning into academic programs.
• Collaborate with institutional research and other campus partners to track and report career‑related outcomes.
• Support faculty and staff in promoting career development resources and opportunities for students.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education, business, public administration, counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive professional experience in career services, workforce development, student success, or related areas in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, employer engagement, and staff supervision.
• Strong understanding of career readiness competencies, employment trends, and workforce development practices.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in higher education, business, public administration, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience implementing new programs or initiatives.
• Experience developing employer partnerships and experiential learning opportunities.
• Familiarity with career services technologies and assessment practices.
• Knowledge of regional workforce and economic development trends.