Director of Career Development

University of South Florida; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Tuition assistance

Generous leave

Employee discounts

Job summary

University of South Florida’s Center for Career & Professional Development seeks a senior leader to guide career services across the university. You will manage a team of career coaches and peer advisers, develop programs, and drive student and alumni engagement.

You will partner with faculty and administrators to expand resources, deliver impactful workshops, and ensure data-driven reporting while upholding FERPA standards and professional ethics.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree. 7+ years exempt experience including 5+ years managerial experience.
• Degree equivalency clause may apply.
• Experience leading teams, programs, or functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Career Development team; conduct weekly meetings, trainings, performance evaluations and check-ins.
• Provide one-on-one coaching for students and alumni; maintain records with confidentiality per FERPA.
• Develop new programs/workshops and deliver content to diverse audiences; present at conferences.
• Collaborate with leadership to foster strategic partnerships and university-wide initiatives.
• Participate in committees and represent CCPD at events and meetings.

Skills

Career coaching

Team leadership

Public speaking

Educational theory

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

FERPA knowledge

Office software

Job description

Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), reporting to the Division of Student Success, is the university’s centralized career planning and employment assistance service for USF students and alumni. The programs in the CCPD are designed to help students and graduates assess, explore, develop, and implement their career goals, gain employability skills and career-related experiences, prepare for a successful transition into graduate/professional school or the labor market, and connect with employers to obtain part‑time jobs, internships, cooperative education, and professional employment. The CCPD holds the values of community, excellence, integrity, service, and well‑being at the core of all they do.

Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD), reporting to the Division of Student Success, is the university’s centralized career planning and employment assistance service for USF students and alumni. The programs in the CCPD are designed to help students and graduates assess, explore, develop, and implement their career goals, gain employability skills and career-related experiences, prepare for a successful transition into graduate/professional school or the labor market, and connect with employers to obtain part‑time jobs, internships, cooperative education, and professional employment. The CCPD holds the values of community, excellence, integrity, service, and well‑being at the core of all they do.

The ideal candidate will report directly to the Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Career Services, this role works closely with the Career & Professional Development (CCPD), team and across the University, and strategic partners. In addition, they manage Assistant Directors and a team of Career Coaches and Peer Careers to:

Special Skills/Training

• Knowledge of student and development and career development theories, implementation of high-impact educational practices, educational best practices, client record management, and job search techniques
• Experience in student and employer coaching, student and employer programming, and/or experience in a career center of a college/university or working with students in a higher education setting, or relevant role interfacing with students and employers.
• Knowledge of labor market trends, and state/federal labor laws related to the recruitment and hiring process
• Knowledge of relationship management with diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency in standard office applications/software, and the demonstrated ability to utilize computer applications and databases, manage data, spreadsheets, and documents, and create reports for the execution of work responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Career Development team. Conduct weekly team meetings, ongoing training, annual performance evaluations, and one‑on‑one check‑ins throughout the year. Provide professional development opportunities for the team addressing perceived areas of needed growth.
• Provide one‑on‑one coaching for students and alumni covering all topics offered. Find additional opportunities and ways to deliver content. Keep accurate data and records on students served, presentations, and other career events. Maintaining confidentiality in keeping with the FERPA and Student Affairs professional standards is a requirement.
• Proactively identify new programs/workshops and assist in the creation and delivery of content. Deliver effective and engaging presentations and workshops to faculty/staff, students, and the community on career topics. Audiences may be students, faculty, academic advisors, or outside community members. Professional presentations at local, state, regional, and national conferences are strongly supported and encouraged. Create content, assess, and update the Career Readiness Canvas module and lead efforts for 100% completion by first‑year students each year.
• Collaborate with the CCPD leadership team to facilitate engagement across the University as needed to ensure strategic partnerships, signature programs, new initiatives, and externally sponsored activities foster new and expand existing relationships across the university and beyond based upon a culture of trust, collaboration and execution, and value creation.
• Support the overall success of CCPD as indicated or needed. Serves on or leads various committees/workgroups/etc. on a team, department, division, or campus‑wide level as indicated. Represents CCPD in meetings on‑or off‑campus, and at professional conferences/meetings as needed. Assists with CCPD events and activities, and performs other duties as requested and required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Minimum of 7 years of related exempt level experience, including 5 years of managerial experience. Experience leading a team, project, program, or function.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.

• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher.
• Prior experience and solid track record as a leader in one of the following areas: Career development, curriculum planning, experiential learning/internships, or another related field.
• Other valuable attributes include excellent organizational, personnel, and administrative management skills; and experience working effectively with faculty, University administrators, and advisory board members.
• Experience working with faculty, University administrators, and advisory board members preferred.

Preferred Candidate Experiences

• A dynamic leader with excellent organizational and relationship skills who fosters a culture of collaboration and trust around external relationship building and management and functions with a high degree of professionalism and integrity.
• Possesses a strategic mindset related to achieving goals, able to communicate vision and translate ideas into operational goals effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, process‑driven environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and accuracy with lean staff support.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills and the proven ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.