Director of Career Services

NACEWeb; Valparaiso (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Valparaiso University seeks a Director of Career Services to lead and transform its career development strategy. Based in Valpo, the Director will bridge academics and the world of work, expanding internships and employer networks while driving data-informed program improvements.

In partnership with faculty and alumni, the leader will leverage AI, labor-market data, and outcomes analysis to demonstrate the value of a Valpo education and to cultivate robust career readiness across the student

Qualifications

• Six to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in career services, higher education, student success, employer relations, workforce development, or a related area.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including responsibility for staff, programs, operations, budgets, and organizational priorities.
• Proven ability to develop collaborative relationships with academic units, employers, alumni, community organizations, and other internal and external partners.
• Experience with career management platforms, career technologies, labor-market tools, data analysis, and outcomes assessment.
• Experience developing scalable approaches to career development and integrating career readiness into the broader student experience.
• Ability to lead change, develop new initiatives, and translate strategic priorities into measurable results.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Career Services team, including potential hiring an Assistant Director.
• Strategically align career initiatives with academic programs and student experiences.
• Expand internships and career-engaged experiences; strengthen employer and alumni networks.
• Leverage technology, AI, labor-market information, and outcomes data to demonstrate program value.
• Collaborate across the university to integrate career readiness throughout student life.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Collaborative relationships

Career management platforms

Labor-market tools

Data analysis

Outcomes assessment

Change leadership

Strategic planning

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Valparaiso University (“Valpo”) seeks an innovative, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as its next Director of Career Services. Valpo is a distinctive community of teaching and learning, rooted in its Lutheran values and reaching into the next generation to build lives for good. Operating within Academic Affairs, Career Services is positioned to play an increasingly important role in Valpo’s academic and co-curricular student experience.

The Director will serve as the primary architect of Valpo’s strategy for career development and readiness, supporting students from their first year through graduation and into alumni status. Working across the University, the Director will integrate career exploration, experiential learning, career preparation, and connections with employers and alumni throughout the student experience.

A central opportunity will be strengthening connections between Valpo’s academic programs and the evolving world of work. In partnership with faculty, staff, alumni, employers, and community partners, the Director will expand internships and career-engaged experiences, strengthen employer and alumni networks, and help students connect their education and vocational discernment with meaningful lives and careers.

The Director will also advance the use of technology, artificial intelligence, labor-market information, and outcomes data to strengthen programs and demonstrate the value of a Valpo education. The University is experiencing renewed momentum under President Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D., including a growing emphasis on lifelong faith and learning. Career Services will help students and alumni navigate continued learning, vocational growth, and career development throughout their lives.

The Director will lead and develop the Career Services team, including the opportunity to hire an Assistant Director while working alongside an experienced Coordinator. This is an opportunity for a creative and entrepreneurial leader to shape the future of career development at Valpo.

Located approximately one hour southeast of Chicago in Northwest Indiana, Valpo is a teaching-focused, student-centered university serving approximately 2,000 undergraduate and 350 graduate students across four academic colleges and Christ College, The Honors College. Its network of more than 60,000 alumni provides a significant resource for mentoring, networking, experiential learning, and career opportunities.

Education

Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred in higher education, counseling, student affairs, business, organizational leadership, human resources, education, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of six to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in career services, higher education, student success, employer relations, workforce development, talent development, or a related area.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience, including responsibility for staff, programs, operations, budgets, and organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated success developing collaborative relationships with academic units, employers, alumni, community organizations, and other internal and external partners.
• Experience with career management platforms, career technologies, labor-market tools, data analysis, and outcomes assessment.
• Experience developing scalable approaches to career development and integrating career readiness into the broader student experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, develop new initiatives, and translate strategic priorities into measurable results.