Executive Director, Career Center and Professional Development

University of Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 91,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Houston is seeking an Executive Director for the Center for Career and Professional Development in Houston, TX. The role provides strategic leadership to connect employers with students, faculty, and alumni, and to enhance student career readiness.

You will oversee a team of career counseling professionals, manage budgets, and expand partnerships with external employers and grants. Strong leadership, assessment, and relationship-building skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Master's degree is required.
• Minimum of seven years of related experience.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes a strategic vision for career services and oversees long-term and short-term plans.
• Oversees design and evaluation of recruiting systems, programs, and events connecting employers with students, faculty and alumni.
• Leads and develops a team of career services staff; plans career/job fairs and on-campus events.
• Promotes services and resources to stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, employers and alumni.
• Manages the departmental budget and pursues sponsorship opportunities via grants and external partnerships.
• Fosters an entrepreneurial and collaborative culture across university units.
• Cultivates relationships with employer contacts and campus stakeholders; manages externships and internships.
• Develops and implements program evaluation methods and reports internship outcomes and placement data.

Skills

Organizational Management

Oral and presentation skills

Strong decision-making

Education

Master's degree

Doctoral degree (preferred)

Job description

Department:Center for Career & Professional DevelopmentSalary:$91,000 - $112,000 (Commensurate with Experience/Education)

Description:

JOB SUMMARY:

The Executive Director for the Center for Career and Professional Development provides strategicleadership for developing, implementing, and evaluating systems, programs, and events toconnect employers with students, faculty and alumni. This role is responsible for fosteringemployer relationships, enhancing student career readiness, aligning career services initiativeswith institutional goals to support student success and post-graduate outcomes, overseeing a teamof career counseling professionals serving each of the colleges.

DUTIES:

• Develops and executes a strategic vision for the role of career services, including long-termstrategic plans, short-term operational plans, and strategic priorities.
• Oversees the design,implementation, and evaluation of recruiting systems, programs, and events that connectemployers with students, faculty, and alumni.
• Leads, supervises, and provides professionaldevelopment for a team of career services staff. Plans and organizes career/job fairs, on-campus career seminars, and connection opportunities between employers and students.
• Promotes services, programs, and resources to internal and external stakeholders, includingstudents, faculty, staff, employers, and alumni.
• Manages and oversees the departmental budget and generates sponsorship opportunitiesthrough grants and external partnerships.
• Fosters an entrepreneurial, creative, and innovativespirit within the department. Works in a collaborative, open, and transparent manner with otherunits within the university.
• Grows and cultivates relationships with existing employer contacts,key campus stakeholders, and new external corporate partners.
• Oversees and monitors thedevelopment and retention of relationships with employers for externships, internships, and job
  placement.
• Develops and implements effective assessment and program evaluation methods. Collaborateswith the Office of Assessment and Data Analytics and Institutional Research to obtain feedbackfrom graduate surveys, and in conjunction with employer feedback to ensure programs meet orexceed current job market and employer needs. Executes the collection and reporting ofinternship outcomes and other data related to institutional effectiveness. Maintains accuratealumni and graduate placement data in collaboration with DAIR. Develops alumni careerresource tools, such as career assessment meetings, career transition assistance, andguidance on professional job searches.
• Builds professional networks and honor the National Association of Colleges and Employers'principles and practices. Expand online career resources and promote engagement via socialmedia and the Career Services website.
• Provides career counseling to assist students with job search strategies, career development,and employment readiness.
• Supports institutional, divisional, and departmental programinitiatives and events on evenings and weekends.

MARGINAL DUTIES:

• Performs all other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Master's degree from an accredited college/university

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of related job experience

License/Certification:

• Must maintain a valid, current driver's license

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Doctoral degree in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Administrative experience in career development/planning or recruiting in a higher educationsetting
• Certification in career counseling or coaching (e.g., NCDA, NACE, or related credentials)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• Knowledgeable in career services, NACE and NCDA

Skills:

• Organizational Management
• Oral and presentation skills
• Strong decision-making skills

Abilities:

• Demonstrated integrity and ability to adhere to and handle complex,sensitive, and confidential issues
• Ability to build trusting relationships with constituencies at the university

WORK LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in a typical, comfortable interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements
• The individual has discretion in relation to walking, standing, etc., and has minimal exposure to physical risks

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.