Executive Director of Career & Professional Development

Title: Executive Director of Career & Professional Development

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences

Department: CNS Advising Center

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Career & Professional Development manages the relationships with the College of Natural Sciences' many employer partners, supervises a team of up to 8 staff members and approximately 15 Career Peer Advisors and Graduate Assistants, and is responsible for the development and execution of career and professional development services and programming for the College of Natural Sciences (CNS).

Serves as a trusted partner and liaison with the College of Natural Sciences and the CNS Student Success Center on matters of strategy and planning for delivering up-to-date, data- and results-driven career services that meet marketplace demand for undergraduate and graduate students. Works closely with other career and professional development units and campus wide staff to forge strategic partnerships and coordinate efforts to bring relevant career opportunities to our students.

Essential Functions

Oversees career services for CNS undergraduate and graduate students, across all 14 departments. Ensure delivery of high-quality and highly responsive career advising services for CNS students.

Supervises and manages a team of up to seven professional staff. Ensures appropriate training and assignment of duties for staff serving CNS students. Provides frequent direction, sets priorities, reviews work, and provides constructive feedback.

Develops, maintains, and cultivates relationships with CNS's expansive local, regional, and national employer partners. Develops essential data elements to analyze employer partnerships.

Develops, maintains, and oversees opportunities for CNS undergraduate and graduate students to connect with local, regional, and national employers and other partners through on-campus and virtual presentations, talks, career fairs, and field excursions.


Initiates, plans, and oversees the execution of educational and experiential learning opportunities by connecting employers and faculty.


Ensures career and professional development programming and education in first year seminars, classroom presentations, and summer intern cohorts are relevant, current, accurate and reflects employer feedback, market strategy, and insights. Conducts research, collects feedback and presents data findings to senior leadership and other stakeholders that inform future decisions.

Works closely with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education to ensure that career services align with overall academic objectives for undergraduate and graduate students; messaging about relevant career opportunities is communicated effectively, timely, and through appropriate channels to students, employers, staff, and faculty; and opportunities for professionals to engage with our students are developed and managed.

Develops and plans the distribution of surveys to collect data on internships and full-time job and graduate school outcomes; uses complex data to make informed decisions about employer partnerships, career and professional development programming, and strategic, promotional communications regarding student outcomes. Monitors and measures data collection results and identifies when a course change or corrective action is necessary.

Oversees day-to-day operations; identifies and plans necessary growth opportunities and change affecting ongoing and future operations of the Career & Professional Development Center. Participates in decisions that have program-wide impact and affect staff in non-program areas.

Other Functions

Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.

Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.

Performs other related duties as assigned to advance the mission and achieve the goals and objectives of the College of Natural Sciences, Department, Division, and University.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in counseling, higher education administration, or a related field and Seven (7) years of relevant professional experience OR Master's degree in counseling, education, or a related field relevant and five (5) years of relevant professional experience.

Demonstrated ability to interact effectively, communicate clearly and concisely to articulate ideas, and create and maintain harmonious relationships with students, decision makes, employers and faculty.


Demonstrated sensitivity to diverse groups.

Excellent management and organizational skills and an attention to detail with an ability to resolve routine problems efficiently, effectively, and independently in a timely manner. Ability to organize, prioritize and manage time and heavy workloads effectively.

Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.

Excellent ability to analyze, summarize, and clearly present data in ways usable for stakeholders.

Working knowledge of career services technologies, such as online recruiting tools and management systems and other computer proficiencies.

Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and make decisions based on data and the input of others.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in counseling, education, or a field relevant to career and professional development.

Additional Details

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. These values and goals are reflected in the College of Natural Sciences' Inclusive Excellence framework and in the UMass Amherst's For the Common Good: 2024-2034 Strategic Plan.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Nights and weekends may be required.
This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 29

Click here to view the Professional Staff Hiring Ranges.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.