Director of External Affairs

Job Description

Job Description

Director of External Affairs

Position Summary
The Director of External Affairs oversees career services, graduate placement, employer relations, career events, hybrid student support, and employer-facing externship activities. This position develops employer partnerships, supports student and graduate employment outcomes, monitors externship experiences, assists with advisory activities, and collaborates with campus leadership to support program quality, compliance, and student success.

Key Responsibilities

Career Services & Graduate Placement

• Provide career coaching, resume and interview assistance, job-search support, and employment placement services to students and graduates.
• Develop employer relationships and identify employment opportunities aligned with graduates’ training, qualifications, certifications, and career goals.
• Maintain accurate placement records, verify employment outcomes, and complete required graduate follow-up and reporting.

Employer Relations & Career Events

• Build and maintain relationships with employers, staffing agencies, workforce organizations, community partners, and industry representatives.
• Identify employment, externship, and partnership opportunities through ongoing employer outreach.
• Coordinate job fairs, employer presentations, hiring events, mock interviews, and other recruitment activities.

Hybrid Student Success

• Support hybrid students with orientation, attendance, academic expectations, communication, technology, and available student services.
• Monitor attendance, participation, grades, assignment completion, and overall academic progress.
• Address student concerns and coordinate appropriate support and follow-up with instructors and campus leadership.

Externship Oversight

• Manage the employer-facing portion of the externship program and serve as the primary contact for site supervisors.
• Monitor student performance and obtain employer feedback regarding attendance, professionalism, technical skills, communication, and workplace expectations.
• Communicate concerns and recommendations to campus leadership and identify opportunities for externship students and graduates to transition into employment.

Advisory, Reporting & Compliance

• Assist with Program Advisory Committee meetings, including employer and industry participation, documentation, and follow-up.
• Prepare reports related to graduate placement, employer engagement, externships, hybrid student progress, and advisory activities.
• Collaborate with campus departments while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with FERPA, institutional policies, accreditation standards, and applicable regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, administration, business, or a related field; a master’s degree may be preferred.
• Career services, placement, employer relations, externship, or recruiting experience.
• Post-secondary education experience.
• Employer partnership and event coordination.
• Regulatory reporting and student privacy knowledge.
• Communication, technology, organization, and recordkeeping skills.