Senior Director for Career and Professional Development

Senior Director for Career and Professional Development St. Edward's University of Austin, Texas invites applications for the position of Senior Director for Career and Professional Development. The Senior Director provides leadership in the development and implementation of the Office for Career and Professional Development (CAPD) mission, vision, goals, and objectives to align with the university's strategic priorities. The position identifies and develops internship/employment opportunities, monitors educational trends to meet the changing needs of students and employers, develops and promotes career programs and services, and provides budget management. Lead and manage the delivery of career development and exploration services for all undergraduate and graduate students and alumni of the university. Works together with the CAPD team, academic school leadership, and University campus partners. Create plans to build and enhance resources, programs, external partnerships, and support for all students. Start date no earlier than July 1, 2026. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree required. Minimum of 5-7 years' experience in career planning and job and internship development and/or in building relationships with external partners. Support for the university's mission. Management and supervisory experience with direct reports. Strong interpersonal skills. Professional written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking experience. Experience proactively and effectively collaborating with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally, including employers, students, faculty, staff, and university administrators. Experience leading a team and succeeding in a cross-functional work environment. Demonstrated understanding of corporate hiring processes, college career centers, and career development trends. Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite. Demonstrated ability to analyze and use data as a decision‑making tool. Experience or knowledge of best practices when working with international students and diverse populations. Successful completion of an employment and/or criminal history background check. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in a related area. Grant writing and administration experience. Experience with relevant software (including Handshake, SmartSheets, and Tableau). Experience with regional accreditation (e.g Middle States, SACSCOC HLC). Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Demonstrate leadership in career services, workforce development, or experiential learning program management. Ability to build and sustain partnerships with employers, alumni, faculty, and community organizations. Experience in developing and managing internships, career programming, and student career readiness initiatives. Strong team leadership, collaboration, and communication skills in a cross‑functional environment. Ability to analyze outcomes data and workforce trends to inform strategy, programs, and student success initiatives. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the Office for Career and Professional Development (CAPD) mission, vision, goals, and objectives aligned with the university's strategic priorities. Supervise four full‑time staff members who manage employer relations, career programming, recruitment activities, and CAPD marketing. Establish campus‑wide collaborative partnerships with internal stakeholders including Advancement, Alumni Relations, External Affairs, Student Success staff, deans, directors, department chairs, faculty, and Residence Life staff. Develop and manage student internship opportunities and career programming to prepare students (undergraduate and graduate) and alumni for successful placement. Facilitate experiential learning visits to employer off‑site visits (Career Treks) in collaboration with the Assc. Dir. Of Employer Engagement. Promote programs and partnerships between the university, employers, and community groups in the Austin area, to support our "Austin Impact" strategic goals. Supervise and administer the budget for the Office of Career and Professional Development. Oversee and manage key programs such as donor‑funded internships and experiential learning opportunities. Administer the university's semi‑annual first‑destination survey of recent graduates via Handshake to determine their career and graduate outcomes. Collect, analyze, and share data across the university on the effectiveness of CAPD initiatives and student participation in programs that incentivize advanced experiential learning such as Blue and Gold Scholars, Austin Impact, Career Treks, etc. Monitor local and statewide workforce needs, identify opportunities for students and address these needs and gaps. Facilitate and develop engagement with external partners. Facilitate engagement with alumni, grant funders, and other donors when applicable. Maintain and continue to grow mutually beneficial relationships with business, governmental, non‑profit, and alumni communities to enhance employment and dedicated internship opportunities. Lead efforts to engage and train community organizations in hiring, supervising, and mentoring students and graduates. Develop skill‑building workshops on subjects such as resume writing, interviewing, graduate school applications, and utilizing social media in job and internship searches. Develop, implement and/or assess career exploration experiential learning programs and platforms. Provide and encourage ongoing professional development for staff. Develop and conduct annual assessments and evaluations of the department. Assist in managing the university Handshake platform. Manage departmental vendor contracts when applicable. Collaborate and support school‑based career programming. Maintain responsibility for regulatory and policy compliance as it applies to the position. Perform other duties as assigned. Equal Opportunity Employer St. Edward's University, as an equal opportunity employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Background Checks A criminal history background check is required for the finalist(s) under consideration for this position. #J-18808-Ljbffr St Edwards University