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Director, Career Center

The Career Center is a unit within University Advising and Career Development in the Office of Student Success, Division of Academic Affairs. The Career Center supports student career readiness, professional development, experiential learning, employer engagement, and post-graduation success. Through career education, coaching, employer partnerships, and campus collaboration, the Career Center connects students and alumni with resources and opportunities that support informed career decision-making and successful transitions from college to career.

Strategic Leadership, Student Success, and Career Ecosystem Development:

• Provide strategic leadership for Career Center programs and cross-campus career development initiatives that advance student success, career readiness, workforce preparation, and post-graduation outcomes, consistent with university priorities and direction established by the Assistant Vice President.
• Develop recommendations for, and implement approved, long-range plans and strategic priorities for the Career Center in alignment with Cal Poly Pomona's strategic priorities, polytechnic mission, and applicable CSU student success initiatives.
• Coordinate and lead Career Center contributions to institutional efforts that integrate career readiness throughout the student lifecycle and help students develop the knowledge, skills, experiences, and professional competencies necessary for career success and lifelong learning.
• Establish measurable goals, priorities, and assessment strategies that increase student participation in career development activities, experiential learning, and post-graduation success initiatives.
• Advance a campus-wide culture that recognizes career readiness and career-connected learning as shared institutional responsibilities across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and University Advancement.
• Provide information, analysis, and recommendations to the Assistant Vice President and other university leaders regarding workforce trends, labor market demands, student career outcomes, and employer expectations to support institutional planning and resource decisions.
• Identify and implement innovative, scalable, and equity-minded practices that improve student access to career development opportunities and contribute to improved employment and graduate education outcomes.
• Represent the Career Center and Cal Poly Pomona, within delegated authority, in CSU initiatives, workforce development partnerships, professional associations, and external stakeholder groups related to career readiness and workforce preparation.
• Collaborate with divisional and university leadership on initiatives that support student success, social mobility, workforce preparation, and institutional effectiveness.
• Champion efforts that advance equitable student outcomes and support the university's commitment to becoming the nation's leading inclusive polytechnic university.

Career Readiness, Student Development, and Program Innovation:

• Provide leadership for comprehensive career development programs that prepare students to successfully navigate career exploration, professional development, and lifelong career management.
• Oversee career coaching, counseling, assessments, workshops, and professional development programs that support students and alumni in achieving their educational and career goals.
• Develop and implement innovative career education initiatives that engage students throughout their academic journey and promote informed career decision-making. Lead efforts to integrate career readiness competencies and workforce preparation into curricular and co-curricular experiences.
• Ensure career development programs effectively support career exploration, internship preparation, graduate school planning, networking, interviewing, and employment success.
• Develop targeted initiatives that reduce barriers and promote equitable participation among first-generation students, transfer students, veterans, international students, and historically underserved populations.
• Leverage technology and innovative service delivery models to increase access, engagement, and utilization of career services. Collaborate with campus partners to integrate career readiness into orientation programs, advising initiatives, leadership development programs, and student engagement opportunities.
• Foster students' professional identity development, career self-efficacy, and preparedness for success in an increasingly complex and dynamic workforce.

Employer Relations, Industry Engagement, and Career-Connected Learning:

• Lead the development of strategic partnerships that expand access to internships, employment opportunities, experiential learning, and professional networks.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive employer engagement strategy that increases recruitment opportunities and strengthens employer partnerships across industries aligned with Cal Poly Pomona's academic programs and workforce priorities. Cultivate and sustain relationships with regional, national, and global employers to expand opportunities for internships, cooperative education, project-based learning, mentorship, and full-time employment.
• Collaborate with colleges, departments, and faculty to connect employers with academic programs and create pathways that align student learning with workforce needs.
• Expand access to experiential learning opportunities that support the university's Learn by Doing philosophy and enhance students' career readiness and professional development.
• Establish partnerships with corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurial ventures, and community organizations that increase opportunities for students and graduates. Partner with Alumni Affairs and University Advancement to leverage alumni expertise and networks in support of mentoring, career exploration, recruitment, and professional networking initiatives.
• Oversee employer-facing programs including career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions, on-campus recruiting, and industry engagement programs that strengthen talent pipelines and employer satisfaction.
• Position Cal Poly Pomona as a preferred recruiting destination for organizations seeking highly qualified and diverse talent.

Assessment, Data Analytics, and Institutional Effectiveness:

• Provide leadership for assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement efforts that demonstrate the impact of career development initiatives on student success and post-graduation outcomes.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive assessment framework to evaluate program effectiveness, student learning, employer engagement, and career outcomes. Analyze labor market information, student engagement data, internship participation, and employment outcomes to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement efforts.
• Lead administration and reporting of career outcomes surveys, including the First Destination Survey and other CSU reporting requirements, ensuring accurate and timely reporting of student outcomes.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and performance metrics that demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of Career Center initiatives.
• Utilize disaggregated data to identify equity gaps and implement strategies that improve access, participation, and outcomes for historically underserved student populations. Prepare reports and presentations for university leadership, accreditation reviews, external stakeholders, and CSU system initiatives.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making and accountability that supports student success and organizational effectiveness.

Personnel, Fiscal, and Operational Leadership:

• Provide effective stewardship of personnel, financial resources, technology, facilities, and organizational operations. Recruit, supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Career Center staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Administer the Career Center's assigned budget and financial resources in alignment with approved priorities, university procedures, and delegated authority. Coordinate contracts, grants, sponsorships, and related financial activities with the appropriate university offices. Oversee Career Center operations, facilities, technology platforms, and organizational systems to maximize service delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Monitor Career Center operations for compliance with applicable university policies, CSU requirements, and federal and state laws, and consult with the appropriate university offices when interpretation, approval, or corrective action is required.
• Develop and implement Career Center operational procedures and service standards, and recommend resource allocation priorities that support efficiency, effectiveness, and student satisfaction.
• Pursue external funding opportunities, sponsorships, partnerships, and grants that support innovation and strategic growth. Support professional development and organizational learning opportunities that strengthen staff capacity and advance departmental goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in higher education, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in career services, employer relations, workforce development, higher education administration, advising/counseling, human resources, or a closely related field.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds and organizational levels.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including the capacity to lead change, make timely decisions following appropriate consultation, and work effectively within established reporting relationships.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational management, and budget administration skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success and higher education.
• Experience hiring, training, supervising, developing, and evaluating employees.
• Experience facilitating organizational change, allocating and managing resources, and leading individuals and teams in continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative relationships with students, faculty, staff, employers, alumni, and community partners.
• Strong analytical and assessment skills, including the ability to use data to evaluate programs and recommend improvements.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing equitable access to programs and services in compliance with applicable nondiscrimination requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, career development, business administration, human resources, education, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Management experience in a collective bargaining environment.
• Experience leading organizational change, service redesign, or implementation of new programs or systems.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop staff