Career Development Manager

Career Development Manager

The Career Development Manager serves as a key member of Career & Professional Development and is responsible for leading the planning, implementation, and assessment of employer engagement and professional skills programming that prepares students for career success. This position serves as the primary coordinator for career fairs, mock interviews, networking events, employer panels, classroom engagement opportunities, site visits, and other career readiness initiatives that connect students with employers, alumni, and industry professionals.

In addition to managing signature career events, the Career Development Manager supports student career readiness through career advising, assessment, and strategic outreach efforts. The position serves as a liaison to designated academic programs and industry areas, collaborating with faculty to integrate career learning outcomes, support Career Everywhere initiatives, and connect academic learning with career pathways and workforce opportunities.

Through partnerships with employers, alumni, faculty, and campus stakeholders, the Career Development Manager develops high-impact experiences that increase student engagement, strengthen career readiness, and contribute to positive post-graduation outcomes.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Academic Partnerships

• Collaborate with faculty and academic departments to embed career readiness and career learning outcomes throughout the student experience.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Career & Professional Development and assigned academic areas.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty, instructional staff, advisors, and academic leadership.
• Participate in departmental meetings, initiatives, and events as appropriate with faculty to integrate career development concepts and career learning outcomes into courses and co-curricular experiences.
• Support implementation of school-level career milestones and Career Everywhere initiatives.

• Educates or advises students and recent alumni individually, or in groups through various mediums about career exploration, self-assessment, skills, materials development, and career decisions

Career Events & Professional Skills Programming

Serve as the primary coordinator and lead manager for Career & Professional Development's employer engagement and professional skills events, creating high-impact experiences that prepare students for career success and meaningful professional connections.

• Lead the planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of Career & Professional Development's employer engagement and professional skills events.
• Coordinate and execute programs including mock interview events, networking socials, employer panels, classroom engagement opportunities, career fairs, industry meet-ups, site visits, and alumni networking programs.
• Manage event logistics, timelines, registrations, communications, participant engagement, budgets, assessment activities, and event operations.
• Supervise and mentor a student employee responsible for supporting event logistics, coordinating mock interview schedules, communicating with students and employers, tracking registrations, and collecting required event documents and materials.
• Utilize event participation and assessment data to evaluate effectiveness and continuously improve programming.
• Support evening and occasional weekend programs and events as needed.

Industry Expertise & Career Pathways

Develop industry-specific knowledge, resources, and connections that support student career exploration and success.

• Serve as the designated career resource for assigned academic majors and industry clusters.
• Remain current on industry trends, labor market information, employment outlooks, graduate education opportunities, and workforce needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, employers, and professionals willing to engage with students through mentoring, networking, informational interviews, job shadowing, and experiential learning opportunities.
• May identify and maintain a professional network of employers or other stakeholders to facilitate career exploration and employment opportunities for students

Student Success & Assessment

Advance student career readiness and post-graduation success through assessment, outreach, and data-informed programming.

• Support achievement of a First Destination Survey knowledge rate of 90% or greater annually.
• Interpret and communicate career outcomes data to students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
• Provide individualized career advising to students regarding career exploration, career readiness, job search strategies, interviewing, networking, internship preparation, and graduate school planning.
• Facilitate workshops, classroom presentations, group advising sessions, and career development programs.
• Maintain expertise in employment and continuing education outcomes by major, college, and industry.
• Maintain accurate student engagement and program records through departmental technologies and systems.

Technology, Communications & Data Management

Utilize technology and communication strategies to increase student engagement and support departmental goals.

• Utilize Handshake, Navigate, VMock, LinkedIn Learning, and other systems to support student engagement and employer relations.
• Communicate opportunities, events, and resources through multiple communication channels.
• Collaborate on marketing and promotional initiatives that increase participation and visibility.
• Analyze participation, engagement, and outcome data to improve programs and services.

Department:

Career and Professional Development

Compensation:

Starting at $48,000 commensurate with experience

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years of experience in higher education.

• Demonstrated ability to present information effectively to large audiences.

• Strong oral, written, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

• Ability to build collaborative relationships with students, faculty, employers, alumni, and campus partners.

• Commitment to supporting student success and career readiness.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One to three years of professional experience in career development, employer relations, recruiting, or workforce development.

• Demonstrated experience planning and implementing events, workshops, career fairs, or employer engagement initiatives.

• Experience utilizing career technologies such as Handshake, Navigate, VMock, LinkedIn Learning, or related platforms.

• Teaching experience.

Education:

• Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor's Degree

• Preferred Degree: Master's Degree

How to Apply:

Applicants must submit the following documents using the online application:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

*Please use your application materials to speak to each of the qualifications for this position as listed above. Be sure to describe your relevant experience and areas of expertise, using specific examples from your work and education history. Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application. All final candidates will be asked to provide names, email contact information, and/or phone numbers for three (3) references, with at least one being from a manager or supervisor, during the interview process.  Note: Once you have attached your materials and submitted your application, you will not be able to go into the system and change them.To Ensure Consideration: Applications received by the end of the day on 07/15/2026 are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration.

Contact Information:

For questions regarding your application and additional options to apply, contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Legal Notices:

Reasonable Accommodations

UWO provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWO is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin's Open Records Law. UWO will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin's Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of "final candidates" and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC & Reference Check Policy All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check,