Professional Development Director

Due to ACU's affiliation with the fellowship of the Churches of Christ, this position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

Architecting and Leading the Professional Development Program for all business and technology students through effective training, coaching, leading, management, and partnerships.

Basic Responsibilities

Architect, lead, and ensure the execution of the Professional Development Program Oversee all aspects of the Internship Program Serve as a member of the Operations Leadership Team

Essential Duties

Include the following, but other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Execute the Professional Development Program

• Schedule and conduct coaching sessions, workshops, and connection events, including, approximately:
  
  • 4 professional development workshops per semester
    
  • 2-3 class inserts per month in coordination with faculty
    
  • 55 one-on-one student coaching meetings monthly.
    
• Leverage appropriate technology platforms to send announcements and reminders.
  

Oversee aspects of the Internship Program

• Coordinate the application process for students enrolling in the Internship for Credit course with the faculty member.
  
• Train and guide students through the completion of an internship search.
  
• Partner with academic program leads, the ACU Career Center, Student Development, and the External Engagement team for employer connections and fundraising, including:
  
  • 4-6 alumni employer visits per semester
    
  • approximately 6 corporate sponsors
    

Collect and Report Student Employment Data

• Collect and report data to provide statistics, outcomes reports, and comparisons to support strategic decision-making, including senior post-graduation tracking reported each December and May.
  
• Collect data or feedback from employers that will inform curricular and program development decisions.
  
• Engage student organizations in opportunities for growth and development.
  
• Facilitate connection events across the college community, including coordination of the annual college-wide career fair each Fall (approximately 80 employers and 400+ students).
  
• Strategize to develop and expand an alumni employer network.
  

Qualifications

Due to ACU's affiliation with the fellowship of the Churches of Christ, this position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

Professional

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in a coaching or Human Resources discipline, is required.
  
• A master's degree is preferred.
  
• Minimum of 5 years teaching, training, or coaching is preferred.
  
• Extensive human resources, training, or coaching experience is a plus.
  
• Outstanding presentation and written communication skills are required
  
• Strong interpersonal skills, especially for one-on-one coaching.
  
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills are required.
  

Personal

• Coach young adults, through teaching and mentorship
  
• Dependable
  
• Strong level of initiative
  
• Strategic ability to work well with a wide range of peers, faculty, and staff
  
• Positive attitude and record of excellence as a team member
  
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
  

Training Modules Required

• Computer software training
  
  • Google suite
    
  • Banner
    
  • Handshake
    
  • Canvas
    
  • LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc
    
• Attend NACE or other professional development conferences
  

Physical Requirements

• Able to endure extended periods of desk/computer work
  
• Able to conduct back to back teaching sessions for multiple hours
  
• Emotionally strong and mature
  
• Handles stress well (high volume and high-speed demands)
  

About the College of Business Administration at ACU

ACU's College of Business Administration (COBA) educates business and technology professionals for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. COBA is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service, combining rigorous academic preparation and high-quality research with a deeply relational, faith-informed approach to education. Faculty are actively engaged in mentoring students through student organizations, study abroad and domestic experiential learning opportunities, case competitions, entrepreneurship initiatives, and impactful research that advances both theory and practice. Through our distinctive societal impact program, faculty lead students in projects that expand educational and economic opportunity locally and globally, reflecting our conviction that business can be a powerful force for human flourishing and positive transformation.

With AACSB and ABET secondary accreditation, the college offers eight undergraduate majors and a Master of Accountancy on the Abilene campus and partners with ACU-Dallas to deliver two undergraduate and two graduate online programs. The college includes four academic units (Accounting Department; Dukes School of Finance; Management Sciences Department; School of Information Technology and Computing) and two centers (Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy; Lytle Center for Faith and Leadership).

About ACU

Founded in 1906, Abilene Christian University is a faith-based institution affiliated with the Churches of Christ. ACU's residential campus is located in Abilene, Texas, about 160 miles west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, near the geographic center of the state. The university has more than 7000 total students enrolled in traditional liberal arts programs, STEM disciplines, and professional degree programs, with both residential and online offerings.

As an R2 institution, ACU increasingly emphasizes research and scholarship. This emphasis is balanced by the university's continuing commitment to excellent teaching and meaningful student-faculty interaction.

About Abilene

Abilene has a population of about 125,000. The city offers an exceptional quality of life, combining the amenities of a growing population with the convenience of short commutes and a strong sense of community. Known as the "Storybook Capital of America," the city features a vibrant calendar of events, a revitalized downtown filled with museums, an historic theater, and locally owned businesses, as well as a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by active economic development initiatives. Residents benefit from excellent healthcare, diverse public and private K-12 educational options, three universities, and a growing cultural scene highlighted by a new science museum and public library housed in a beautifully restored historic 1924 landmark building.

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.