Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Career & Professional Development

Position Title & Department:

Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Career & Professional Development; School of Joan B. Kroc Peace Studies

Posting # 5450

Department Description:

The Kroc School of Peace Studies trains the changemakers and peacebuilders of today and tomorrow. Kroc is the first stand-alone school of peace in the United States. Innovation in learning and programs is at the center of what we do and who we are. We combine theory and practice not just to understand crises and world issues, but also to imagine new possibilities and develop solutions to humanity's urgent challenges from increasing inequality and violence to climate change. At Kroc, people discover new ways of building more peaceful and socially just communities through a multidisciplinary lens and experiential learning. We look for passionate individuals who believe in the power of university learning to transform the world for the better.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity's urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Career & Professional Development (AD) advances the Kroc School's mission by leading initiatives that strengthen students' career readiness and employment outcomes. The AD develops and implements a comprehensive career development strategy that integrates career advising, employer and recruiter partnerships, alumni engagement and experiential learning, to prepare Kroc School graduates for impactful careers in peacebuilding, social innovation, the private sector, public service, and other social impact driven fields.

Serving as a connector for students, employers, alumni, and faculty, the AD builds and sustains employer pipelines, teaches KROC 502 Pursuing Purpose, and leads professional development programming that responds to evolving labor market trends. The role includes collecting, analyzing, and reporting career outcomes data to inform continuous improvement and demonstrate the Kroc School's impact to internal and external stakeholders.

This position requires a professional who is both relationship-oriented and analytically skilled, capable of engaging diverse stakeholders, interpreting hiring and talent development trends, and designing programs that prepare students for success from enrollment through post-graduation employment. The position involves occasional evening and weekend commitments, as well as some travel.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Employer Relations & Industry Engagement

• Lead efforts to build and sustain strategic relationships with employers across sectors to expand internship and job opportunities for Kroc School students and alumni.
• Develop and implement comprehensive engagement strategies, including targeted outreach, site visits, employer information sessions, career fairs, and tailored professional networking opportunities that align with the school's strategy for career outcomes.
• Maximize student employment outcomes by expanding outreach to new employers and creating broader career opportunities for Kroc School students and alumni.
• Build and maintain a network of local, regional, and national recruiters, employers, and industry partners to promote Kroc School students and establish a strong pipeline of job opportunities.
• Engage with industry partners to create internships, post-graduate fellowships and job placement opportunities for students.
• In collaboration with the USD Career Development Center, proactively align engagement efforts with target organizations to prevent multiple independent requests and optimize resources.
• Plan and execute employer and alumni engagement programs, including career fairs, panels, on-campus recruiting, and industry networking events, in coordination with campus partners.
• Represent the Kroc School at employer and industry events, conferences, and site visits to strengthen relationships and elevate the visibility of students and alumni.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop outreach materials and campaigns that showcase Kroc students, alumni, and employer partnerships.
• Oversee systems to track employer engagement, job placements, and labor market trends, using data to guide strategic planning and continuous improvement.

Career Development and Advising

• Design and deliver a comprehensive career development program that prepares students for meaningful, mission-driven careers in peacebuilding, social innovation, and related fields.
• Lead the design and implementation of a career development strategy with measurable goals that strengthen student readiness, professionalism, and post-graduation employability.
• Provide one-on-one and group advising to guide students in career exploration, internships, externships, and experiential learning, including goal setting and reflection.
• Collaborate with USD Career Services and employer partners to deliver programming such as resume and cover letter review, interview preparation, and career readiness workshops.
• Create tailored advising resources for students pursuing careers in peacebuilding, social innovation, public service, and other mission-driven sectors.
• Lead mentorship and alumni engagement initiatives, including the Kroc Mentoring Alliance, to expand professional networks and career guidance opportunities.
• Develop and implement communications and marketing strategies for student-facing career programming and employer engagement.
• Teach KROC 502 Pursuing Purpose, a required course that equips students to define, plan, and pursue their professional paths with confidence.

Alumni Engagement

• Engage with alumni to create networking opportunities and mentorship programs for current students.
• Leverage alumni employer connections to expand opportunities, create pipelines for mission-driven careers, and enhance Kroc School visibility in diverse sectors.
• Develop and maintain an alumni database to facilitate ongoing relationships and track alumni career progression.
• Organize alumni events, such as panels and networking mixers, to connect alumni with current students and employers.

Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain a comprehensive database of employer and alumni contacts and engagement activities.
• Track and report on job placement rates, internship participation, and employer satisfaction.
• Use data to identify trends and inform strategic planning for employer relations initiatives.
• Monitor labor market developments relevant to Kroc School programs to anticipate new partnership opportunities.
• Assess event participation and effectiveness to refine engagement strategies.
• Track and analyze employer engagement data to measure impact, identify hiring trends, and guide strategic decision-making.
• Prepare reports for leadership and donors highlighting outcomes, growth, and opportunities.

Other Duties

• Serve as back-up for the Student Success Coordinator by assisting with student advising, orientation and success events and activities as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Background check:

Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement:

Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in career services, employer relations, talent acquisition, workforce development, professional career coaching, leadership development, student affairs, academic advising, alumni relations and/or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to teach a career preparation course at the graduate level; responsible for teaching KROC 502.
• Knowledge of the field of peace, justice and social innovation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited college of university.
• 4+ years of experience in career services, employer relations, talent acquisition, workforce development, professional career coaching, leadership development, student services and/or related field.
• 4+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience in higher education.
• Knowledge of the field of peace, justice and social innovation.

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong strategic planning and leadership abilities.
• Excellent networking and relationship-building skills.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication abilities.
• Proficiency in data management and reporting tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Understanding of industry trends and employment practices.
• Significant and successful administrative experience, financial acumen, and proven leadership skills.
• Demonstrated performance in innovation design and systems thinking.
• Experience working with diverse populations and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Knowledge of university and college policies and operations.
• Commitment to the university's mission and values, particularly in the context of a Catholic institution.
• Being flexible and versatile in coping with evolving and work situations.
• Being able to handle the stress of last-minute deadlines and changes.
• Independently assuming responsibility and effectively resolving problems by exercising independent judgment.
• Interacting with professionals across sectors and industries.
• Interacting with faculty, academic administrators and students.
• Proficiency with career development technologies and platforms (e.g., Handshake, LinkedIn, Symplicity, etc..)

Posting Salary:

$5,859 - $6,667 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions:

Resume and Cover Letter Required

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers' review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Additional Details:

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: Open until filled

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.