"Assistant Director of Professional Development"

Position Summary

Ignite Your Career at Villanova University! Whether undergraduate or graduate, faculty or staff, each community member brings with them a wealth of experiences that enrich our University and shift our perspectives. As a part of this community, your work will improve lives and ignite change!

Why work at Villanova?

Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University's founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others. Villanova has been included among the nation's best colleges and universities. VU's inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Colleges" rankings is another indication of the University's continued prominence and forward momentum. Villanova's most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

The Assistant Director for Professional Development, in close and ongoing collaboration with the Director of Professional Development and team provides vital support to students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and informs the strategic direction of the Professional Development area within the CLAS Center for Professional Development. Our team strives to provide a myriad of opportunities and options for students of all backgrounds and identities to help them enhance vital professional and career readiness skills, which include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, so that they are equipped to build a meaningful and fulfilling professional life.

In particular, the Assistant Director supervises the CLAS Peer Career Coaching Program; teaches Arts and Sciences Professional Development (ASPD) courses; mentors, supports, and guides students on their college-to-career journeys through one-on-one and small group meetings; collaborates with CLAS Center for Professional Development colleagues who support students pursuing a health profession; creates and participates in special networking events and professional skill-building workshops for students; and more.

Duties and Responsibilities

CURRICULUM CREATION AND DELIVERY: Teach at least two courses each semester and at times during the summer months through the Arts and Sciences Professional Development (ASPD) one-credit course program as assigned by the Director of Professional Development; develop innovative new courses that meet students' evolving professional development needs; assess and measure effectiveness of courses, identifying areas of strength and areas to build and improve. While ASPD one-credit courses are individually themed, the ASPD 2000-level course (the baseline course that is required of all CLAS sophomores) teaches students how to create a professional resume, research internships and professional positions, conduct an informational interview, answer job interview questions, network with alumni, and create a professional development plan.

SUPERVISION OF CLAS PEER CAREER COACHING PROGRAM: Manage the Graduate Assistant (GA) role dedicated to leading the undergraduate Peer Career Coaching program with 5-8 student peer career coaches; recruit, interview, and hire a GA every two academic years by evaluating the needs of the position and program and effectively communicating with candidates the role and responsibilities; train the GA on all professional development topics and policies/procedures that align with the program, ensuring training and knowledge can be passed along to the undergraduate leaders when appropriate; and analyze Handshake data to evaluate semesterly progress and creatively problem-solve and grow the program. Supports the Director with any budgeting reconciliation tasks related to operating the program and other Center initiatives.

ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL GROUP MEETINGS WITH STUDENTS: Meet routinely with students via office hours and appointments to allow students to ask professional development questions and explore their individual paths in more private settings.

WORKSHOP AND SPECIAL EVENT CREATION AND DELIVERY: Develop and deliver innovative weekly professional development workshops on themes and topics related to career readiness and professionalism in consultation with the Director of Professional Development; strive to create developmentally appropriate workshops and conduct them on-campus or via virtual sessions to maximize reach and impact; create inventive student career education events focused on industries and paths within them, such as science and technology careers, non-profit careers, and communications and media careers.

CREATION OF AND PARTICIPATION IN NETWORKING EVENTS: Schedule diverse and inclusive BRIDGE Society mentoring, networking, and outreach events in collaboration with student leaders of the BRIDGE Society to help liberal arts and sciences students build connections and develop a professional network. Collaborate with the Director to develop and execute events, such as networking events, as part of academic courses.

VISITS TO PARTNER COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS: Organize, schedule, and attend as appropriate visits to company offices to help students experience a variety of workplaces in cooperation with the Director of Professional Development and University Career Center; build relationships and partnerships with participating companies and organizations who serve as employer hosts; leverage alumni connections to create such ongoing collaborations and events.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: Lead the College's student-alumni mentorship program designed to help diverse undergraduate students and alumni connect, engage, and develop sustained professional relationships; communicate the value of mentorship in the College among students, faculty, staff, and alumni in an effort to create a culture of mentorship within the College.

INTERNSHIP EDUCATION AND PROMOTION: Promote and communicate the value of internships and other experiential learning opportunities, such as externships and conference attendance, which provide students with opportunities to grow and learn; understand academic internship requirements and explain these to students who are interested in earning academic credit for internships; support students as they identify opportunities and apply for them; and engage with internship employers who seek to deepen their connections to the University through recruitment engagement strategies.

GROWING CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS: Cultivate relationships with campus partners, such as the University Career Center; the Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship Center (ICE Center); Professional Development offices within the other academic colleges; Office of Alumni Affairs; and University Advancement, among others; attend meetings with colleagues as appropriate.

Perform additional duties and assist with special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education: Bachelor's degree required.

Job-Specific Knowledge: Coaching, mentoring, and developing diverse students from a variety of different backgrounds in educational settings.

Minimum Work Experience: Two (2) to five (5) years' experience in coaching, mentoring, and developing diverse students from a variety of different backgrounds in educational settings.

Work Skills: Progressive and forward-thinking professional who cares deeply about the professional development of students and their ability to make informed professional decisions. Demonstrated strong communication, interpersonal, collaboration, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Willingness to roll up one's sleeves, work in a team environment, and creatively think through possible solutions to challenges. Prior teaching experience a plus.

Equipment Knowledge: Microsoft Office Suite, Handshake, Airtable

Preferred Qualifications

Master's Degree. Prior teaching experience (in college settings.)

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

Working Conditions/Environment: Occasional nights and weekends.

Tools, machinery and equipment used: Computer, phone, presentation equipment.

Physical requirements: Some lifting, some sitting, some walking.

Special Message to Applicants

Thank you very much for applying to the position of Assistant Director of Professional Development in the Ellis Center's Office for Professional Development in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University.

We will be in touch about next steps should we be moving forward with your application in our hiring process.

Thank you very much for your patience with our process.

Sincerely. Kate Szumanski

Salary Posting Information

This position falls within salaried grade 13 and the range for this position is $51,000-63,800. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate's qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.