Associate Director-Career Design & Co-op Curriculum

Job Details

Job no: 530339
Position type: Staff Full Time
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: Career Services
Salary: See posting section for salary range details.
Applications Open: Oct 14 2026
Applications Close: Open until filled

General Summary of Position:

The Associate Director is responsible for the management, development, assessment, and continuous improvement of the academic curriculum associated with the university's cooperative education program and general access career courses offered through the Center.

The Associate Director provides leadership for curriculum design and administration, oversees co-op course delivery and compliance, guides instructors and staff in experiential learning best practices, and utilizes data to drive program effectiveness and student success.

Career Advising and Student/Alumni Coaching:

• Provide individualized and group career advising supporting career exploration, decision-making, and professional development.
• Assist students with career planning, goal setting, and identifying career pathways aligned with their academic and personal interests.
• Review and provide feedback on resumes, cover letters, curricula vitae (CVs), LinkedIn profiles, portfolios, and graduate school application materials.
• Coach students on networking, interviewing, job, co-op and internship search strategies, salary negotiation, and workplace professionalism.
• Administer and interpret career assessments as appropriate.

Cooperative Education and Career-Connected Experiential Learning:

• Advise students regarding cooperative education, internships, and other career-connected experiential learning opportunities.
• Guide students through the co-op search process, including eligibility requirements, employer outreach, application preparation, and interview readiness.
• Monitor student progress throughout co-op experiences and serve as a resource for students and employers.
• Collaborate with academic departments to align co-op opportunities with academic and programmatic learning outcomes.
• Maintain co-op records, employer evaluations, student learning assessments, and required documentation.
• Support the development, promotion, and assessment of cooperative education programs.

Curriculum Management:

• Lead the design, implementation, review, and continuous improvement of co-op curriculum and related academic courses offered by the Center.
• Develop and maintain learning outcomes that align with institutional, accreditation, and employer expectations.
• Ensure consistency and quality across co-op courses, sections, and academic programs.
• Manage curriculum updates, approvals, and documentation through institutional governance processes.
• Establish standards and best practices for reflection, assessment, and competency development within co-op experiences.
• Manage and train adjunct instructors.

Career Education, Programming and Courses:

• Design, coordinate, and facilitate workshops, classroom presentations, and career-related educational programs.
• Teach assigned courses offered through the department.
• Develop career resources and educational materials for in-person and virtual delivery.
• Participate in career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions, and industry-focused programming.

Staff Leadership and Management:

• Supervise and develop professional and student staff responsible for career education and programming initiatives.
• Establish priorities, goals, and performance expectations aligned with departmental objectives.
• Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Employer and Campus Engagement:

• Collaborate with faculty, academic advisors, and student support offices to integrate career development into the student experience.
• Represent the Career Center at campus events, professional organizations, and community partnerships.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with employers to understand occupational and industry trends and to increase employment opportunities for students.
• Work with employer relations staff and academic partners to identify workforce trends and emerging employment opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Graduate degree in relevant discipline
• 8+ years of experience relevant to the role
• Experience with cooperative education or internship programs in a university setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to supervise both staff and adjunct instructors.
• Demonstrated project management and detail-oriented skills

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only Internal Professional (SEIU 888 Professional Union) Bargaining candidates will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

This is a full-time, benefited SEIU professional union position in P18. Anticipated salary based on qualifications/experience within the range: minimum $72,170 25th quartile: $82,093 and midpoint of $92,017.

Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.

Organization

Working at University of Massachusetts Lowell

Located in the culturally and historically rich Merrimack Valley in northeast Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Lowell is a vibrant research university that offers its 13,000 students more than 120 bachelor's, master's, professional master's and doctoral degree programs. Exciting opportunities in experiential and service learning, scholarship, community engagement, and international partnerships can be found across the Colleges of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Engineering; Management; Sciences; School of Health and Environment; and Graduate School of Education.

This is a time of unprecedented growth and opportunity at UMass Lowell. Student enrollment and retention have improved annually. Research funding and alumni giving have increased significantly and the campus has embarked on the construction of two new academic buildings: the Emerging Technologies & Innovation Center and the Health & Social Sciences Building.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is committed to increasing diversity in its faculty, staff, and student populations, as well as curriculum and support programs, while promoting an inclusive environment. We seek candidates who can contribute to that goal and encourage you to apply and to identify your strengths in this area.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Massachusetts Lowell is to enhance the intellectual, personal and cultural development of its students through excellent, affordable educational programs. The University seeks to meet the needs of the Commonwealth today and into the future and supports the development of sustainable technologies and communities through its teaching, research, scholarship and engagement.