Job Summary:
The
Associate Director, Career Development provides
strategic leadership and operational oversight for the career
development functions of the Center for Career and Professional
Development. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost for
Experiential Learning and Professional Development, this position
leads a comprehensive portfolio of career education services
designed to prepare students and alumni for successful career
outcomes, including career coaching, career education programming,
career readiness initiatives, and career-related resources.
The Associate Director supervises a team of five Assistant
Directors responsible for delivering high-quality, student-centered
career services. Working collaboratively with colleagues
responsible for experiential learning and employer relations, the
Associate Director helps create an integrated career ecosystem that
connects career exploration, experiential learning, employer
engagement, and post-graduation success. The position uses
assessment and career outcomes data to inform strategy, improve
services, and advance the Center's mission in support of RPI
students and institutional priorities.
Who we are:
Founded in 1824,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is
the first technological research university in the United States.
We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address
society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional
problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry,
disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan,
RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era
of RPI.
Explore the RPI Forward plan. ︎
Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home
to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an
observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM
Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in
the world.
With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer
offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program,
tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in related field, with an emphasis in student
affairs, counseling, human resource management or related
field
Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional
experience in fields related to student programming with a
preference for experience in a career services or student services
role, including;
- Demonstrated success leading professional staff, managing
programs, and advancing organizational priorities
- Understanding of the career development needs of students
pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) disciplines and the evolving talent needs of
STEM employers
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be
considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading career development operations within a
college or university career center
- Experience providing career coaching, programming, or career
education services for students pursuing STEM disciplines at a
college or university
- Experience supervising professional career services staff in a
complex higher education environment
- Familiarity with career management technologies (e.g.,
Handshake), career outcomes reporting, and data analytics
- Experience developing scalable career education curricula and
career readiness initiatives
- Active involvement in professional organizations such as the
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) or regional
career services associations
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Requires excellent oral and written communication skills
- Requires strong organizational skills
- Requires excellent customer service skills
- Requires ability to work effectively under pressure and meet
established goals and objectives
- Requires ability to work with a diverse population
- Requires strong computer skills and knowledge
- Required demonstrated advanced skills in counseling,
interpersonal communication and written communication focusing on a
traditional college-age student population
- Demonstrated mentoring skills and ability to effectively manage
a team
- Ability to identify a new idea or concept and bring it to
fruition
- Knowledge of career development theory, career coaching
methodologies, career readiness competencies, and student
development principles
- Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving
skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and
student-centered environment
- Understanding of the career development needs of students
pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) disciplines and the evolving talent needs of
STEM employers
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, communication,
facilitation, and relationship-building skills
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across
organizational units and with diverse internal and external
stakeholders
Representative Job Duties:
- Provide strategic leadership and operational management for all
career development functions within the Center for Career and
Professional Development. Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate
five Assistant Directors, fostering a collaborative,
high-performing team culture and supporting professional growth.
Foster a culture of assessment, innovation, and evidence-based
practice across the career development team.
- Establish and oversee implementation of departmental goals,
priorities, service standards, and performance expectations for
career development programs and services. Manage departmental
initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and monitor progress
toward strategic objectives.
- Lead strategic planning for the career development function,
using assessment data, career outcomes, external benchmarks, and
student engagement metrics to inform decision-making and continuous
improvement. Manage departmental initiatives, allocate resources
effectively, and monitor progress toward strategic objectives.
- Serve as the office lead in the absence of the Assistant Vice
Provost, providing operational leadership, supporting staff,
representing the Center, and ensuring continuity of services.
- Personally provide career coaching, advising, and consultation
to students and alumni on career exploration, career readiness,
internship and job search strategies, graduate school preparation,
and professional development.
- Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of career
education programs, workshops, classroom presentations, and career
readiness initiatives that support students across academic
disciplines and class years. Develop and maintain career education
resources, guides, and digital tools aligned with career readiness
competencies, labor market trends, and national best
practices.
- Partner closely with the employer relations and experiential
learning teams to integrate internships, undergraduate research,
cooperative education, and other experiential learning
opportunities into students' career development journeys.
- Build and maintain productive partnerships with faculty,
academic departments, Student Experience offices, and other campus
stakeholders to embed career development throughout the student
experience. Represent the Center on institutional committees,
campus initiatives, and professional organizations as
appropriate.
- Assess student engagement, career outcomes, utilization, and
assessment data to evaluate program effectiveness, identify trends,
and recommend improvements. Prepare reports and recommendations
that support strategic planning, accreditation efforts,
institutional reporting, and decision-making.
- Other duties as assigned
Shift:
Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally
required
Starting Salary/Rate:
Expected hiring range: $85,000 - $90,000
Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary
will be determined based on factors that include the available
budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications,
experience, education and other job-related credentials. This
hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the
expected hiring range at the time of posting.
Application instructions:
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile.
Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you need assistance with the online application process, please
contact
careers@rpi.edu.
Job Posted Date:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Total Compensation and Benefits Information:
Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide
stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package,
and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription
plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a
comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of
financial security and protection during your employment. For more
information, please visit
Benefits | Human Resources
(rpi.edu) .
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is committed to the
cultivation of a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and above
all values learning. We welcome candidates who bring a variety of
perspectives to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's work and campus
communities. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status,
protected veteran status, or other characteristic protected by
law.
