Job Details

Associate Director of Career Accelerators

Reporting to the Director of Career Education, this role leads program design, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Associate Director works closely with Employer Relations, the UGA Mentor Program, and Academic Integration to embed the accelerators within the broader career ecosystem, while guiding staff and partners in delivering high-impact, cohort-based experiences. It provides strategic leadership for the Career Accelerator Initiative, ensuring it is scalable, data-informed, and aligned with institutional priorities for student success and post-graduate outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to design and lead high-impact career programs serving a wide range of student populations.
• Strong understanding of career development theory, student needs across disciplines, and current trends in career education and labor markets.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and assess large-scale career initiatives and events.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, employers, and alumni.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with career services technologies (e.g., Handshake), data-informed decision-making, and digital engagement tools.
• Professional experience in career services or a related field, with expertise in career exploration, coaching, and workforce skill development.
• Experience supervising staff and supporting the delivery of high-impact career programs.
• Working knowledge of career assessment tools (e.g., MBTI, Strong, CliftonStrengths), including interpretation and application to support student development.

Duties/Responsibilities

(35%) Strategic Leadership & Program Design

• Lead the vision, structure, and long-term strategy of the Career Accelerator Initiative
• Identify target academic programs and student populations using institutional and engagement data
• Design scalable, cohort-based models aligned with workforce needs and university priorities
• Ensure integration with key Career Center initiatives (e.g., Arch Ready, Mentor Program, Career Fairs)
• Partner with the Director of Career Education to align accelerators with broader career education strategy

(30%) Cross-Functional Collaboration & Partnerships

• Serve as the primary connector across Employer Relations, Mentor Program, and Academic Integration to ensure coordinated program delivery
• Cultivate employer, alumni, and faculty partnerships to support mentorship, programming, and experiential opportunities
• Engage Career Center consultants in accelerator programming, including coaching, workshops, and student support
• Collaborate with campus and advancement partners to support program growth and funding priorities

(20%) Program Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Define and monitor KPIs related to engagement, skill development, and career outcomes
• Analyze program data to identify gaps, inform strategy, and improve effectiveness
• Lead reporting efforts for leadership and stakeholders
• Continuously refine program design based on outcomes, student feedback, and labor market trends

(15%) Team Leadership, Marketing & Program Oversight

• Supervise the Assistant Director providing guidance, support, and regular performance feedback to ensure alignment between strategy and execution
• Partner with communications staff to develop and implement marketing strategies to drive student and faculty participation
• Provide guidance on broad-based coaching approaches within the accelerator model
• Support a collaborative, high-performing team culture
• Provide student career coaching and program delivery as needed
• Other duties as assigned