Position Overview

Menlo College is seeking an entrepreneurial, student-centered Associate Director of Future-Ready Pathways. This new, pivotal role is instrumental in implementing a comprehensive framework that empowers students to design and navigate their future-ready pathways at Menlo. The Associate Director plays a crucial part in collaborating across campus to identify emerging professional requirements, credentials, and competencies while leveraging innovative technologies to support student career development and readiness.

You will be a key member of a small but influential team responsible for empowering students and alumni to achieve their professional goals. Your work will contribute to the success of our comprehensive career readiness strategy, our innovative Menlo Edge app, and our strong campus collaborative relationships focused on integrating career readiness into all campus activities.

In collaboration with the Executive Director, you will champion the development and implementation of a future-ready framework and strategy tailored to Menlo College's business and psychology students, identifying relevant licensure requirements and short-term credentials that enhance student employability and professional success. Your expertise in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, will be critical in helping students understand and leverage AI to support their career readiness and professional development.

You will oversee, maintain, and track student outcomes within the Menlo Edge app, ensuring it serves as an effective tool for students to design and monitor their individualized future-ready pathways. Your ability to provide meaningful 1:1 career counseling, support high-impact career services events, and build partnerships with campus stakeholders will be crucial for student success.

You are the right person for this position if you:

• Are team-oriented while being self-directed, and enjoy small college and small team dynamics and collaborating with others.
• Enjoy working directly with students and bring a passion for motivating them to engage in career development and readiness activities.
• Are knowledgeable about current and emerging trends in career development, including artificial intelligence and other technologies that will shape the future of work.
• Can prioritize multiple projects and will ask for help and advice when needed.
• Like to contribute to brainstorming and strategic planning discussions with thoughtful questions and strong and well-articulated opinions.
• Are action-oriented and will respond strategically to assessment outcomes, unmet student needs, and new and evolving situations.
• Are reflective and forward-thinking, seeking to deliver innovative initiatives that prepare students for a rapidly changing professional landscape.

In this position, you will be expected to:

• Nurture an environment where commonalities and differences among people are recognized and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices.
• Address the characteristics and needs of a diverse population when establishing and implementing policies and procedures.
• Ensure that privacy and confidentiality are maintained with respect to all communications and records (to the extent such records are protected under the law and appropriate ethical practice).
• Model career readiness competencies in demeanor, dress, attitude, and work ethic.

Overview of Role Responsibilities

Future-Ready Framework Development & Strategic Partnerships (30%)

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, faculty, industry partners, and campus stakeholders to develop and refine a comprehensive future-ready framework and strategy for Menlo College's business and psychology students.
• Research, identify, and communicate relevant professional licensure requirements, industry certifications, short-term credentials, and experiential learning opportunities aligned with each of Menlo College's majors, ensuring students have clear pathways to professional credentials.
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging career competencies, and evolving professional requirements, particularly as they relate to artificial intelligence and technological advancements.
• Work cross-departmentally with academic programs to integrate future-ready competencies into the student experience and ensure alignment between career readiness initiatives and academic offerings.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director to present findings and recommendations to leadership, faculty, and students to inform curriculum development and career readiness programming.

Menlo Edge App Oversight & Data Management (20%)

• Oversee, maintain, and continuously improve the Menlo Edge app to ensure it functions as an effective platform for students to design and monitor their individualized future-ready pathways.
• Track, analyze, and report on student engagement and outcomes data within the Menlo Edge app, utilizing insights to refine the platform and career readiness strategy.
• Collaborate with technology partners and internal stakeholders to implement enhancements and ensure the app effectively supports diverse student needs.
• Provide guidance and training to students on navigating the Menlo Edge app and utilizing it to plan their career development journey.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of student records, pathway progress, and outcome metrics within the system.

Career Counseling & Student Support (30%)

• Collaborate with the Senior Associate Director of Employer Relations and Career Services to support the internship program and career services events and programming.
• Provide meaningful 1:1 career counseling to students, helping them identify strengths, explore career options, set professional goals, and develop actionable plans for career readiness, including securing internships.
• Guide students on how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can support their professional development, enhance their job search, and prepare them for AI-augmented workplaces.
• Coach students on career management and professional readiness skills, including resume development, interviewing, networking, and personal branding.
• Support students in identifying and pursuing relevant licensure, certifications, and credentials aligned with their career goals.

Career Services Events & Programming Support (20%)

• Support the planning and execution of career services events, including career panels, workshops, networking sessions, Meet the Firms, Career Connect Day, and other programming that promotes student career readiness.
• Coordinate logistics for career-focused programming and ensure seamless event experiences for students and external partners.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of career education initiatives that support student professional development.
• Depending on qualifications, you might be eligible to teach career-related courses as an adjunct faculty member.

Qualifications that the ideal candidate will possess

• A master's degree in education, counseling, human resources, business, or related fields is preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a similar role is required.
• Familiarity with artificial intelligence technologies and the ability to educate students on how AI can support their career development and future readiness.
• Knowledge of career development theory, future of work trends, and emerging professional competencies.
• Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills in collaboration, creative problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting inclusiveness and cultural competence and experience working with underrepresented students.
• Experienced in career counseling, career coaching, or similar one-on-one advising or mentoring roles.
• Experience with technology platforms, database management, or learning management systems.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn about licensure, certification, and credentialing pathways across various industries and professions.
• Understanding of business and psychology fields and their respective career pathways and professional requirements.
• Experience in teaching, training, or facilitating workshops on professional development topics.
• Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.