The Director of Career and Professional Development fosters a dynamic, inclusive environment where all Ripon College students are empowered to develop career- and graduate school–ready competencies through individualized planning, guidance, and support. This role collaborates closely with employers, community partners, and students to deliver innovative, high-impact on- and off-campus experiences that complement and enhance Ripon College’s liberal arts mission.
Position Duties:
- Engage with external stakeholders through individual outreach to recruiters, participation in regional and consortia-held networking opportunities, and coordination of student involvement in internship pipelines and experiential learning opportunities.
- Leverage alumni and employer networks to create mentorship, shadowing, and internship opportunities that prioritize equity in access and outcomes.
- Monitor employment trends across industries to inform programming and advising strategies.
- Oversee the administration and optimization of the Handshake platform to support employer-student interactions.
- Collect, analyze, and report graduate employment outcomes in accordance with NACE guidelines and national benchmarks through the First Destination Survey, utilizing this data to inform and advance institutional career strategy.
- Develop and implement professional career programming such as workshops, seminars, and classroom presentations tailored to diverse student populations and academic disciplines.
- Provide personalized student career planning and advising, collaborating when needed with academic departments and campus offices.
- Develop and maintain a strong, consistent Career Center brand that engages diverse student and campus communities.
- Supervise student employees
Education, Experience, and Application Requirements
Education and Certification:
- Preferred: Master’s degree in related field
- Essential: Bachelors
- Preferred certification in Strong Interest Inventory (SII) career assessment and/or Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) or Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF).
- A valid driver’s license is required to perform responsibilities that are part of this position.
Experience:
- Previous experience in higher education is highly desirable, with the ideal candidate possessing demonstrated experience collaborating with employers and recruiters, as well as directly supporting a diverse student population.
- A strong professional understanding of current employment trends, business operations, career readiness frameworks, and the effective use of data and statistical analysis is preferred.
- Proven ability in designing innovative programs, developing proactive policies, and implementing meaningful metrics for success will be considered essential.
- Experience in facilitating and nurturing networks across collaborative groups to drive mission-aligned outcomes is highly valued.
