"Director of Career Development"

General Statement of Duties:

The Director of Career Development provides strategic leadership supporting students and alumni with a focus on increasing experiential learning, career readiness, and creative career pathways for an specialized art & design college. The Director is responsible for the planning, organization, direction and operation of the office for all students and alumni/ae of the college. This leader must utilize data to support informed decision-making and develop specific initiatives, events, programs and resources that connect students to employers and career opportunities. This individual will supervise all professionals and classified personnel assigned to Career Development.

Supervision Received:

Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management

Supervision Exercised:

Associate Director of Career Development, as well as Student Outreach Manager, student employees and graduate assistants.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the planning, organization, direction, operation and policy development of the office in support of the strategic mission and priorities of the college.
• Stays current on the trends and challenges in the creative economy sectors and career development practices in higher education.
• Works to promote a culture of career readiness and increase student's participation in experiential learning. Helps students and alumni identify their skills they develop in the classroom and in experiential learning, and communicate those skills to employers.
• Advises and counsels students and alumni about career direction, employment, career options and job search techniques.
• This employee must be able to effectively direct existing, comprehensive career services programs, and to develop new ones on their own initiative. Dependability, creativity, good judgment, professionalism, and dedication to sound principles of student development are paramount.
• Collaborates with Career Development staff to offer appropriate events and workshops for students & alumni which may include career fairs, portfolio reviews, workshops, presentations, and class visits.
• Works with Alumni Relations on programs and initiatives to support the alumni population.
• Lends support to entrepreneurship and creative business initiatives to help connect students to the varied career pathways that are taken by graduates of an art & design college.
• Works with with Career Development staff to manage employer relationships
• Prepares the budget for the office and is responsible for signing and approving expenses.
• Maintains records relating to the work of the office to evaluate office activities and to provide data for reports.
• Maintains high level relationships with the provost's office, academic departments and works closely with department chairs and deans to collaborate on experiential learning initiatives.
• Works in conjunction with other administrative offices and academic departments to communicate career information to students and alumni/ae.
• Communicates effectively with faculty and department Chairs.
• Manages the technology platforms that support the MassArt Career Development community including a job/internship posting and experiential learning administration platform.
• Effectively supervises Career Development office staff.
• Accountable for ensuring that affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions for which they are responsible and which fall within the scope of the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Diversity Plan.
• Presents, serves and represents the institution in various professional organizations.
• Participates on campus-wide committees.
• Assumes other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management.

Required Qualifications:

• At least five years of increasing experience in higher education career services, student success or a related field.
• Possess academic credentials and experience suitable to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge of higher education principles, practices and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of structure, practices and procedures of a Career Service Office.
• Excellent program management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, as well as presentation skills
• Ability to work outside normal business hours

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a discipline that provides suitable preparation for this position
• Knowledge and sensitivity to career aspirations of visual artists, with an understanding of the unique career pathways for art & design students and alumni, including freelance & contract work, entrepreneurship, professional artistic practices, and traditional full- and part-time employment.