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Location: Raleigh, NC
Essential Job Duties:
Are you passionate about connecting talent with opportunity and preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world?
The College of Sciences seeks an innovative and strategic Director of Industry Engagement & Career Development to lead a comprehensive, student-centered career development program that prepares the next generation of scientists, researchers, and industry leaders.
This highly visible leadership role will shape a modern career ecosystem for undergraduate and graduate students by partnering with faculty, staff, employers, alumni, and industry leaders. The Director will integrate career readiness into the student experience, expand experiential learning and workforce connections, and strengthen pathways to graduate education, professional opportunities, and employment.
The Director will advance the College's mission by:
- Leading a unified vision for career and professional development across science disciplines.
- Providing specialized career guidance and professional development for STEM students.
- Building employer, industry, alumni, and research partnerships that expand career opportunities.
- Increasing access to internships, research, and other experiential learning experiences.
- Supporting student recruitment, retention, graduation, and post-graduation outcomes.
- Aligning career initiatives with College and University strategic priorities.
- Strengthening the College's position as a premier pipeline for scientific talent.
Reporting to the Associate Dean for College Success and Well-Being, the Director will provide strategic leadership for career development initiatives across the College of Sciences. The role combines career coaching, employer and industry engagement, program development, partnership cultivation, and data-informed decision-making to create meaningful outcomes for students and stakeholders.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Strategic Leadership & Career Services Innovation
Lead, implement, and assess comprehensive career services tailored to Sciences students. Develop innovative programs and collaborate with faculty, campus partners, and external stakeholders to integrate career readiness throughout the student experience.
Student Career & Professional Development
Provide individualized career coaching and create programs that support career exploration, professional skill development, graduate school preparation, and workforce readiness. Offer workshops, networking opportunities, employer panels, and resources aligned with the varied career pathways available to science students.
Employer & Industry Engagement
Build and sustain relationships with employers, alumni, research organizations, and industry partners to expand internships, experiential learning, networking, and employment opportunities.
Program Operations, Assessment & Administration
Oversee program operations, budgeting, assessment, data collection, and strategic reporting. Use career outcomes and engagement data to guide continuous improvement, advance College priorities, identify external funding opportunities, and support the growth and long-term success of career services initiatives.
This is more than a career services position. It is an opportunity to build and lead a transformational program that helps science students discover possibilities, develop confidence, and launch meaningful careers. The successful candidate will shape the future of student success while creating lasting partnerships that strengthen the College's impact on the workforce, industry, and society.
If you are a collaborative leader, relationship builder, and champion for student success, we invite you to join us in preparing the next generation of scientific innovators and professionals.
Other Work/Responsibilities:
Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.
Minimum Experience/Education:
- Require post-baccalaureate credentials or a bachelor's degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree on an exceptional basis.
Required Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to produce clear, accurate, and audience-appropriate written communications; organize information and priorities effectively; and communicate complex or sensitive information clearly through written, verbal, and interpersonal interactions.
- Ability to build productive working relationships, facilitate collaboration, navigate and resolve workplace or team conflicts, assess situations, identify solutions, and make sound decisions in a timely manner.
- Proficiency using Canva, LinkedIn, social media management platforms, or similar tools to create, schedule, manage, and evaluate digital content.
- Evidenced proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, or comparable productivity tools to create documents and presentations, organize and analyze information, manage data, and communicate results.
- Expertise in mentoring, advising, or supervising students or employees, including providing guidance, setting expectations, monitoring progress, offering constructive feedback, and supporting professional or academic development.
- Competence in coaching candidates or students on resume and cover letter development and interview preparation, including providing individualized feedback and recommendations to strengthen application materials and interview performance.
- Proven ability to independently manage assignments from initiation through completion, exercise sound judgment in determining priorities and next steps, and effectively contribute to team-based projects and initiatives.
- Experience leading or managing a team, project, or program while coordinating multiple priorities, establishing timelines, delegating or assigning work as appropriate, monitoring progress, and meeting deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience teaching, advising, coaching, or mentoring students, with the ability to provide guidance on academic, career, or professional development goals.
- Proficiency using professional social media platforms, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, to create, manage, and evaluate content that supports student career development, professional networking, or engagement.
- Knowledge of professional resume and CV development, including the ability to review and provide actionable feedback on resumes, CVs, cover letters, professional profiles, and other career materials.
- Understanding of professional networking and career development practices, including strategies for building professional connections, presenting a professional online presence, and engaging with employers or industry professionals.
- Degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, or a related field.
Required License or Certification:
- Valid driver's license required.
- Valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire, must be maintained.
AA/EEO Statement:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.