APU seeks employees who desire to contribute to our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is edifying to God and one another.
The Associate Director of Career Development is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for the career and professional development needs of the institution’s students and alumni. The Associate Director manages quality career development resources, services, and programs for undergraduate students, graduate and professional students, and alumni. The Associate Director supervises student staff and works collaboratively with key stakeholders to build bridges between the Center and academic programs, faculty, staff, and external partners. This position is based in person, in Azusa.
Required Education
- Preferred, but not required, Master’s degree in leadership, education, counseling, business administration or a related field.
Required Experience
- Three to seven years of related experience in higher education, human resources, job placement, career services, or related field.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a diverse campus community and ability to collaborate on all levels of the university including deans, department chairs, and faculty.
- Demonstrated success in leading change, specifically in implementing new and innovative programs and services.
- Experience with quality programming and understanding the needs of different audiences including undergraduate students, graduate and professional students, and alumni.
- Proven record in leading and developing others, managing performance and productivity, and strategic planning.
- Experience with Handshake platform is preferred.
Primary Duties/Essential Functions
Career Development Leadership and Implementation
- Provide leadership and oversight in the day-to-day career development operations of the Center including the Handshake platform, job postings, resources, career consulting appointments and workshops, events, annual fairs, employer relations, internships, tracking and assessment systems, budget oversight, and collaborative efforts with campus departments and community stakeholders.
- Supervise the career development staff including the recruitment, hiring, education, training, monitoring, and evaluation of student staff members.
- Research trends and issues in the field through professional associations and professional development research and activities and initiate programs and services related to career outcomes and initiatives.
- Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of career-related activities and recommend changes as necessary.
- Lead strategy to create and distribute resources using appropriate modalities for serving diverse and complex populations including graduate and professional students and alumni.
- Facilitate implementation and maintenance of the JLD-funded employer relations program in partnership with the CCEL program coordinator.
- Develop university-wide career-related policies and practices. Identify and recommend improvements in university policies, procedures, and systems to improve career services to students that increase student success, retention, and career outcome goals for graduates.
- Participate in university-wide committees to represent career initiatives, practices, and policies.
Career Partnership Development and Management
- Manage employer visits, recruitment experiences, and professional development programs delivered at APU campuses for students, alumni, and faculty/staff.
- Collaborate with academic departments, key university stakeholders, faculty, and external partners to connect students with career resources, programs, and job/internship opportunities.
- Collaborate with each Center service area to integrate pathways for career exploration and development resources and activities into community-engaged learning.
- Create and execute a professional development partnerships strategy, sourcing, and development of new career partnerships for the Center on an ongoing basis to meet the changing and diverse needs of various APU stakeholders.
Evaluation and Assessment
- Develop and maintain tracking and assessment tools that meet the community-engaged learning, career development, and campus needs. Oversee the collection, management, and accessibility of the First Destination Survey and additional student and program assessment input.
- Identify and address opportunities and barriers that students face during career development activities.
- Create, prioritize, and implement strategic goals that represent best practices for student learning related to career development learning activities.
- Assist in gathering information and evidence required for annual reporting, external awards, and classifications.
Other
- Seek active engagement with university priorities through various opportunities such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ambassador programs and events, training offered by Human Resources, academic enrichment sessions across campus, etc.
- Lead and participate in staff meetings.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills
- Demonstrated ability to facilitate a career consulting conversation, appointment, and workshop with students and alumni, as needed
- Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
- Public speaking or presentation/workshop experience.
- Ability to work under pressure, exuding a mature demeanor while multi-tasking in a deadline-oriented environment with accuracy and consistency.
- Ability to work in a diverse environment and serve constituents from a wide variety of backgrounds.
- Knowledge of career interests and personality assessments, print and web resources, and publications.
- Skilled in technology applications for career services delivery on the web.
Mental Demands
- Able to understand, apply, and improve documented procedures.
- Exercise good judgment, and discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to perform daily responsibilities with minimal supervision.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a team, as well as an independent contributor.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretionary skills in determining when to act independently and when to consult management prior to taking action.
- Must work in agreement with the mission, values, and goals of Azusa Pacific University to provide Christian-based higher education for its students.
Physical Demands
- Repetitive use of wrist/fingers on the computer.
- Hearing and speaking demands.
- Able to conduct business at other offices on campus and other locations off-site.
- Ability to reach, lift, grasp, and bend.
- Lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally.
Visual Demands
- Reading, writing notes, and computer monitor.
Environment
- Pleasant office, and comfortable temperatures.
- Visits around campus to faculty offices and classrooms.
- Visits in the community to employers and university regional program sites.
Technologies
- Proficient in Google Apps., and general ability with Microsoft Office and Excel, and experience with Handshake preferred.
Compensation
- Grade 12: $68,640 to $75,787 is the annual salary for this role and reflects what Azusa Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on the qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, APU offers a competitive benefits package.
Azusa Pacific University is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Please click the links to learn more about 'what we believe', our 'mission statement', and our 'statement of faith'.
You can learn more about APU by watching the stories of faculty, staff, and alumni as they carry out our mission here: http://www.apu.edu/stories/
Azusa Pacific University will conduct a background check on all final candidates.
Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled unless otherwise stated. Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Required Skills
Required Experience