Associate Director, Career Management

Department: SoC Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

The School of Communication at Northwestern University seeks a dynamic and experienced professional to serve as an Associate Director within the Office of External Programs, Internships, & Career Services (EPICS). This person will work closely with School of Communication students, employers, alumni, faculty, and staff. They will serve as the EPICS lead liaison to the Master of Science in Communication (MSC) program. They will report to the Director of Academic & Career Management (EPICS Director).

Occasional evening and regularly scheduled Saturdays (minimum 2 per quarter) are required to support the MSC program. May require travel to support employer development management.

Please note: Flexible availability is needed, including working on Saturdays (2 per quarter) and occasional evening hours.

Specific Responsibilities:

Administration

• Develops and implements state-of-the-art, cutting-edge programs designed to assist students to manage their career experiences.
• Creates and manages administrative process and practices ensuring the seamless flow of work and services.
• Develops departmental strategic plans and operationalizes goals & objectives for the organization's key objectives; ensures that resources are created or obtained.
• Manages customer service; creates associated practices & procedures & metrics to measure success.
• Partners with peer institutions to share best practices, cutting-edge delivery of services and resources.
• Researches state-of-the-art enhancements, market/economic conditions and implements changes that improve resources and services.
• Manages and implements technology ensuring that resources and services are delivered using best practices.
• Manages compliance with all applicable federal, state, local & NU laws, regulations, policies & procedures.

Career Coaching

• Supervises programs and services that provide personalized, counseling and advising that focuses on self-assessment, research, job and internship search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making.
• Develops departmental strategic plans and operationalizes goals & objectives for the organization's key objectives; ensures that resources are created or obtained.
• Manages customer service; creates associated practices & procedures & metrics to measure success.
• Manages advising & counseling for complex situations providing personalizing counseling and advising that focuses on self-assessment, research, job and internship search strategies, reflection, and strategic decision making.
• Connects students with alumni and professionals for employment opportunities. Maintains knowledge of job market trends and hiring practices in a range of fields.
• Utilizes data to inform program development and allocate resources for students

Relationships

• Partners with internal/external departments, faculty, alumni and employers to identify career pathways and create an outreach plan to engage organizations that will result in opportunities spanning a broad range of industries and geographies.
• Develops & executes strategies to involve internal/external constituents and cultivate new alumni, corporate, institutional &/or foundation collaborations.
• Identifies opportunities and develops strategies for connecting students with alumni and industry experts who will provide academic and/or career resources such as mentoring, coaching, lectures, workshops etc.
• Develops and implements initiatives to enhance the quality and quantity of organizations that recruit on campus, targeting alternative and non-traditional organizations and those not currently participating.
• Builds and nurtures increasing numbers of new relationships with a diverse array of alumni and employers that will increase program profile, and University reputation and visibility.

Programs/Events

• Develops and implements a comprehensive set of programs such as lectures, speaker series, workshops, conferences, trainings, cultural events etc. in collaboration with internal & external resources.
• Develops proposals & recruits leaders for interdisciplinary programs.
• Manages the ongoing development and refinement of the program's curriculum/topic in consultation with subject matter experts.
• Continually assesses and innovates programs to achieve goals
• Develops strategy to increase program value, resources and participants.
• Oversees school/college based recruiting events and activities.
• Manages school specific internships, co-op program, or initiatives tailored to a school/college need.

Supervision

• Supervises 1-2 staff.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 5 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' career counseling/advising in higher education or 4 years' of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Previous experience serving as a career coach, working in career services, and or recruiting with professional graduate students, alumni, and or working professionals.
• Excellent communication skills, strong organization skills and a high degree of creativity and initiative are essential.
• Self-starter, able to work in a professional manner both independently and with others.
• Self-confidence and the ability to take ideas and translate them into actionable plans.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations.
• Ability to adapt and change with organizational needs.
• Ability to be flexible and function effectively in team settings as a leader and contributor.
• Ability to work with students, employers, and alumni.
• Ability to work in a complex collaborate environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience working in recruiting, human resources, career coaching, career services and/or a related field.
• Experience as a recruiter or career coach helping clients to identify personal goals, career changes, and or leadership development.
• Extensive experience coaching working professionals and senior-level executives preferred.
• As per Northwestern University policy, this position requires a criminal background check. Successful applicants will need to submit to a criminal background check prior to employment.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of career management programs systems such as Handshake, CSO/GradLeaders, Symplicity or other applicant tracking system.
• Experience working with International Students (admissions, visas, travel, TOEFL, grade translation, etc.) preferred.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $78,500-$89,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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