Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at Pepperdine University seeks the next Executive Director of the Seaver College Career Center. The center is a leader among its peers and a program of great importance as the career readiness of students is one of the college’s highest priorities. The Center offers innovative career education programs to a diverse undergraduate population of approximately 3,400 students, develops and maintains strategic employer partnerships across industries, and manages a menu of cutting-edge technologies that equip students for career and internship success. The executive director must be able to cast a vision to continue the forward progress of the center, be eager to continue current programs that are driving success, and to be a trailblazer for new initiatives.

The preferred candidate will have successfully led a complex department with multiple direct reports and have experience supervising and managing a diverse array of programs and operations. The next executive director will be responsible for the center’s menu of technology resources and be able to identify new technologies as needed, as well as implement and integrate them into the center’s portfolio. He or she will manage career outcomes data collection and reporting, as well as the assessment activities of the center. The next executive director will be able to represent the career center and build partnerships across the institution and among alumni, board members and friends. The ideal candidate will be active in regional and national career organizations and will strongly support the Mission of Pepperdine University as a Christian role model.

The Career Center is an integral unit at the College and reports to the office of the Seaver Dean and directly to the assistant dean of graduate and special academic programs.

Duties

• Vision & Operations: Cast a vision to continue the momentum of the center as a leader in the college career development field. Set goals and develop strategic initiatives. Leverage human and financial resources of the center to meet these goals. Oversee all activities of the center.
• Supervision: Lead a department that consists of the Director of Career Education and Coaching, Director of Strategic Employer Partnerships, Assistant Director of Programs and Partnerships, Industry Specialists, Marketing and Events Manager, Office Manager, Graduate Assistants, Career Ambassadors, and student employees. Hire, supervise, train, and evaluate staff; responsible for annual performance reviews, staff development, morale, planning, and professional development.
• Ambassador internal & external: Serve on and lead appropriate university and college committees including the alumni leadership council, Pepperdine career council, Seaver cabinet, and others. Represent the career center to internal and external constituents including students, prospective students and their families, faculty, staff, the Seaver Board of Visitors, the Board of Regents, and professional associations. Interact with employers, students, and the Seaver College community to promote career development activities as a value among all departments and employers. Build partnerships with faculty, staff, and administration to enhance the career center’s effectiveness. Be able to articulate the value of Christian liberal arts education to employers, students, and parents.
• Technologies: Stay abreast of new technologies that can enhance the career center’s ability to prepare students for life after college. Oversee implementation, integration, training, and maintenance of all technology platforms and resources.
• Outcomes: Orchestrate graduation outcomes data collection, disaggregation, follow up, and reporting to diverse constituents. Partner with academic divisions, integrated marketing communications, admissions, and the office of the Seaver dean to tell the story of our students’ successes through data and narratives.
• Assessment: Engage in robust program assessment according to the schedule set forth by the college. Develop and apply metrics to assess effectiveness. Create appropriate reports and implement changes and initiatives arising from assessment.
• Professional Activity: Participate in professional development, and attend/make presentations at professional conferences, University events, and in the community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required: Master’s degree in business, non-profit management, college student development, human resources management, education, or a job-related field required. At least five years of experience in career services or a related field with progressively increasing responsibilities. A minimum of three years experience in a supervisory role. Ability to cast a vision and implement it successfully; ability to lead, manage, and supervise highly-skilled professional staff and students; ability to work effectively and professionally with students, staff, faculty, development partners, employers, alumni, and the community; advanced oral and written communication skills; well-developed administrative and organizational skills; experience mentoring students; experience with and knowledge of university systems and processes; ability to employ technologically advanced tools in an educational environment; strong computer skills; knowledge of innovative, a vision to develop a state-of-the-art career center; willingness to work evenings and weekends. Computer and standard office equipment

Preferred: Experience with PeopleSoft, Handshake, MS word, Google office suite.

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening.

This is a regular, exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Serves as critical member of Seaver College Career Center team. Provides customized industry specific support for students and alumni, as well as employers within the Education/Government/Law & Science/Health/Technology (STEM) Industry Clusters. Provides tailored internship, job search, and graduate school coaching for students and alumni as well as sourcing and recruiting support for employers.

Duties

• Provide internship and job search support for students and alumni searching for opportunities in designated industry clusters. Cultivate a network of alumni, faculty, and professional mentors within designated industry clusters.
• Manage employer contacts and identify, develop, and approve internships and jobs in designated industry clusters; support designated employers with recruiting/posting internships and jobs; support their on-campus recruitment.
• Build faculty, student, and community partnerships through classroom and group presentations, networking events, training sessions, outreach, employer partnerships and information sharing. Manage industry specific marketing.
• Maintain internship, student, alumni, and employer data within Handshake platform. Use Handshake to target students/employers within industry cluster and tailor communications and job blasts.
• Support Career Center through working events like Career Fairs and contribute to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives and assessment with regard to student learning outcomes.
• Engage with professional community through career related associations and organizations; attend chapel; serve on emergency response team; uphold University mission.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required: Bachelors degree required. Experience developing and coaching staff or students and alumni for professional development including: career planning/ exploration, progress planning and assessment, resume and cover letter review, mock interviews, internship and job search strategies (or talent sourcing), LinkedIn support etc. Strong communicator with ability to influence others and create meaningful relationships. Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player with associate director and other staff members as well as students, faculty, and employers; takes direction as needed. Effective problem-solver, able to align tasks, priorities, and new ideas to department strategy, strong written and verbal communication skills, confidence using LinkedIn, keen ability to develop relationships and leverage network. High aptitude for learning, using, and training others how to use technology. Ability to trouble-shoot technology issues and resolve problems quickly in the interest of students, employers, and staff; willingness to use other forms of technology to improve collaboration and streamline work flow; confident learning and mastering new forms of technology.

Preferred: Masters in public policy, public health, sciences, business/IT/IS, law, human resources, counseling, education or relevant industry experience (3-5+ years) in recruiting, training, development, or other applied discipline (public policy, law, education, sciences, healthcare, IT etc) strongly preferred. Prior career services experience in providing students and alumni with career coaching and/or proven success with employer relations, recruiting, or talent sourcing. Ability to increase competency and depth of knowledge about job functions within industry cluster. Effectively outreaches to and supports recruiters through customer service, networking, and relationship development. Proven ability to manage projects to successful completion in support of department mission; takes initiative to provide customized support for constituents; suggests new ideas and solutions to improve service and efficiency within parameters of department plans and priorities; closes the loop and meets expectations of role. Experienced teacher and presenter on career related topics. Specific industry knowledge in law, government, public policy, education or health sciences, IT etc; consistently performs above expectations; active listener; good time management skills; knowledge about career services or recruiting; ability to communicate federal regulations and high standard of learning objectives with employers in establishing and maintaining internship programs. Specific competency using career management systems like Handshake and CareerBeam is a plus. Evaluates emerging technologies to expand and scale career services to students, alumni, and employers.

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with all applicable laws

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.