Assistant/Associate Director for Graduate Student Career Success

About the role

The Office of Graduate Educational Engagement Programs (OGEEP) within the J. Jeffery and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School seeks a dynamic professional to serve as Assistant/Associate Director for Graduate Student Career Success.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver career programming for diverse pathways: academia, industry, government, and nonprofits.
• Lead mentoring initiatives connecting graduate students with faculty, alumni, and professionals.
• Cultivate external partnerships and secure funding for programs such as Accelerate to Industry (A2i).
• Build employer relationships and coordinate internships, site visits, workshops, and panels.
• Collaborate with faculty, career services, and university offices to align and share resources.
• Audit student career needs and program outcomes for continuous improvement.
• Advise graduate students on career planning, transferable skills, and job market navigation.
• Promote inclusive, scalable models for career services across disciplines.
• Represent the Graduate School in university and external career development discussions.

Requirements

• Master’s degree preferably in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Experience in graduate education, student engagement, or related areas within a higher education setting.
• Familiarity with corporate partnership development, advancement strategies, or fundraising within a university context.
• Experience with platforms such as Handshake, Interstride, or other career development and tracking systems.
• Demonstrated experience in creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that support diverse graduate student populations, including domestic and international students.
• Proven ability to collaborate with academic and administrative units, and to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students across a complex institution.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including experience managing budgets and supervising staff or student employees.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work across cultural and disciplinary boundaries.
• Commitment to promoting inclusive environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in higher education, student development, or a related field; or equivalent experience in senior-level leadership roles in higher education.
• Experience working directly with graduate student populations at a research-intensive institution.
• Familiarity with national trends in graduate education, international student support, and student success strategies around career and professional development.
• Experience cultivating strategic partnerships, writing grant proposals, or leading campus-wide initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to use assessment data to guide planning and decision-making.

Benefits

The position offers a competitive benefits package including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, robust retirement plans, substantial paid time off, and a generous 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible family members. For more details, visit our Benefits Page.

Pay

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $54,060.00 - $94,980.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure.

Schedule

This role occasionally requires work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, to support graduate student engagement and university-wide events.

Background Checks/Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

EEO is the Law

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.