Associate Director, Career Development
Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One—the first university-based quantum computer in the world.
About the role
The Associate Director, Career Development provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the career development functions of the Center for Career and Professional Development. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost for Experiential Learning and Professional Development, this position leads a comprehensive portfolio of career education services designed to prepare students and alumni for successful career outcomes, including career coaching, career education programming, career readiness initiatives, and career-related resources.
The Associate Director supervises a team of five Assistant Directors responsible for delivering high-quality, student-centered career services. Working collaboratively with colleagues responsible for experiential learning and employer relations, the Associate Director helps create an integrated career ecosystem that connects career exploration, experiential learning, employer engagement, and post-graduation success. The position uses assessment and career outcomes data to inform strategy, improve services, and advance the Center's mission in support of RPI students and institutional priorities.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership and operational management for all career development functions within the Center for Career and Professional Development.
- Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate five Assistant Directors, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture and supporting professional growth.
- Foster a culture of assessment, innovation, and evidence-based practice across the career development team.
- Establish and oversee implementation of departmental goals, priorities, service standards, and performance expectations for career development programs and services.
- Manage departmental initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and monitor progress toward strategic objectives.
- Lead strategic planning for the career development function, using assessment data, career outcomes, external benchmarks, and student engagement metrics to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Serve as the office lead in the absence of the Assistant Vice Provost, providing operational leadership, supporting staff, representing the Center, and ensuring continuity of services.
- Personally provide career coaching, advising, and consultation to students and alumni on career exploration, career readiness, internship and job search strategies, graduate school preparation, and professional development.
- Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of career education programs, workshops, classroom presentations, and career readiness initiatives that support students across academic disciplines and class years.
- Develop and maintain career education resources, guides, and digital tools aligned with career readiness competencies, labor market trends, and national best practices.
- Partner closely with the employer relations and experiential learning teams to integrate internships, undergraduate research, cooperative education, and other experiential learning opportunities into students' career development journeys.
- Build and maintain productive partnerships with faculty, academic departments, Student Experience offices, and other campus stakeholders to embed career development throughout the student experience.
- Represent the Center on institutional committees, campus initiatives, and professional organizations as appropriate.
- Assess student engagement, career outcomes, utilization, and assessment data to evaluate program effectiveness, identify trends, and recommend improvements.
- Prepare reports and recommendations that support strategic planning, accreditation efforts, institutional reporting, and decision-making.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Master's Degree in related field, with an emphasis in student affairs, counseling, human resource management or related field.
- Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in fields related to student programming with a preference for experience in a career services or student services role, including:
- Demonstrated success leading professional staff, managing programs, and advancing organizational priorities.
- Understanding of the career development needs of students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and the evolving talent needs of STEM employers.
- Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading career development operations within a college or university career center.
- Experience providing career coaching, programming, or career education services for students pursuing STEM disciplines at a college or university.
- Experience supervising professional career services staff in a complex higher education environment.
- Familiarity with career management technologies (e.g., Handshake), career outcomes reporting, and data analytics.
- Experience developing scalable career education curricula and career readiness initiatives.
- Active involvement in professional organizations such as the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) or regional career services associations.
Skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet established goals and objectives.
- Ability to work with a diverse population.
- Strong computer skills and knowledge.
- Demonstrated advanced skills in counseling, interpersonal communication, and written communication focusing on a traditional college-age student population.
- Demonstrated mentoring skills and ability to effectively manage a team.
- Ability to identify a new idea or concept and bring it to fruition.
- Knowledge of career development theory, career coaching methodologies, career readiness competencies, and student development principles.
- Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and student-centered environment.
- Understanding of the career development needs of students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and the evolving talent needs of STEM employers.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across organizational units and with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Schedule
Business hours, Monday through Friday. Weekends and/or evenings occasionally required.
Pay
Expected hiring range: $85,000 - $90,000. The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education, and other job-related credentials.
Benefits
- Premium/low-cost medical, dental, vision insurance (immediate eligibility, FSA available).
- Employer paid life insurance, STD, LTD, AD&D, travel insurance.
- 403(b) Defined Contribution Plan; 1% employee (min) to 8% employer contribution.
- Supplemental Retirement.
- 90% Tuition Assistance (staff/spouse/children eligible, see policy).
- 16 Paid Holidays + Generous PTO.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Fitness Center access.
- Automobile purchasing discounts (GM, Mercedes Benz, and more).
- Plus, much more!