MBA Career Services Manager

About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's‑granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity.

About the Department

The College of Business Graduate Programs supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. The College of Business and Economics at WWU is a student‑centered community of scholars and professionals dedicated to providing students with the foundation necessary to have a lifelong positive impact on business and society. Applications are encouraged from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

About the Position

The primary purpose of this position is to provide career development opportunities for graduate students in the College of Business and Economics, specifically those in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program and, to a lesser degree, the Master of Professional Accounting (MPACC) program. The role designs career‑related programming, offers one‑on‑one counseling and advising, and hosts events to support students in meeting career requirements and employment goals. The position works closely with Northwest employers, the MBA Operations team, the campus‑wide Career Services office, and CBE Career Services colleagues. This is a permanent, part‑time (.5 FTE) position.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

• 35% – Design, direct, and deliver programs, services, and events specific to graduate student career services in CBE; plan special events for students and employers; determine, assign, and review work of Graduate Assistant; maintain documentation of student placements and report data; manage MBA Mentorship Program connecting students with alumni, faculty, and professionals.
• 35% – Provide tailored career and internship planning for graduate students; host group and one‑on‑one counseling sessions; act as point person for internship requirements and paperwork; help students develop job‑placement plans; develop and foster internship pipelines by connecting with hiring stakeholders.
• 10% – Integrated work with MBA Operations team, campus‑wide Career Services, and CBE Career Support Team; attend MBA Operations meetings, quarterly MBA Advisory Board meetings, and report monthly to Faculty Curriculum Committee; attend campus and college‑wide Career Services meetings.
• 10% – Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders such as MBA alumni, faculty, advisory board members, university partners, regional employers, and organizations like SHRM; host or co‑host events as the career services representative.
• 10% – Additional duties: Lead Advisor for MBA Association; review MBA applicants; assist MPACC students under guidance of Accounting Department; lead Career Development subcommittee for MBA Program Advisory Board; engage in MBA orientation sessions; support MBA Lunch and Learn and Speaker Series.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in Career Services, Human Resources, Recruiting, Student Advising, or a related field (Bachelor’s degree may be substituted by additional experience).
• Strong advising and coaching skills.
• Ability to conduct presentations internally and externally using relevant technology.
• Professional representation of WWU to external and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent organization and time‑management skills.
• Technological proficiency with online platforms and common software (Zoom, MS Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, data visualization tools).
• Understanding of AI and its impact on students’ job searches.
• Ability to work with and advise students with varying levels of professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or other master’s degree.
• Prior experience advising or coaching professionals or master‑level students.

Conditions of Employment

All employees must comply with WWU immunization policies, including proof of rubella (measles) immunity within 60 days of hire. Requests for medical or religious exemptions and accommodations should be directed to HR@wwu.edu.

Salary

Hiring range is $33,846 – $38,923 (0.5 FTE) depending on qualifications and experience; with longevity the position tops out at $43,999 per year.

Benefits

Benefits are provided in accordance with the university’s Administrative Professional Position benefits overview.