Director for Career Engagement and Success

General Summary:

The primary mission of the Academic and Career Engagement and Success (ACES) Center is to provide holistic, high-quality, and culturally responsive academic and career success coaching, programming, and experiential learning. The department values inclusive excellence through holistic student success and equitable outcomes.

The Director for Career Engagement and Success provides strategic leadership and vision for the university's career services function. This role oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of career-related services, programs, and initiatives for students and alumni across all academic disciplines.

The Director will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders to foster career readiness, employment opportunities, and post-graduation success. The position includes the development and oversight of a new career communities model, enhancement of employer partnerships, and collaboration to establish a comprehensive experiential learning model that supports student success and retention.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Provost (AVP), the Director guides career education, employer engagement, career communities, and departmental operations including supervision, training, program assessment, and creative leadership. They will oversee daily operations related to employer partnerships, signature events, experiential learning, and assessment of service delivery and outcomes.

Examples of Duties:

• Strategic Leadership & Planning:




• Collaborate with the AVP and leadership team to align career development, experiential learning, and employer engagement models with institutional goals.
• Develop and assess short- and long-term plans for career services with measurable key performance indicators.
• Assist the AVP in managing budgets and determining appropriate resource allocation.

• Career Services Program Management:




• Direct the operations, administration, and coordination of graduate and alumni career services, career communities, and employer partnerships including career advising, workshops and seminars, career fairs, on-campus recruitment and job and internship placement;
• In collaboration with the Director of Academic and Career Advising, provide consultation and training for Academic and Career Advisors who work with undergraduate students.
• Ensure that career development services are accessible to students across all disciplines and academic levels.
• Oversee career fairs, networking events, employer recruitment activities, and workshops aimed at enhancing students' career readiness.
• Promote and build student participation in the experiential learning programs

• Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead a team of career services professionals, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture.
• Manage staff recruitment, training, evaluation, and ongoing professional development.
• Encourage innovation, initiative, and teamwork.
• Regularly provide guidance and feedback to team; conduct annual performance evaluations

• Employer Relations & Partnerships:




• Develop and implement a strategic employer relations plan, including a corporate advisory board.
• Promote UMass Boston students to employers and build relationships with organizations offering internships, jobs, and experiential learning.
• Implement a robust on-campus recruiting strategy and strengthen partnerships with industry leaders.
  
  




• Assessment & Reporting:




• Develop and implement robust assessment tools to measure the effectiveness and impact of career services programs, including career outcomes, employer satisfaction, and student engagement.
• In collaboration with AVP, create and implement an assessment plan that tracks data on student usage, learning outcomes, retention and graduation rates, first destination data, and employment and industry trends for UMass Boston graduates and alumni
• Regularly report on program successes, challenges, and improvements to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
• Prepare regular reports to forecast, track, and assess the career development & experiential learning programs; use reports to make improvements in the operation and management of experiential learning programs
  
  




• Student and Alumni Engagement:




• Provide individualized career coaching and guidance for students and alumni, including career exploration, resume development, job search strategies, interview preparation, and professional networking.
• Create initiatives to keep alumni engaged with career services, fostering a lifelong connection to the university.
  
  




• Collaboration with Campus Stakeholders:




• Work closely with faculty and academic departments to integrate career readiness into curricula and ensure career services are an integral part of students' academic journey.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders across campus to promote ACES services, and build strategic partnerships
• Enhance internal relationships and foster partnerships to ensure that Career Services meets the specialized needs of students in each of the colleges and advances the general education capabilities; communicate with academic and other administrators about workforce and employment issues that may influence program and curriculum development;
  
  




• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Master's Degree required in workforce development, and/or higher education student services or a relevant academic discipline and a minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in career services, student affairs, or a related field, including at least 3 years in a leadership role. Doctoral degree preferred. An additional five years of experience in career counseling, teaching or a related field in a higher education environment is preferred. Experience working with diverse student populations is required. Demonstrated strong management skills, including supervision of professional staff, budget management, and project management are required. The incumbent will be required to work nights and weekends, as needed. Some travel may be required.

• Strong knowledge of career counseling techniques, employment trends, labor market analysis, and employer needs.
• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative programs and services that meet the needs of a diverse student body.
• Strong networking, partnership-building, and relationship-management skills.
• Data-driven mindset, with experience in using assessment tools and data to improve programs.
• Knowledge of industry best practices in career services, workforce development, and employability standards.
• Familiarity with career management platforms and technology used in career services.
• Experience in developing and managing programs, including budgeting, assessment, and staff supervision.
• Proven track record of working with diverse student populations and employers from various industries.
• Strong knowledge of current and professional best practices in career development, and demonstrated skill in creative and strategic approaches to career services programming, technology, and counseling;
• Consistent involvement with professional associations (e.g., NACE, EACE, NACADA).
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and to oversee major projects from development to implementation;
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a team capacity with a broad range of staff to accomplish departmental and university goals;
• Ability to supervise professional staff;
• Demonstrated ability to engage faculty as well as employers;
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate programs and services;
• Ability to communicate at all levels within an organization with tact and diplomacy to achieve goals;
• Ability to work under pressure and under tight timeframes and deadlines;
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to use independent judgment and be entrusted with confidential information;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong presentation skills;
• Strong organizational skills and interpersonal skills, including the capacity to work with a wide range of individuals;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link:

Grade:

Salary Ranges

This is an exempt union position. This is a grant funded position with a current end date of Feb 28, 2026, subject to renewal contingent on funding and university needs.Is this grant funded?