Director of Career Services

SUMMARY:  Oversee all aspects of Career Services, including driving student success, achieving graduate outcome goals, and implementing strategic plans to meet target objectives. Build and maintain strong relationships with employers, graduates, and university departments to create valuable opportunities for career growth. Lead efforts to market graduates to national, regional, and local organizations while ensuring the delivery of high-quality programs and services to students, graduates, and alumni. Demonstrated technical expertise in the relevant area of assignment may be required.   KEY JOB ELEMENTS: Oversee Career Services and Alumni Relations for the assigned home campus and designated regional campuses, ensuring the delivery of high-quality programs and initiatives that support student success, graduate outcomes, and alumni engagement. Achieve annual graduate employment goals established by South University, ensuring alignment with institutional benchmarks. Maintain full compliance with South University and Career Services policies while upholding the highest standards of professional practice. Promote the university's Career Services program and its graduates by strengthening existing employer partnerships and actively cultivating new relationships to expand employment opportunities. Collaborate closely with the University Director of Career Services, Program Directors, Deans of Student Affairs, and Campus Presidents/Directors to achieve targeted graduate outcomes, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and student success metrics. Plan, oversee, and support the delivery of comprehensive career programs and workshops—covering self-assessment, resume writing, interviewing, salary and benefits negotiation, and job search strategies—offered both virtually and in person to effectively prepare students for the job market. Offer personalized career guidance to students and graduates, providing support in their job search process through both remote and in-person consultations. Ensure the timely and accurate collection and entry of data, maintaining comprehensive graduate files in strict compliance with South University policies and standards. Manage Career Services operations across assigned campuses, ensuring that students, graduates, alumni, and employers receive exceptional services, tailored support, and impactful career development opportunities. Lead and manage on-site recruiting activities to connect students and graduates with potential employers, fostering meaningful employment opportunities. Partner with Deans of Student Affairs to design and implement targeted workforce development and recruitment initiatives that address the unique needs and opportunities of remote campuses. Provide strategic oversight of the Alumni Association in collaboration with the University Director of Career Services and Alumni Relations, fostering meaningful connections between alumni, current students, and the university community Other duties as assigned along with University Director of Career Services and Alumni Relations.   JOB REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s Degree required, master’s degree in a related field preferred. Five or more years of strong management experience and/or career counseling experience in a corporate or academic setting. Comprehensive understanding of the career decision-making process and job placement strategies to effectively support students and graduates in achieving their career goals. Understanding of career decision-making models and career development theories. Proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related to graduate outcomes, employer satisfaction, and program effectiveness. Proficiency in using CRM platforms, virtual career tools, and other technologies to enhance service delivery. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills with a range of populations Superior organizational and problem resolution skills. Business computing skills Persuasive sales techniques both over the phone and in person Professional telephone manner and personal appearance. Strong relationship skills         ENVIRONMENT:                                                       The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position.   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone,video conference,through email and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess.                                                                                      South University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures and perspectives can thrive.