What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director, Professional Development in the Office of Career & Life Design position at The University of Texas at Austin?
Job Posting Title:
Assistant Director, Professional Development in the Office of Career & Life Design
Graduate School
All Applicants
40
Exempt
Immediately
Expected to Continue
UT MAIN CAMPUS
General Notes
Selection made by committee and hiring supervisor based on review of on-line applications and results of personal interviews. Hiring decision contingent upon applicant clearing security background check. Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship. Work schedule will be discussed with supervisor.
Purpose
The Assistant Director of Professional Development in the Graduate School’s Office of Career and Life Design (OCLD) uniquely understands the complex career development of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and the importance of strategic partnerships across the university to increase access to career and professional development opportunities. Working collaboratively with graduate students, university departments, faculty and career centers, this position will be responsible for prioritizing the needs of graduate student and postdoc communities and designing a professional development content strategy to support graduate student professional skill development at scale, across disciplines. This position will also directly facilitate professional development curriculum focused on professional communication skills, academic job preparation, and individual development planning. The successful candidate supervises a part-time program coordinator and a team of graduate assistants, building a robust and sustainable suite of programs and content specifically for advanced degree students and scholars.
Responsibilities
Doctoral Degree in education, communication, sociology, psychology, humanities or STEM fields. 5 or more years of work experience in progressively responsible roles, including work within doctoral programs. Three or more years of relationship management and collaborative work experience, with experience conducting outreach or communication. Passion for working specifically with advanced degree students and scholars, with an advanced understanding of PhD and postdoctoral scholar professional development needs and the hiring landscape. Strong presentation, teaching and facilitation skills to lead workshops, meetings and seminars with stakeholders at all levels of the university and external constituents. Demonstrated understanding of curriculum design and scalable content, leveraging evidence-based teaching and/or pedagogy using canvas or other learning platforms. Program and project management experience. Demonstrated experience advising graduate students on career and professional development topics and ability to train and develop advisors working with graduate students. Willingness to fail and learn collaboratively with the team. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
PhD in communication, education, sociology, psychology, humanities or STEM fields. Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in a new and changing work environment. Project and program leadership experience. Background in instructional design, teaching or learning content creation. Supervisory experience preferred but not required. Contributions to the field of advanced degree career and professional development.
Salary Range
$73,000 depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
Assistant Director, Professional Development in the Office of Career & Life Design
Graduate School
All Applicants
40
Exempt
Immediately
Expected to Continue
UT MAIN CAMPUS
General Notes
Selection made by committee and hiring supervisor based on review of on-line applications and results of personal interviews. Hiring decision contingent upon applicant clearing security background check. Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship. Work schedule will be discussed with supervisor.
Purpose
The Assistant Director of Professional Development in the Graduate School’s Office of Career and Life Design (OCLD) uniquely understands the complex career development of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and the importance of strategic partnerships across the university to increase access to career and professional development opportunities. Working collaboratively with graduate students, university departments, faculty and career centers, this position will be responsible for prioritizing the needs of graduate student and postdoc communities and designing a professional development content strategy to support graduate student professional skill development at scale, across disciplines. This position will also directly facilitate professional development curriculum focused on professional communication skills, academic job preparation, and individual development planning. The successful candidate supervises a part-time program coordinator and a team of graduate assistants, building a robust and sustainable suite of programs and content specifically for advanced degree students and scholars.
Responsibilities
- Collaborative Program & Content Development: Collaborate with the Center for Teaching and Learning, The Graduate Writing Program, Ombuds, UT Libraries, The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, academic departments, faculty, graduate student groups, postdoctoral scholars and alumni to design and facilitate a content framework for all graduate students and postdocs to access career and professional development co-curricular resources and services across campus. This position is responsible for leading professional skills development, the academic career preparation series, individual development plans/mentee ship, and international job support. This position collaborates closely with the OCLD team to teach and facilitate core career topics including but not limited to interviewing, networking, cv/resume, cover letter, negotiation both in department requested workshops, as well as campus-wide programs. This position is also responsible for contributing to OCLD signature programs, taking a leading role in the Empower Your Pitch competition and developing communication, research storytelling and mentoring topics to help prepare students for public research opportunities. This position is responsible for developing resources and support to address emerging needs in career and professional development, especially as they relate to academic career preparation. With early engagement as a key area for programming, this role supports connection to and support of incoming and early-stage graduate students through career programming and outreach during orientations. Methods of support include the development of communities of practice, advancing mentee ship training and addressing emerging professional development needs. This position will coordinate across UT Austin departments and programs to build competency-based programming and source external speakers and virtual tools to scale impact.
- Leadership & Training: Supervise a part-time program coordinator and hire, train and supervise a team of graduate consultants, addressing emerging and distinct needs to better support graduate professional skills development. Assess graduate student needs and identify thematic gaps in service or content to develop a graduate career consultant program that extends support to the entire advanced degree community. Graduate assistants will support specific campus-wide graduate communities including international students, first generation and parenting and additional communities who have unique professional development needs. Develop long-term, sustainable infrastructures, content and resource dissemination with the graduate school’s communication team to maximize graduate students and postdoc utilization of asynchronous content and direct services. Lead the integration of evidence-based practices into program design and advising, especially with academic job preparation. Manage the selection process and execution of the reimagining professional development award program, including resources and team capacity. Provide professional development opportunities for graduate career advisors, faculty and students seeking out new resources, training opportunities and best practices in service delivery models for career advising and graduate skill development.
- Individual and Group Career & Professional Development Advising: Advise and coach advanced degree students and scholars on career and professional development topics across industries and disciplines, demonstrating unique expertise of the formation of scholarly identity, career translation, and communication skills. Types of coaching include meeting with students in person, through video conference and by phone on topics ranging from application document preparation, career exploration and planning, interviewing, negotiation, decision making, storytelling and resilience strategies, and navigating graduate school.
- Thought Leadership, Learning & Service: Engage in opportunities that demonstrate unique expertise of doctoral career and professional development, advancing learning and development for the career ecosystem at UT Austin. Opportunities include participation in national, regional and local organizations, conducting research, publishing, grant writing and committee participation at the department, division and university level.
Doctoral Degree in education, communication, sociology, psychology, humanities or STEM fields. 5 or more years of work experience in progressively responsible roles, including work within doctoral programs. Three or more years of relationship management and collaborative work experience, with experience conducting outreach or communication. Passion for working specifically with advanced degree students and scholars, with an advanced understanding of PhD and postdoctoral scholar professional development needs and the hiring landscape. Strong presentation, teaching and facilitation skills to lead workshops, meetings and seminars with stakeholders at all levels of the university and external constituents. Demonstrated understanding of curriculum design and scalable content, leveraging evidence-based teaching and/or pedagogy using canvas or other learning platforms. Program and project management experience. Demonstrated experience advising graduate students on career and professional development topics and ability to train and develop advisors working with graduate students. Willingness to fail and learn collaboratively with the team. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
PhD in communication, education, sociology, psychology, humanities or STEM fields. Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in a new and changing work environment. Project and program leadership experience. Background in instructional design, teaching or learning content creation. Supervisory experience preferred but not required. Contributions to the field of advanced degree career and professional development.
Salary Range
$73,000 depending on qualifications
Working Conditions
- May work around standard office conditions
- Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
- This is an Austin, TX-based position and is eligible for hybrid work
- Some evening and weekend hours required
- Resume/CV
- 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
- Letter of interest
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:
Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:
The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:
A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
Pay Transparency:
The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
Employment Eligibility Verification:
If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.
The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:
- E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
- E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
- Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
- Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.
The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.
Salary : $73,000
